Latest news with #LeafsTalk
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maple Leafs Urged to Move Star Defenseman After Playoff Failure
The fallout from the Toronto Maple Leafs' latest postseason failure has already begun. With the team eliminated in a 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 7, questions about the futures of several key figures are intensifying. One of the strongest criticisms came from Sportsnet's JD Bunkis, who singled out defenseman Morgan Rielly as a member of a core that, in Bunkis' eyes, needs to be dismantled. Advertisement Rielly, who completed the third year of an eight-year, $60 million contract, has been with the Leafs since Toronto drafted him with the No. 5 pick of the 2012 NHL draft. 'I think he should be gone,' Bunkis said on Monday's "Leafs Talk" show. 'Let's get into cuts—for me, it's start with this: Shanahan, gone. I don't see a scenario that makes any sense with Marner. And yeah, I think Rielly is the next cut. 'Those are the three automatics.' Rielly's contract includes a full no-movement clause, but Bunkis suggested Toronto could apply pressure to force him to accept a trade elsewhere. Rielly is coming off a 41-point regular season and scored seven more points in 13 playoff games. The veteran blueliner, however, was on the ice during multiple key breakdowns in Game 7 and finished the playoffs with a minus-2 valuation. Advertisement After the loss, Rielly acknowledged the team's collapse in the second period. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16), Auston Matthews (34) and Matthew Knies (23) congratulate Morgan Rielly (44) after a E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images 'Obviously there was a period there where they get three, and we're not able to weather the storm, or push back,' Rielly said. 'In there somewhere is a pretty crucial part of the game.' Rielly was presented with a scenario in which he would be moved from Toronto, but he wasn't that interested in entertaining it. 'That's not what I'm thinking about right now,' Rielly said. Rielly's mind is set on Toronto for the time being, as he made clear while addressing the media on Tuesday. Related: Auston Matthews' Leadership Questioned By Former Maple Leafs Player Related: Maple Leafs Coach Points Out Core Four's Main Flaw After Game 7 Loss
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NHL Insider Calls Out 2 Maple Leafs Stars for Not Caring
The Toronto Maple Leafs were outplayed in every facet of their 6-1 home loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5. Down 3-2 in the series, they now face elimination, and criticism has intensified around the team's top stars, who already suffered the ire of the Toronto crowd during Wednesday's collapse. Advertisement Team captain Auston Matthews and star winger Mitch Marner were again held off the scoresheet. Matthews has yet to score in the second round, while Marner finished Game 5 with a critical turnover leading to a Panthers goal, no points, and just one shot on goal. "I just can't be convinced these guys care the way other people do," Sportsnet's analyst JD Bunkis said on the "Leafs Talk" show following the Game 5 loss. "After the game, they asked Marner about the no shots, and he said he's just trying to get shots through sticks, that's my game," Bunkis said. "That's your game, brother? Your game is no shots in two games against the Florida Panthers? Advertisement "I just don't think you two care. I'm sorry, I'm done pretending. Do you not care? How can you not be pissed off about this? Just look angry. "It's the same thing over and over." Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) speaks with William Nylander (88) in a game against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Hamilton-Imagn Images Marner was asked postgame about the team's performance and his mindset heading into Game 6. "Some sloppy play, not hard enough working, giving away too many opportunities around our net, there's a good list of it," Marner said. "I don't think anyone's happy about it. Time to reset, time to refocus, get ready for our flight tomorrow, go into Florida and play a hockey game." Matthews, meanwhile, addressed the fan reaction and Toronto's poor showing on home ice. Advertisement "I think everybody's gotta look in the mirror, myself included," Matthews said. "Everybody wants to be better. Everybody wants to, obviously, win." The Maple Leafs will look to keep their season alive in Game 6, which is scheduled for Friday, May 16, at 8 p.m. ET in Sunrise, Florida. Related: Auston Matthews' Stern Message to Maple Leafs After Losing Game 5 to Panthers Related: Maple Leafs Fans' Behavior Toward Brad Marchand Sparks Reactions
