This year, millions of viewers tuned into many TV programs of varying degree of quality. Whether it's scripted programs like Better Call Saul and House of the Dragon or reality shows that like the Real Housewives of (Insert Area), but there is a new series on TV that is truly reality and cameras are on them all the time. That new series is the Toronto Maple Leafs 22-23 season. The ultimate couldn't-get-over-the-hump team is beginning the current hockey season like the way Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and She-Hulk did; poorly and infuriating fans. So as this starts to percolate, fans around the NHL will get their popcorn ready because if the current trends keep up, the Maple Leafs are in for the most interesting NHL season that would make season 4 of Game of Thrones jealous.
Like all TV series, you need conflict and no NHL team has more conflict than the Toronto Maple Leafs and the first round. It's like their Professor Moriarty, their Joker, their white whale. The Maple Leafs haven't won a playoff series since 2004. At the time their roster featured future Hall of Famers Joe Nieuwendyk, Ron Francis, Ed Belfour and the newly acquired Brian Leetch from the New York Rangers. Since Toronto has been a game, a minute and a goal away from advancing to the Second Round. It got to the point where their on-lookers think losing in a Game 7 to the defending champ was "progress".
Weeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllll, flash forward to this week, where the Leafs finished their 4 game West Coast trip with 2 overtime loses to show for it. The last game? A Come-from-ahead 4-3 OT loss to the 1 win Anaheim Ducks. Sorry 2 wins now. This is a team that had the second best odds to win the Stanley Cup for some reason according to Caesar's Sportsbook (+900). This game saw two BAD GIVEAWAYS from star forward Mitch Marner that led to two goals from the lowly Anaheim Ducks and the smell of fresh pine under Marner's butt. That was after Marner was allowed to walk down the tunnel and let out his frustrations for a few minutes. However, after Toronto got help from Toronto (as in NHL Goal review) ruling that Frank Vatrano's goal with minutes remaining was goalie interference. The ruling is still unclear and confusing, but that won't cause any problems later in the season...
So Sheldon Keefe finds himself in a precarious spot. He has already called out Marner in the media and now he's benching him. He needs to wrangle in his stars and make them accountable for mistakes, but he also needs his stars since they're making roughly 44% of their cap. If they were playing flawlessly, there'd be no problem, but this is the real world and players make mistakes. But you can't hurt their egos or you'll lose them. But you HAVE TO HOLD them accountable. But they're the solution. But they're also the problem. But you shouldn't start sentences with "but". AAAARRRRGH!!! However, I'm sure Keefe will be okay. It's not like there's any pressure being a Toronto Maple Leafs Coach. At least he's got a goalie that will make a save when his team needs it. The good news: Barry Trotz said he'd find it hard to resist a chance to coach an Original Six team. That would help me sleep if I'm Sheldon Keefe.
All of this is going on with the "Auston Matthews" situation hovering over them. The 1st overall pick of the 2016 draft has one year remaining at $11.6m and could be yet another American born player that exits Canada for the States. There's probably no time where Matthews stock could be higher. He's coming off his first Hart Trophy (MVP) season and first SIXTY GOAL SEASON. Caps and spelling out the "SIXTY" were justified for emphasis. However the idea of Matthews NOT wearing a Maple Leafs jersey is as foreign as the notion of Aaron Judge in a San Fransisco Giants jersey. Before you say that this could happen, be Kyle Dubas and say out loud two sentences: "I lost Auston Matthews to another team. I traded Auston Matthews." If either makes your stomach turn, then don't let it happen. Like the New York Yankees and Aaron Judge, it's hard for the Toronto Maple Leafs to lose a player. They can outbid almost any team and their prestige alone should make them the top bidder.
That said, if YOU'RE Matthews, why would you stay? The centerpiece of the Maple Leafs rebuild has done EVERYTHING they've hoped for. He's won an MVP, multiple Rocket Richard trophy winner the last two seasons. He puts so much rubber in the net that Highway 401 is jealous aaaaaaaaaand there's a chance they can lose him IN HIS PRIME because the Maple Leafs are completely rudderless. While 29 teams would throw aside their current top line center for Matthews - save Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon - who is that new suitor that is really that attractive? He isn't going to come cheap - in a contract extension AND prospects. Is another team willing to do so? Does that mean Auston is trapped in great city of Toronto even though he's the biggest available name on the market?
And then there's the wonder kid, GM Kyle Dubas. The phrase "Kyle Dubas is betting his job on this" has been said as much as a Jakob Chychrun trade rumor. While Dubas is in the final year of his contract, he also appears to be teflon. He lost Jack Campbell to Edmonton (or let him go) and went with a tandem of Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov. To be fair to Samsonov, his 2.35 GAA, 0.920 save % and 4-2 record are current career highs. Keep in mind, it's only 6 games and he hasn't played more than 44 games in a season. However, doubling down with Matt Murray was the real head-scratcher. Murray's far from the goalie that won back-to-back Cups in 2016 and 2017. His numbers in Ottawa weren't good and his two previous seasons with under a .900 save % indicate a decline and injuries have been an issue. He's played ONE game for Toronto and it ended with Montreal's Josh Anderson scoring the game-winner with under a minute remaining. In his defense, it came after a Jake Muzzin turnover. Dubas has been shuffling the chairs on the Titanic for a while now and the John Tavares move that was supposed to push them over-the-top hasn't panned out like that.
Before you think I'm being too harsh, they sit at NHL .500 after 9 games. Yes, it's early, but it could get worse. What is their plan for NEXT SEASON when this one fails? Is it to get another goalie past their prime or a reclamation project? How can you get the stars to buy in when they're the problem? What if Matthews wants out? What if Marner wants out? How long can Sheldon Keefe survive when it's obvious that the team isn't progressing? The league is better when the Maple Leafs are good, but it's hard to see a Calgary-like retool. This season is going to be MUST SEE TV from the games to the postgames to Steve Dangle's reaction on LFR. Or they could finally win a round...
コメント