Removed on Saturday for the sixth time in six years since the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to believe they will soon find the hoped-for victory in the post-season tournament. The management established on Tuesday, during its season review, that it will try again next year with a group of players who are likely to be similar.
As players, management, and owners, we were both as frustrated as everyone else because we didn’t get the job done.launched the team president, Brendan Shanahan.
Surely the hope of next year has new faces as always. That said, we won’t make changes just for the sake of making changes.
The organization is not interested in the idea of destroying its current structure. Shanahan also gave a vote of confidence that was no more clear in the place of his general manager Kyle Dubas and his head coach Sheldon Keefe at a press briefing.
Kyle has built a great hockey team. I think he made the right adjustments along the way. Sheldon is a great trainer. I think it’s important to say that I consider these two people very important for us to reach the next level.he said.
” Our players know we’re close to the goal, but at the same time, they know we’re not there yet. “
The four forwards-Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and William Nylander-where the team’s success is unlikely to be affected in the summer, although they are less defended by Kyle Dubas than last year.
I don’t consider our core to be the Core 4. I never referred to the team in those exact terms. I look at the core as a whole (with defenders Jake Muzzin and Morgan Rielly, among others, editor’s note) and I try to identify what is the best way for us to achieve our goal.
” I think we just don’t want to make changes that can be sideways or make us less as a team just to say we’ve changed something. “
The Maple Leafs had their best campaign in franchise history this year, setting the new top teams in wins (54 of 82 games) and points (115). Nine players also set personal highs. Among them, Matthews notably scored 60 goals and Marner came close to the 100 point mark.
I think the season has given me a lot of hope and the way we did in the playoffs against Tampa gives me more confidence. However, we need to take the next steps and that is where all your attention and efforts will be focused this summer.said Dubas.
The Maple Leafs general manager did not rule out the possibility of making trades. He will assess everything is possible to improve his team, but in general he is mostly planning reproduce in most cases the way he operated last summer, namely by finding bargains in the free agent market.
Last summer, the Maple Leafs signed forwards Michael Bunting, Ondrej Kase, David Kampf and Nick Ritchie, all but Ritchie have done great service this season.
The players left their locker room
Maple Leafs players also cleared their locker rooms at the team’s practice complex on Tuesday. Disappointed by events, however, they spoke positively about the future.
I said that last season. We kept knocking on the door until we knocked it downsaid John Tavares.
To have the right to get away from the playoffs, you have to have this killer instinct and we discussed it as a group. This is another good opportunity to learn a lesson. This removal is painful, but I think it will strengthen our hatred for itsaid defenseman Morgan Rielly.
” The belief within our group is that we have what it takes [pour gagner en séries]. But obviously we haven’t proven it yet. “
Defenseman Jake Muzzin, for his part, pointed out that the Maple Leafs need to find another speed. There’s always a way to do better, whether we’re talking about statistics or mental, attitude, emotional control. We can do more.
As for striker William Nylander, he confessed that he was don’t think that much is missing in Maple Leafs. While everyone wants to win, we prefer it.
Veterans Jason Spezza and Mark Giordano, both 38 and upcoming free agents this summer, have not ruled out a return to the Maple Leafs next season.
In Spezza’s case, in fact, it was between retirement and returning to Toronto that he was hesitant. As for Giordano, he wants to play for a team that has a real chance of winning … like Toronto.
Goaltender Jack Campbell, who will be as free as the air this summer, has expressed interest in expanding his Toronto adventure. Winning 31 of his 47 starts this season, he only received an annual salary of $ 1.65 million. He is entitled to a substantial increase in his next contract.
Forward Mitch Marner did not meet with reporters due to events the previous day. He was the victim of an armed robbery in suburban Toronto on Monday night.
Source: Radio-Canada
