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Pierre LeBrun Reveals Noticeable Shift in Maple Leafs Before 2025-26 NHL Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 12:45 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs seemingly opened training camp with a noticeably lighter atmosphere, signaling a shift in tone as the team moves on from the long-running Core Four era.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun described the difference in mood as “unmistakable” compared to years past while discussing the start of Toronto's training camp on Wednesday.

“Let's start with the mood in that room today when they met,” LeBrun said. “To me, it's unmistakable how light the mood was compared to the past decade.

“We're talking no more 'Shana-Plan.' How do they turn the page? How do they get better? Marner—that hung over the entire room the entire year last year. A few years ago, Kyle Dubas (was) entering the final year of his deal, then Sheldon Keefe (was) a lame-duck coach. It's always a situation where you felt people had their hair on fire on this day and the story got fed from there. Not the case today.”

LeBrun on Leafs: 'Unmistakable how light the mood was compared to the past decade'@reporterchris @PierreVLeBrun @markhmasters

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Added LeBrun: “Sink or swim, this is more than ever Craig Berube and Brad Treliving's team. There's a calmness around this team right now. Doesn't mean they'll figure it out like the previous administration, but it certainly feels calmer right now.”

Mitch Marner’s trade to the Vegas Golden Knights in July ended nearly a decade of speculation about whether management would ever split up the core group of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Marner.

That's because, as talented as those players are, the Core Four era produced just two playoff series wins and another second-round collapse last spring against the Florida Panthers.

Instead of trying to replace Marner’s production with a one-for-one swap, Toronto opted to try and spread his minutes and responsibilities with a by-committee approach, adding depth forwards Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua, and Matias Maccelli.

General manager Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube made it clear on Wednesday that the focus is on building a balanced roster rather than relying on four stars to carry the load.

“We’ve turned the page,” Treliving said. “We wish Mitch all the best, but our focus is on our team. Not what was.”

Longtime Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly echoed the sentiment, saying the group has already moved forward.

“Mitch was a polarizing guy because of how talented he was,” Rielly said. “But for us, it’s onward. We’re looking forward to hitting the ice tomorrow, and that’s where our focus is.”

Team captain Matthews also noted the importance of moving forward and leaving the Marner era behind.

“We wish him nothing but the best moving forward, and we’re moving on,” Matthews said.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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