"Losing to Montreal in the first round in 2021 after being up 3-1 in the series. The Leafs resisted big changes in the aftermath of that unforgivable collapse when perhaps the red flags with that core were impossible to ignore. I still believe the impact on the psyche of the top players from that loss still lingers today."
"After a second-round loss to Florida in 2023 in which the Leafs were no-shows, Marner's full no-move kicked in July 1. Did Toronto miss the boat by not moving him before then? Considering how it all played out with Marner after that, including him saying "No" (which was his right) to a trade"
The Toronto Maple Leafs face deep organizational problems with no quick fix available. Two pivotal moments for major change were passed: the 2021 first-round collapse after leading 3-1 and the 2023 second-round no-show versus Florida. The 2021 loss revealed red flags and lingering psychological effects on top players. The decision not to trade Mitch Marner before his full no-move clause activated on July 1, 2023, closed another avenue for reset. Fan pressure for immediate action is intense, but meaningful roster rebuilding required earlier decisive moves and assets that were not deployed.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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