'Change is coming': Toronto’s summer of change

It’s safe to assume that there will be major changes at the organizational level.

Elliotte Friedman broached the subject on the recent episode of his 32 Thoughts podcast, and he said it openly: things are going to shake up in Toronto this summer.

There will be changes on the ice… but we can also expect to see changes in management.

And without naming him, I get the impression that Friedman is talking about the possibility of Brendan Shanahan jumping ship. He’s been on the job since 2014 as president… and the club has never lived up to the (huge) expectations since he’s been there.

The contracts of Mitch Marner and John Tavares will expire, as will those of Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz.

All four guys will be eligible for full autonomy as of July 1.

But… that’s not all, because there are also players who will be RFA this summer.

And here, we’re thinking in particular of Matthew Knies, who is likely to break the bank after a fantastic season in Toronto.

Elliotte Friedman sees him signing a big contract with the Leafs.

The tipster believes that the organization will probably do everything in its power to keep him… because he’s proven himself capable of being part of the team’s long-term success.

But no matter, it takes something.

It takes moves to whip the organization because the disappointing results have been piling up for so many years.

Can it get back on track by letting Marner go and bringing in a new president?

Meh…

Because in the end, even if the players have to look in the mirror, it really does seem to be a cultural problem in Toronto. The players are lazy in important moments, and it goes from there…

Craig Berube, an intense coach, was brought in to change this. But once again, the results are the same, and management must be wondering why Toronto is still like this this year.

Starting afresh and cleaning house can be scary… but maybe it’s the only solution to the problem we see there.

I wonder if Auston Matthews is untouchable right now, even if Mitch Marner really is in danger of leaving too…

Overtime

– That would be nice!

– So much the better.

– Details on the expansion of two LPHF clubs:

– Misery.

– Absolutely.