Maple Leafs Mailbag: Core 4, Alex Nylander & Latest Playoff Failures – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a strong offseason, and a few followers consider that this can be the season their group lastly makes a deep run into the postseason. Whereas there was some crushed hope in latest seasons because of the group’s lack of success within the playoffs, the additions of Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson to bolster their blue line have given followers one thing to cling onto as we head towards the 2024-25 marketing campaign. On this Maple Leafs’ mailbag article, we check out questions concerning the group’s core 4, what Alex Nylander might deliver to the Maple Leafs’ depth sooner or later, and end with some speak concerning the latest lack of playoff success. 

Is There Any Worthwhile Again Story With Alex Nylander Becoming a member of His Brother William within the Leafs Group? Might Alex Be a Salvageable Participant? – @MrEd315

The Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, determined to signal Alex Nylander to a contract for the 2024-25 season, sparking dialog from many followers as to why he wasn’t given a possibility with an NHL group after a powerful end to the 2023-24 marketing campaign with the Columbus Blue Jackets. To reply the primary a part of the query above, I might assume that whereas most members of administration received’t admit that gamers have enter, this looks like a case the place his brother might have pulled some strings. I don’t assume they had been doing him a favour, however placing the 2 collectively in the identical group might give them each a lift of confidence. 

Associated: Brandon Montour Confirms Turning Down Provide From Maple Leafs

So far as the second a part of the query goes, Alex is a extremely strong participant who merely lacks confidence and consistency. All of us noticed the recent streak with the Blue Jackets to conclude final season, showcasing what he’s able to doing all through a complete season. Whereas he might spend the whole lot of this season within the AHL, it’s arduous to see a world the place he doesn’t dominate with the Marlies and earn a shot within the NHL for the 2025-26 season. 

Why Haven’t the Leafs Accepted That the Core 4 Simply Isn’t Working? – @cofredhub

The Maple Leafs will probably be shifting on from John Tavares except he takes a large pay minimize on his subsequent deal, Auston Matthews is essentially the most electrical pure goalscorer we now have seen since Alex Ovechkin broke into the league, Morgan Rielly continues to be a strong top-four defender, and Mitch Marner received’t settle for a commerce anyplace else, however he nonetheless offers loads of strong two-way play to the Maple Leafs’ lineup. We have now seen their lack of manufacturing relating to the postseason, and it’s clear one thing drastic wants to vary for them to succeed. They did what they may with what they’d obtainable, and that’s all you possibly can ask for as a fan.

I agree although, it doesn’t work. I believe Tavares is both taking a large pay minimize to remain in Toronto or he’s gone, and by large I imply he’d need to take round $1 million yearly. Marner is somebody with loads of worth who might deliver again a haul in the event that they determined to commerce him, however he doesn’t need to be anyplace else. His loyalty deserves to be rewarded, and I believe with the cash the group will get from Tavares’ contract being off the books they are going to be capable of herald some new gamers to enrich the facility duo of Marner and Matthews.

Rielly is a bizarre one. He’s nonetheless a strong participant and offers sufficient to their blue line that he doesn’t need to be run out of city, however he’s positively overpaid barely. Nonetheless, I believe taking part in alongside a stronger defensive lineup, Rielly will enhance in an enormous method. On the finish of the day, I believe it will likely be a matter of ready till Tavares is gone, and changing into large spenders subsequent offseason throughout free company. Maple Leafs’ administration is aware of they should take some large swings in the event that they need to win, and $11 million in further cap house on high of an rising wage cap may benefit them in an enormous method. 

Maple Leafs’ Latest Playoff Failures

To conclude this text, I’ll acknowledge a query from a fan who isn’t a Maple Leafs fan. They requested why the Maple Leafs have been so dangerous in latest seasons and it’s a easy reply, they haven’t been. It sucks to continuously see them get eradicated within the first or second spherical of the playoffs, however they’re very dominant within the common season. It’s a matter of determining how they will take that common season success and translate it to the postseason. 

If anybody has questions for a future mailbag, you should definitely ship them on X. We stay up for seeing some other questions within the subsequent version of the Maple Leafs’ mailbag, as we hope to do lots extra of those this summer time and through the common season.