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Three potential destinations for Mitch Marner
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Last night, the Hurricanes secured their ticket to the Eastern Final. They beat the Capitals in 5.

So, for the moment, there are two qualified teams in the final four: the Oilers and the Hurricanes. Both clubs can rest while the other teams fight for survival.

Here’s how it looks.

(Credit: NHL.com)

So that means the Oilers are waiting to see who wins the series between the Jets and Stars. Meanwhile, the Panthers and Maple Leafs are fighting for the right to take on the Hurricanes.

The next few days will be interesting.

(Credit: NHL.com)

From a Canadian point of view, we wonder if the Jets will be able to join the Oilers in the Western final to ensure that the country is represented in the final right now.

But with Game #6 taking place on the road, we know the Jets will lose. The Jets’ (theoretically very good) goaltender won’t be going to Texas to shut out the Stars, though.

What about the Maple Leafs?

Their plan to get past the first round was cute , but we can see right now that they don’t have what it takes to get past the Panthers, who are playing the right way.

The culture in Toronto is not playoff-friendly, as it has been for several years now. Even if Craig Berube is a tough guy.

Is it because he leads a group that is the coward’s coward?

On that subject, it’s interesting to note that this morning, on BPM Sports, Renaud Lavoie talked about how Aaron Ekblad has turned into a power monster and not just a “cute” defenseman recently. The same thing awaits Seth Jones.

The Panthers are getting the guys ready for war. And the Toronto boys aren’t ready to do the same…

So more and more, even before the Maple Leafs are sure to be potentially eliminated tonight, there’s already talk of what to do this summer.

It seems that every year, we say to ourselves that this is the year it won’t happen again. 2025 is no exception.

But with Mitch Marner and John Tavares eligible for full autonomy, it’s perhaps easier to think that the Maple Leafs could clean house this summer.

And on that subject, Jimmy Murphy and Pierre McGuire (The Sick Podcast – The Eye Test) raised the following names as potential landing spots for Marner: the Mammoth, the Rangers and the Predators.

Playing for the Rangers might help him get some ad deals. #Interesting

But hey. Whatever the change, it’s clear that if the Maple Leafs come out as flat as an old 7 Up, something will have to be done. Guys will have to go… whether they like Toronto or not.


overtime

– The Devils would say no. And I don’t know if I see the Habs doing that.

– Love this.

– Océanic: a noisy crowd in Rimouski. [JdeQ]

– What do you think?

– Logical.

This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.

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