The Maple Leafs Were Drowning, Then Matthews Dried Up

Sometimes a hockey season doesn’t collapse because of one dramatic moment. No poor trade or disastrous game. Instead, things slowly start to unravel until, finally, the camel’s back is broken and the whole thing falls apart.

That’s how this Toronto Maple Leafs season probably feels for fans and the players. It’s death by a thousand cuts.

There Were Warning Signs Early for the Maple Leafs

There were early warning signs. Toronto never really found a steady rhythm out of the gate. One week they’d look fine, the next week they’d lose three or four games and look old and slow doing it. By the halfway point, they were playing .500 hockey, winning almost as many games as they were losing.

And, in Bettman’s three-point NHL, what might feel like a half-decent record isn’t a good indication of the strength of an NHL roster. The minute teams start collecting these extra points, it becomes increasingly difficult to make up ground in the standings. It was clear early that this would be an uphill battle for the Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs’ 10-Game Point Streak Hid The Truth

There was a stretch of hockey where the Maple Leafs appeared to have turned the season around. An 8-0-2 run made a huge difference in the standings. There was also renewed hope among fans, who suddenly saw a team that could make the playoffs even when they were trying to figure out who they were.

Unfortunately, that run was not the team’s true identity. This was still a fragile group beneath the surface. Gaps opened in the defence. The roster looked unsettled. Some nights, it looked like players seemed to be chasing the puck all over the ice. Odd-man rushes were the norm rather than the exception.