The Toronto Maple Leafs hit a new low as playoff hopes continue to crumble following a crushing 7-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Can this core recover, or is it time for a dramatic shake-up? Mike DiStefano and David Morassutti break down the latest disappointment, spotlighting defensive struggles and goaltending woes.
Mike and Dae look at how Craig Berube’s frustration appears to have reached a boiling point. From locker room accountability and possible trades to the need for a new defensive mindset, the hosts debate whether a complete roster overhaul is Toronto’s only path forward. Will Maple Leafs management have the stomach to make bold moves before the playoffs are completely out of reach?
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Maple Leafs Falling Short
04:43 Leafs Outclassed by Sabres
16:33 Goaltending Challenges and Team Struggles
21:31 Maple Leafs Must Pick Lane
28:21 Does Morgan Rielly Need to Sit?
33:37 Team’s Mistakes and Missed Timing
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38 Comments
The trading issue for the Leafs is that they don't have any players that another team would want. You think Trelivings phone is ringing off the hook with GMs trying to get these heartless losers onto their clubs?
So you tank and can't even get a first round pick. This is beyond pathetic.
Nothing new boys, been watching these losers for 50 years.
Nailed it. The culture will not change with Mathews and willy. The team will never be able to maximize a trade either because the players hold all the cards.
It's not how much leafs have fallen off but how much teams around them have improved.
Tanev and Nylander were arguably their two MVPs in the regular season last year, plus Stolarz. Missing those two key guys has really hurt this team. They're not deep enough like other teams to overcome injuries.
The Leafs can't skate good enough to keep up with the majority of teams in the league. If you can't skate you can't win.
They "MIGHT" not have what it takes? It's not MIGHT, unless you're new to this planet.
well i called it. leafs missing the playoffs
Just another team with shit ownership for years. Makes sense they built a flashy, top paid money focused core instead of a winner. Everyone knows the fools gold should have been flipped years ago.
Nylander giving the finger is emblematic of how Leaf management feels about their fans. Instead of working hard on making the team better in the off season they work on how to increases prices. The season is and has been lost since the puck dropped on opening night.
a slow team and defensive lacking and a leader who us not a leader compare mathews to trottier or messier leadership wise not in same world yes he is one of the best players but no leadership qualities
Berube looks like he cant take another week with this shit team..honestly i like the guy but too many lines changed too quickly and never has been chemistry all season….they takk about their identity but this team doesnt have any identity, they have no idea what they are other than shit in their own zone….they sit back and try to protect, never pressure the other team in their own zone when defending….so they give up way too many shots.
They simply suck really.
This team HAD A CHARACTER CRISIS… now the reality is different they have a TALENT CRISIS NOW!!! That is fundamentally different
When TALENT CRISIS MEETS CHARACTER CRISIS
with NO ASSETS in the Cupboard it is time for HARD SELL
THAT MEANS everyone
Even mucho Mathews and Nylander
Do you think Marner is not telling all the Boys how much better life is in Vegas
Buck up Buttercup leaf fans
The SHANAPLAN Mathews era is over
Here is the plan
Mathews — 2 First Rounders 1 A List roster player and at least 1 or 2 A list prospects
Nylander— 2 First Rounders and A list Prospect player and a Second
Get what you can for Reilly McCann Robertson
This blue print if you draft well will place you competitive 3-5 years from now
But LEAFS WONT DO IT
Stay the course and watch what happens
I am SO going out as Craig Berube next Halloween.
C’Mon Locked on Leafs —- you remind me of the Soccer Mother Who tells her kid—- YOU HAVE TO TRY HARDER!!!!!
No no no
The Kid no matter how you love them has a talent gap!!!!!
Rip it Up
Leaf Nation must recognize this is OVER
NO character was one thing
No talent is a different deal
Not the coaches fault. I thought this group wasn't a fit for the Berube style of hard work doesn't fit in with these silver spoons group. The players run the show there and everyone's job is in their hands. It's time to clean house right from the nutritionist to the scouts to the PR staff they need to change the whole environment Quit coddling them. Trim the fat starting with Matthew's and Nylander to start building another base to become competitive. They needed a coach like Quenville.
Matthews is a joke. He simply is not a Leader. The organization has no business building anything around him at all. Staying tied to him after 9 years of failure in the post season and other must win games is suicide. At the very least the C must be taken from Matthews. He doesn't need an A either. He has zero emotion. Zero heart and doesn't hate losing. He is a me, me, me give me more money personal records player. He never has been or was a team player.
Imagine if they shot Locked on leafs from a gym atmosphere with these two giving their takes from a treadmill or a stationary bike. It would be great and then they can give their opinion on how to cut the fat you can even make a segment of it called " Cut the Fat". Just an idea
They had 13 shots on net after 2 periods for a must win game. Think about that.
Bad management and the clown (Nylander) is taking over the circus.
Mike Senior Nylander was extremely hard to work with and now his son is being more and more of an issue.
Get the Zamboni driver to play net
Dave finally shaves his whole head. Looks so much better.
I live in Boston but am a Toronto fan. Have been for years.
I would start looking to get rid of Nylander, Matthews, Stolarz, and at least 6 other players that they can get money for before it’s too late.
Fack man. 44 and jt are 2 of the worse players
The value for Matthews or Nylander would never be higher than it is now. Look to trade one, whoever agrees to waive their NMC, and get a kings ransom like Vancouver did with Hughes. You can’t win with both in the team. Nylander will never change how he plays and Matthews will continue to regress as he enters his 30s. That quickness will disappear and he will not stay healthy.
Trade Nylander. Just get rid of him. Shouldve kept Marner. He does more than Willy at the least hes not a defensive liability or flipping the bird despite all the criticism.
They added slow pieces. Roy is one of the slowest skaters in the NHL, and Joshua is no speedster, and others like Carlo. They are older and slower.
Translation from Berube: It's the fault of our goalies
They have no defense
I wouldn't want to embarrass Rielly, he's been a dedicated team player for them and wouldn't deserve that however privately they should work with him on a trade.
Bring in a new president with fresh eyes. Let him decide on GM,etc. make a 5 yr plan – kill this culture once one for all.
Matthews should demand a trade he’s basically playing with scrubs and gets no respect, maybe he’s giving up realizing he’s got nothing to play with. He’s the only one scoring or setting up plays the rest of his line is useless he needs to go to a Stanley cup contender and get out of TO🤷♀️
Leafs have been a marginal franchise for 60 years …why surprised ?
Trevling a mediocre general manager …sold out draft picks and the cupboard is bare
Crumbling under pressure. No team in the history of the NHL does it better than these Toronto Maple Leafs. None.
Another clown show game. Treliving has done jack shit.
I would go ahead and sell some assets off bring up some new prospects Toronto play like Buffalo October November and December.😢 Turn the page .