What Changes Are Coming in Toronto?

Point One: Some of the Veteran Leadership Didn't Get It Done

Some of the veteran leadership the Maple Leafs assembled to help them succeed simply didn't work out. Joe Thornton is undoubtedly one of them. Jason Spezza had a great series, according to Stewart, and the team needs to re-sign him. He also thought Wayne Simmonds had a good season, though there may be some disagreement on that point.

Point Two: The Canadiens' Youth Showed Up

As Anthony Stewart noted, in contrast to the Maple Leafs, the Canadiens relied on their young talent. And that talent came through. The youngsters on the Canadiens had a big impact on the series. Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Cole Caufield all showed up big time.

In contrast, the Maple Leafs didn't match the Canadiens' youth. Stewart noted that Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren need some more minutes. His point was the organization needed to use the whole system.

Point Three: It's Time to Sit Down and Consider Why the Team Lost and Move from There

Friedman pointed out that the Maple Leafs have tried and failed to win in a variety of ways. They've gone with talent, and they've bolstered their rosters with veterans and age. The task, as Friedman put it, is to come together and ask, "Why do we think we lost this series?" and "What are we going to do about it?"

Point Four: The Maple Leafs Core Players are Not Signed Long Term

Except for John Tavares, the Maple Leafs' core isn't signed for a long time, as Friedman pointed out. He wonders if Toronto will say something along the lines of, "We want to bet on our talent, but we don't have it for the same kind of term as those other teams." He thinks they'll have a fun offseason as a result of that.

Point Five: Zach Hyman Is the Key Signing

The main concern right now, according to Stewart and Friedman, is how to sign Zach Hyman to a long-term, team-friendly contract out of the long list of UFAs. Hyman was coming back from a knee injury, and he didn't play well in the playoffs. The two members of the panel agreed that Hyman would be crucial and that the Maple Leafs needed to find a way to lock him down because he is "one of those players who is a heart and soul type guy" and an important part of the team's core.

Credit: HockeyFeed