The Toronto Maple Leafs remain in offseason limbo while the Stanley Cup Playoffs march on without them. But what happens around the league still tells us something about where this team stands — and how close (or far) they might be from real contention. With the Florida Panthers continuing to steamroll their opponents, Mitch Marner’s situation growing more complex, and young Easton Cowan potentially taking up more space, here are the latest storylines worth watching.
Item One: Florida’s Dominance Says Something About Toronto’s Battle
The Florida Panthers just went into Carolina and stomped the Hurricanes twice, winning by wide margins (5-2 in Game 1 and 5-0 in Game 2) without much drama. That same Panthers team got past the Maple Leafs in a back-and-forth seven-game series, which is now looking tighter than many admit.
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What does that say? For one, it suggests the Maple Leafs were closer to something special than they’ve been given credit for. The structure they played with, their resilience, and the goaltending they got from Joseph Woll held up against a juggernaut. It doesn’t excuse the series’ Game 5 and Game 7 mistakes, but it should shift the narrative from “they failed again” to “they’re finally pushing back” or “they’re closer than we think.” Florida looks like a machine, and Toronto gave them a fight. Hmmm.
Item Two: Marner’s Off-Ice Reality Might Be Shaping His Future
As Marner’s future remains one of the hottest topics in Toronto, more fans are considering whether the Maple Leafs want him and whether he wants to stay. From being carjacked, to his family being harassed, to feeling scapegoated in the media, it’s not just hockey pressure anymore; it seems to be getting more personal.
Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs (Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
Add in the fact that he’s been visibly uncomfortable with the media and has reportedly limited who he’ll talk to, and you start to see a player who feels cornered. I keep returning to his comments after the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he was asked a question (it was imperceptible to hear it), but he laughed nervously and noted he would answer off-camera. Does he not want to feel vulnerable on camera? [By the way, if you follow the link to the interview, it’s about at the 3:50 mark.]
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There is no news about his future, but the writing might already be on the wall. If this season ended the Marner era, it might not be because he didn’t love Toronto. It’ll be because he felt he needed to choose to protect himself and his young family.
Item Three: Easton Cowan Continues to Show He’s Built for the Big Stage
Cowan keeps making his case as Toronto fans look for hope in the next generation. His playoff run with the London Knights has been nothing short of outstanding. He’s showing speed, vision, and an edge that the current core sometimes lacks — not just playing big games, but thriving in them.
Easton Cowan, London Knights (Natalie Shaver/OHL Images)
If what we see in Cowan is correct, he’s not just developing skills — he’s revealing a fire that burns deep inside him. And if the last two playoff series taught the Maple Leafs anything, this team needs more players who bring that internal fire when it matters most. Cowan still has growth ahead, but his intensity feels real — the kind that shows up in May, not just in November. The Maple Leafs haven’t had many true playoff gamers rise through their system, but Cowan might just be the one to break that trend.
Item Four: Solid Goaltending One Less Thing to Worry About
One of the rare areas of stability for the Maple Leafs this past season was in net, where Woll and Anthony Stolarz provided steady, consistent goaltending. Despite both goalies missing time with injuries, the tandem gave Toronto a level of reliability they haven’t enjoyed in years. When healthy, Woll continued to show the calm, technical efficiency that fans hoped for. Stolarz, brought in as a low-key addition, exceeded expectations with his size, mobility, and sharp positional play.
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It’s a refreshing change. Last offseason, goaltending was high atop the team’s worry list. It is no longer. With both Woll and Stolarz under contract and capable of handling a meaningful workload, the Maple Leafs can turn their attention to fixing other areas, namely defensive structure and playoff scoring depth. For once, Toronto might finally be set between the pipes.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
Now that Brendan Shanahan has been moved out, Brad Treliving and the front office are staring down a critical summer. Or, will more clarity begin to emerge soon?
Will Marner move? Who else will go and who will stay? And will they finally commit to building around defence and grit rather than just offensive flash? The Panthers’ playoff march is a loud reminder that skill is great, but structure and toughness win in the spring. Toronto flirted with that identity this year, but now fans should have every expectation that they will decide to commit to it more fully.
[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post – today for the reminder of the Marner video. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]
