The Main Problem With the Toronto Maple Leafs Right Now
Just over a month ago, their rivals, the Boston Bruins, dealt the Toronto Maple Leafs another early playoff departure. The Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in eleven years, but despite having a different roster, the blue team was unable to win the series.
As usual, almost all hockey fans took to social media to share their thoughts about the Leafs’ issues, and after giving it some serious thought, I believe I’ve identified the problem with this club. If the Leafs are to win a Stanley Cup, they must alter their current mindset, which is the issue with this period.
The Main Problem With the Toronto Maple Leafs Right Now
Naturally, I’m not familiar with the Leafs’ locker room culture, but I firmly believe that every player there want to be the Stanley Cup champion. I think it’s ridiculous that Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews don’t want to win.
Having said that, it’s evident that the Leafs struggle to win games when it means most. If they hope to eventually overcome this obstacle, they must alter their perspective. There is no doubt in my mind that the Leafs want to win, as I have stated previously. But rather than attempting to win every game, the Leafs should have a winning mentality going into the major games.
I will give the Leafs credit now; they are skilled at bringing a series to a close. All of the Leafs’ lost series since 2018 have lasted seven games (five against Columbus), with the exception of the 2023 series against the Florida Panthers. In two of those losses, the team overcame a 3-1 series deficit against the Bruins, and in the other, they overcame a 3-0 deficit in game four against the previously mentioned Blue Jackets to force a decisive game.
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