(Toronto) Brendan Shanahan settled the thorny question about his trusted men from the start.
Posted at 8:24 p.m.
In the aftermath of yet another playoff loss, the Toronto Maple Leafs president told reporters at the traditional annual postseason conference — again much sooner than everyone in the organization would have liked — that general manager Kyle Dubas and head coach Sheldon Keefe will keep their jobs.
“Extremely disappointed,” Shanahan said first Tuesday. We are not going to find excuses. »
That said, we’re not going to make changes just to say we’ve made changes. »
The bar was low.
The Maple Leafs had the last two Stanley Cup champions on the ropes with two chances to get their second-round bye. Unlike last May after the carnage at the expense of the Montreal Canadiens or in back-to-back losses to the Boston Bruins in 2018 and 2019, the moment didn’t seem so big for a group that’s been dragging, for good or bad. wrong, the failures of the past.
In the end, the result was the same in Game 7 for a club that hasn’t passed the first round of the playoffs since 2004 — now the worst streak in the NHL — or been crowned Stanley Cup champions since 55 years.
“I’m proud of the progress that has been made,” noted Dubas. However, we have not been able to move on to the next level. »
“I saw a different team and a new approach,” Shanahan added. In the last seasons, when we had a chance to eliminate a team, we played on our heels. »
One of the things I liked about the progress made this season, despite the results, is that our team was ready for any challenge. »
And while Shanahan has been clear about his GM and head coach, Dubas hasn’t closed the door on renewal in the roster. However, it would require some gymnastics with the salary cap.
“I believe in this group,” said Dubas, who saw his team reach franchise all-time highs in points (115) and wins (54) in 2021-22. What would be easy would be to make big decisions and big changes. »
“But it continues to keep that hope alive in this moment. And it is imperative. »
The Maple Leafs’ core players of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly have all had first-round losses for the past six seasons. Club captain John Tavares has also seen four early eliminations since signing to his home team as a free agent in 2018.
“It hurts… We’re disappointed,” Tavares said. We believe in our group.
“We will continue to do everything in our power to finally get where we want to go. »
Matthews and Nylander have two more seasons left on their contracts, while Marner and Tavares are under contract until 2024-25.
The situation in Matthews needs to be monitored. The Leafs can re-sign the NHL’s only 60-goal scorer in the past decade as early as 1er July 2023. There are no signs that Matthews is unhappy or looking away, but time is running out.
“We would like to make him a Leafs forever,” Shanahan said. He has been fantastic for us. »