Evan’s NHL Daily: Leafs Fail Again, Changes Finally Coming?

They’ve got some of the highest paid forwards in the NHL, and yet they managed to score just 12 goals in a seven game series against the Boston Bruins. That’s a big reason why the Toronto Maple Leafs are headed home early again this Springs. After another Game Seven loss, there has to be changes coming…right?

In Colorado, the Avalanche will take Sunday off as they await the winner of the Dallas/Vegas series. On Saturday, they went to work again, and Gabriel Landeskog didn’t let a Zamboni slow down his rehab.

All that and more in this Sunday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

Will it be Dallas or Vegas? The Avalanche will find out today.

Gabriel Landeskog is trying to make his way back, and he’s not going to let a Zamboni make him get off the ice.

Leafs Fail Again

Is it possible the Leafs deserved a better fate in Game Seven? Yeah, it’s possible. It was a pretty even game but the Leafs were credited with more scoring chances. That doesn’t get you wins in the NHL, though.

David Pastrnak, who was called out by his head coach after Game Six, was the hero in overtime for the Bruins, scoring off a really nice bank pass from Hampus Lindholm to send the Leafs home for the summer.

Again.

BOSTON BREAKS TORONTO'S HEART AGAIN 🐻

DAVID PASTRNAK WITH THE GAME 7 OT WINNER‼️ pic.twitter.com/AVHN5gZfaV

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 5, 2024

Changes have to be in store for the Toronto Maple Leafs. To have four forwards making over $40 million combined and to score just 12 goals in a seven game series is unacceptable. William Nylander, once again, showed that he can actually score in the postseason, but some of the other guys should take a lot of heat. Mitch Marner will be the guy who will have the fingers pointed at him, as he picked up just three points in seven games while making over $10 million a year. Auston Matthews missed a chunk of the series due to a mystery injury that he didn’t want to talk about after the game, and I’m sure that will save him from some criticism. Not all, though.

There should be changes, but can they actually get it done? The salary cap is going up in the NHL this summer, which should (conceivably) make it easier to make some trades, but all of their big money players have trade protection. It’ll be up to Brendan Shanahan to get creative for Toronto and put his foot down, assuming he actually keeps his job. I don’t know how he can.

National Hockey Now

Boston’s reward for beating the Leafs? Arguably the best team in the NHL, the Florida Panthers.

A better year than expected hasn’t changed plans for Danny Briere in Philadelphia.

Speaking of inability to score goals, that’s what did in the Nashville Predators this Spring.

Could the Devils trade for Mike Sullivan? There’s got to be better options out there, right?