The Toronto Maple Leafs have now dropped five straight, and Zack Phillips goes live on Leafs Nation After Dark to break down a truly alarming Game 19 collapse in Chicago. From another blown lead to structural failures all over the ice, Zack digs deep into why this team continues to unravel — and why this is no longer about coaching, injuries, or roster tweaks, but a full-on indictment of the core and the identity crisis dragging the Leafs to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Zack unpacks everything from William Nylander going back-to-back games without a shot, to the brutal defensive miscues from Morgan Rielly and Filip Myers, to the lack of leadership, accountability, physicality, and buy-in that showed up once again in a third-period no-show. He also breaks down Joseph Woll’s season debut, Easton Cowan’s bright moments, Nick Robertson’s goal, the team’s inability to defend the middle of the ice, and how the Leafs repeatedly let Chicago dictate the final 20 minutes.
From effort level to system confusion to a total collapse in identity, this episode digs into all of it — plus your super chats, your calls, and your real-time reactions. Hit like, leave your thoughts in the chat, and stay locked in for full post-game therapy all season long on Leafs Nation After Dark.
Chapters:
00:00 – Five straight losses
02:07 – “This team isn’t good enough”
03:25 – Core era collapse
04:03 – Nylander no-shot streak
05:34 – No leadership or identity
07:54 – System & effort issues
11:19 – Same problems every GM
14:41 – Early signs of life
17:35 – Chicago takes over
22:20 – Another blown lead
23:51 – Greene goal breakdown
26:33 – Cowan impresses
28:30 – Bottom of the East
29:58 – “Atrocious to watch”
36:19 – Identity crisis
41:03 – Defensive meltdown
42:11 – Myers’ rough night
47:50 – Woll solid in return
49:18 – Callers join
1:05:52 – “Bruce there it is”
#LeafsForever #LeafsNation #TorontoMapleLeafs #Blackhawks #NHL #LNAfterDark #PostGameShow #ZackPhillips #LeafsTalk #GoLeafsGo #LeafsForever #LeafsNation #TorontoMapleLeafs #NHL #LNAfterDark #LeafsTalk #GoLeafsGo #ZackPhillips #LeafsLive #NHLFans
SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!
👍🏼 Powered by @bet365. Whatever the moment, it’s Never Ordinary at bet365. Download the App today and use promo code NATION.
👉 http://www.bet365.ca/
Gambling can be addictive — please play responsibly. Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 19+.
👍🏼 Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/ca
🚨 Subscribe to TLN on Youtube!🚨
➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401
🎙️LMT INTERVIEWS 📺
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH4sxh5zc9TF5GcP6knehfKBulG7sFQsP
🎧 LISTEN TO LMT 🎧
ITUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/leafs-morning-take/id1649600835
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/14O8iXMvFwpGJvEoS6vsWO
_______________________________________________________________________________
💻 Website: https://theleafsnation.com
🐦 Follow on X: @TLNdc @thegoldenmuzzy @Jay_D_Rosehill
📺 Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401
💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlndc
#leafsforever #torontomapleleafs #nhl
20 Comments
It started with Matthew's, ten years ago. Time to start over.
The Hawks don’t see themselves as bottom feeders.
Tonight’s game could have gone either way.
There are probably just one or two games this year that the Hawks just got beat down. They have been in almost all of them.
The leafs just have their sphincters too tight.
The Hawks ripped it all down to the ground and started over, they have no pressure.
That ain’t gonna happen in Toronto, but maybe it should.
But, early days yet, there’s still time to right the ship so the can make the playoffs and of course lose.
I love this show. Thank you. Go Leafs.
There is a big reset to do starting on defense. They don’t need superstar look at Boston, dallas. 44 & 88 have to go, paternaliste lost bergeron and marchand did you see him play. Did you see the reset Boston did
A few weeks back you Zack, threw shade at fans for what you termed " absolutely ridiculous call " for the leafs not making the playoffs this year.
And here we are a few weeks later. We knew back then that way they were playing, they'd be lucky to get in as most of the Atlantic are better than them as are a few in the Metropolitan are too.
Zacks message is 100% correct— happy to just be there … nah those days should be long gone with Leafs Main Core. But … it still hasn’t changed
There was always a chance the Leafs best day were going to be behind them. When good players start leaving for nothing it usually doesnt go well. If we analyze the roster its clear what's going on. They are asking players to do things that their talent doesnt translate to. Its bad roster construction. Leafs "let's change how we play" (culture) aaaaa that takes years and years to do. Start recouping assets and make moves for 3 years from now. Nothing is owed to anyone like matthews are taveres. What have they do to deserve a go for it mentality.
Ye time is up i want mathews nylander reilly gone
And idk about you guys i think the entire coaching staff is garbage at this point , sucks because i like willy but the culture is so bad here and the core five started it all and ends with them
How we liking the new DNA?
Tied for most goals scored in the league and no longer last in goals allowed, hey it's something…lol
Leafs are now part of the bottom-feeders …. trust me on that!
Mentioning the Montreal playoff series …. they literally choked. Marner was a deer in headlights the entire series. They needed to move off the core 4 after that series … and look at getting Josh Anderson and Ben Chiarot from the Habs via trade. Whatever it would have taken. Trust me, I know what they need.
Worst part of it all is that leafs will be handing over a big ,juicy first round picks to enemy Boston. What if it turns out to be McKenna? Fire Tre.
And the bleeding continues.
You need a Team President and G/M that will initiate a rebuild – trust me on that Zack.
Why don’t they actually prepare in preseason like why are we keeping ahl/ohl guys as long as we do dressing the full lineup for one game is ridiculous. They’ve been doing it for years and they’ve sucked to start the season for years
Treliving’s signings couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag. Treliving is in way over his head. He bunged up Calgary big time. Now is doing the same in Toronto
I occasional look for commentary on the leafs and have listened to this guy for about 30 seconds a few times. This guy seems genuinely, existentially upset about the Leafs. Buddy, calm down, get some other interests and build a life for yourself. This isn’t analysis, this is just bitching and complaining.
I know you're kidding about tanking but if things don't turn around by Christmas, why wouldn't we start shopping some of our big core pieces that have positive trade value? A lot of middling playoff teams with draft capital and good prospects would sell the farm for guys like Willy, JT producing at his contract is one of best value contracts in the league for 2 or 3 C, Carlo (for his reputation) or Tanev with cost controlled contracts, Rielly at 25% retained for "offensive" dman who puts up points (even if they're secondary assists). Just by trading off 2 or 3 of these guys, we could fleece some teams the way we've been fleeced, have a better prospect pool to build around Knies, Cowan, Danford + Matthews and actually retool, and then make some modest splashes in free agency to build a tenacious/physical core of top 6 forwards and top 4 dmen
Florida was the type of team who could ADAPT their game to play any way you want to play. They could stifle you defensively, they could crash and bang and bully and beat you up, they could lock you down and play low scoring hockey, they could play run and gun 6-5 games ect ect ect….Toronto can play 1 type of game. That's it.