D.J. Smith's familiarity with key Leafs player could be an asset: Leafs Morning Take

Montreal Canadiens have won as many playoff series this postseason as the Toronto Maple Leafs have won during the Auston Matthews era. With the playoffs down to four teams, a Leafs fan’s worst-case scenario would be a Stanley Cup Final matchup against Montreal, though Vegas is presented as the preferred alternative. Montreal is described as deserving respect for building its team effectively, even while remaining a hated rival. Toronto also parts ways with Brandon Pridham and Derek Clancey, with John Chayka expected to reshuffle the organization. Brandon Pridham is credited for 12 years of contributions, including salary-cap management. D.J. Smith discusses coaching experiences with Team Canada at the World Championship and reflects on his time in Switzerland, including reconnecting with Morgan Rielly and John Tavares, while commenting on Toronto’s coaching vacancy.

"The Stanley Cup Playoffs are down to four teams. From a Leafs fan's perspective, the nightmare scenario would obviously be and meeting in the Stanley Cup Final. Naturally, we debated who we would root for if that happened. SPOILER: It has to be Vegas, right? That said, Montreal deserves a ton of respect. They've built that team the right way. You can respect what they've accomplished while still despising them. They're a rival - and that's never going to change."

"First up, we dissected the news of the Leafs parting ways with Brandon Pridham and Derek Clancey. Neither move came as much of a surprise, as it was widely expected that John Chayka would shuffle the deck chairs a bit. That said, we did take a moment to recognize Pridham for his contributions over the past 12 years with the organization, especially his work managing the salary cap. Looking ahead, it'll be interesting to see who Chayka brings in. In the span of a week, Shane Doan, Pridham, and Clancey have all departed the organization."

"Meantime, D.J. Smith stopped by to touch on both his recent coaching experiences and a potential return to the NHL spotlight. Now part of Team Canada's staff at the World Championship, Smith reflected on his time in Switzerland, including reconnecting with current national team players Morgan Rielly and John Tavares. Smith also spoke about his growth and evolution as a coach in recent years, along with his reaction to the Toronto Maple Leafs 's coaching vacancy. While he was complimentary of the Los Angeles Kings organization-where he finished the season as interim head coach-he acknowledged that a potential opp"

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