"The Leafs have dropped seven of their past eight, and weirdly, this still doesn't feel like rock bottom. As Rosey has illustrated multiple times, they haven't played many of the good teams yet. This could get substantially worse. We hammered on some familiar points to start the show. Where's the pride? Where's the character? Where's the identity? Right now, the Leafs are just a bunch of players with absolutely zero purpose."
"From a health standpoint, it doesn't seem like anyone will be returning on Wednesday night in Columbus. Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and Nicolas Roy were all wearing grey jerseys at Tuesday's practice, which are primarily reserved for extras. That suggests that they won't be ready to go for the Blue Jackets game. And boy oh boy, does this team need those three players right now, or what?"
"We touched on everything from his transition to the NCAA, potentially playing for Canada at the upcoming World Junior, and - of course - his thoughts on his draft year. According to most draft pundits, Verhoeff has the potential to go as high as first overall in next June's draft. The Alberta native shoots right, he's big, he's nasty, and can contribute considerably offensively, too. Talk about a total package."
The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost seven of eight games and remain without a clear identity, character, or pride. The team has not yet faced many of the league's stronger opponents, so the slump could deepen. The next five games, all on the road, will strongly influence the club's direction for 2025-26. Key players Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and Nicolas Roy appeared in grey practice jerseys and are unlikely to play in Columbus. Brandon Carlo and Anthony Stolarz have not skated since injury, while Jake McCabe is available. Prospect Keaton Verhoeff is a projected top draft candidate.
Read at TheLeafsNation
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