Bob Hartley rips into Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and the Maple Leafs

Spittin Chiclets’ host and former NHL forward Paul Bissonnette strongly believes that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be crowned Stanley Cup champions in 2023.

More than once on the air of his podcast and on social media, Bissonnette has claimed that the Maple Leafs will be the ones to beat despite Toronto being unable to push through the postseason, having now lost its last seven series, including six straight dating back to 2017.

The 2021-22 season ended in embarrassing fashion for the Leafs… The first round series went the distance with Game 7 ending with a 2-1 score for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who ended up going all the way, only to lose at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche in six games.

While Bissonnette believes things will be different in 2022-23, former National Hockey League head coach Bob Hartley is adamant failure will once again come to the Maple Leafs.

On the air of BPM Sports in Montreal this week, Hartley declared he does not believe the Maple Leafs have what it takes this year. Furthermore, he does not think Austin Matthews and Mitch Marner can handle the heat in the postseason. This is what he said, translated from French from the show:

“The Leafs are built for the regular season only. In the playoffs, if you shuffle them around, take space away from them, and give Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews a hard time, your goose is cooked! I expect them to have a big season, but not during the series. If I am right, then get the broom out because changes will happen!”

After a long postseason hiatus, since 2004 when Joe Nieuwendyk scored twice to oust the Ottawa Senators, the Maple Leafs clinched a playoff spot in 2013. But they collapsed in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins and have seen suffered a string of heartbreak - and it looks like Hartley believes it will keep going.