The Toronto Maple Leafs are approaching a significant offseason, which could see substantial alterations to the team`s composition. General Manager Brad Treliving indicated that the roster might require a fundamental shake-up following another relatively short appearance in the postseason.
While the 2024 playoff run culminated in a Game 7 loss in the first round this year, it wasn`t enough to break the team`s pattern of early postseason exits. The Maple Leafs have not reached the conference finals since 2002.
Speaking at his season-ending press conference, Treliving suggested that Toronto needs some new `DNA` moving into the 2025-26 season.
“There`s some DNA that has to change in our team,” Treliving stated. “If you keep getting to the same result – and that`s not to dismiss a lot of the good that happened up to it. When you keep getting the same result, there`s some DNA that needs to change.”
For approximately the past decade, the Maple Leafs have built their core around four key players: Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares. This group has achieved considerable regular-season success but has secured only two playoff series victories.
Two members of this core, Marner and Tavares, are nearing unrestricted free agent status. Additionally, forward Matthew Knies is set to become a restricted free agent after a productive season where he scored 29 goals and added 29 assists.
It will be difficult for Toronto to retain all these players, particularly given the constraints of the salary cap and the significant fan pressure for changes after another lengthy offseason. The organization has already chosen to part ways with president Brendan Shanahan, and attention is now focused squarely on the roster.
Despite the challenges in keeping the group together, especially considering the potential high salary Marner could command on the open market after a 100-point campaign, the article suggests Toronto should attempt to make it work. While this might not be the most popular choice, considering the weak free agent market and limited draft capital, it could represent the most sensible strategy.
