Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Domi, Cowan, Keefe & Brik Up Core? – Hockey Writer – Toronto Maple Leaf
The Toronto Maple Leafs' 2025 playoff run had a brutal loss of 6-1 for the Florida Panthers in Game 7, which is hopeful. With Boos filled with Scotiabank Arena and jerseys, this put the Florida Panthers in a defeat. It's a familiar scene – Toronto lost in Game 6 and Game 7 of the nine-year playoff streak. Once again, a promising season ends with a sad attitude.
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Despite signs of progress, the reality is hard to ignore: it has entered the second round only twice in the past decade. The Maple Leafs have only 31 playoff wins in that game, even seven fewer than Florida in the past three seasons. Even celebrity hype like Drake's public bets can't change their luck. But fans? They just appeared out of patience.
Is it time to break down the core? Take a closer look at Mana and Tavarez
Now is the tricky part. Mitch Marner and John Tavares are in the final year of their contract and may have free agents this summer. Mana still has 100 points of upside. Tavares just scored 38 goals at the age of 34. But with another early exit, many wonder if it’s finally time to move on and use $22 million in cap space to build something more balanced.
Auston Matthews and William Nylander are still in prime numbers. Matthew Knies has 29 goals in the game and is 58 points in the season. If the maple leaves let Marner and Tavares walk, the team can try to rebuild its depth, which disappears again when the game is most important.
Related: Panthers' series wins Maple Leafs show the importance of trade deadline success
In the 2025 playoffs, the “Core Four” plus Daodao totaled 53 points. The rest of the roster? Only 46. As ownership and fans pressure rise, people will think something must be given.
Or continue the course? The risk of letting elite talents go
Of course, decomposing the core is not without risks. Marner and Tavares remain top talents, while the 2025 free agent class won't pay much. Top names – Matt Duchene, Sam Bennett, Brock Boeser, Nikolaj Ehlers – not consistently breaking the game. It's not just about clearing the hat space. It's about what you can do.
Maple Leaf doesn’t have much ammunition when it comes to deals – a first-round pick in the next three years, with only two second-rounders. General Manager Brad Treliving has limited flexibility. He seems to be able to find diamonds in rough places – think of Simon Benoit or Philippe Myers – but the big gun is a game-changer, possibly another fish kettle.
Max Domi: Gravel, Fire and Playoff Energy
Max Domi has become one of the most discussed names in Toronto. He wasn't a big goalkeeper, but when the playoffs began, he showed up. In 13 games, he has 3 goals, 4 assists, 17 hits and 33 minutes. He scored the only goal in Game 7 and was one of the few players to the whistle until the end.
Related: Maple Leafs Domi's inspiring unity and body resilience
Domi's advantage carries risks (penalties, bad timing), but his level of competition is undeniable. If Maple Leaf is serious about adding gravel, he is a player who can help set the tone. He needs to point that fire in the right direction.
One “probably” is now Easton Cowan's heart. Given his playoff success and what we’ve seen so far, he might have that kind of internal momentum that ultimately pushes this team in the right direction. But can he do this as soon as next season?
Former coach Sheldon Keefe is still pulling for Toronto
Even after being replaced last spring, former head coach Sheldon Keefe still had maple leaves in his mind. Now behind the New Jersey Devils bench, Keefe recently shared how he still watches games with the kids and takes root for the team he once led. Very nice to him.
Keefe praised new coach Craig Berube at home in Oakville for tightening the team's defensive performance and maximizing the roster. No pain – just a feeling of gratitude and a lingering connection with the franchise he poured into five seasons. It was once part of the Maple Leaf family, always part of it.
Where do maple leaves go from here?
The summer ahead can define this era of maple leaf hockey. They finally separated the “Core Four” and began to reshape the lineup? Or do they double, hoping some key depth and better luck will eventually push them away? That said, the work missing in this team does not seem to be a skill. It seems that luck (a lot in NHL hockey) and skills aren't enough to surpass the second round of playoffs. The team also needs more hearts.
Related: 4 Maple Leaf Players Shape the Team's Future
With limited draft picks, a weak free agent pool, and years of playoff failures, there is no easy answer. But one thing is clear: change is coming. Is the question ultimately leading to a breakthrough or is it more the same?
