Leon Draisaitl roasts the Leafs after they crumble under pressure in Game 7

With the Winnipeg Jets and the Toronto Maple Leafs both bowing out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past weekend, the Edmonton Oilers are now the only Canadian team remaining in the post-season.

There's no denying the fact that Canadian teams face more fan pressure than most NHL teams and there's perhaps no more pressurized hockey market than Toronto. In fact, Florida Panthers star Brad Marchand said as much last night saying essentially that the Leafs' fanbase creates unnecessary pressure to the team that actively works against their own self interests.

“I think if you look at the heat this team catches, it’s actually really unfortunate," Marchand said last night. "You know, they’ve been working & building something really big here for a while, and they were a different brand of hockey this year, and they’re getting crucified, and I don’t think it’s justified.”

Today Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl was asked about the pressure of playing in a Canadian market and his response was very telling. Draisaitl admitted that the pressure is high and that not every team can handle that pressure, but that the Oilers can handle the pressure and they thrive on it. 

Check it out:

You feel that shade, Leafs fans? 

For our earlier reports on the Leafs' post-mortem today, read below.

Brad Marchand has successfully ended the Toronto Maple Leafs' season once again.

While Leafs fans are used to Marchand and the Boston Bruins beating up on their team in the post-season, Marchand decided to mix things up this year with a deadline move to the Florida Panthers.

Marchand and the Panthers, of course, ended the Leafs' season with a 6-1 Game 7 victory last night and Marchand was quick to give praise and defend the Leafs' efforts after the game last night.

“They’ve been working and building something really big here for a while and they were a different brand of hockey this year. They're getting crucified and I don't think it's justified," Marchand said post-game. He also admitted that he grew up cheering for the Leafs as a child.

On today's 32 Thoughts podcast episode, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported that he feels the Leafs will try to pursue Marchand this summer as a free agent.

“Watching Brad Marchand fence with the media at the end of the game, I wonder if the Maple Leafs are gonna take a run at him this summer,” Friedman said on today's episode.

My take on this: Why would Marchand put himself through that?

If he doesn't re-sign with the Panthers or with the Boston Bruins, I suspect that Marchand will chase a Stanley Cup with another contending team. While the Leafs have incredible talent, they're now a team in transition and I can't see him being persuaded by Leafs' management by anything other than a fat paycheck. To me this just reeks of rumor mongering by Friedman.

Read below for our earlier reports on pending UFA's Mitch Marner and John Tavares following last night's loss.

It sounds like Mitch Marner is DONE with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The pending unrestricted free agent likely played his final game as a member of the Leafs last night in a lacklustre Game 7 in which Marner went pointless with just two shots on goal. It was yet another disappointing Game 7 for Marner, despite his protestations for his teammates to "WAKE THE F*** UP!"

Marner would give the puck up, leading to a Panthers goal on the very next shift, by the way...

After the game a dejected and depressed Marner reflected on his time with his hometown team, making it fairly clear that his time in Toronto has come to an end. I mean... just listen to him yourself:

When asked if he would like to return to the Leafs, all Marner had to say was, "Yeah, we'll see what happens," while shaking his head the entire time.

I mean... does this seem like a player who is committed to his team?

He's already talking about the Leafs in the past tense:

“It meant everything,” he said. “(They) took maybe a risky pick on a small kid from Toronto and I’ve been forever grateful to be able to wear this Maple Leaf, and be a part of some of the great legends here and be able to wear this jersey.

“So never taken a day for granted, and I always loved it.”

Yep... he's done. I'd be shocked if he returns to Toronto next season.

Read below for our earlier report on Leafs forward John Tavares, a fellow pending UFA, and his words following last night's disappointing loss.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares met with the media last night following his team's season ending loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 7.

Tavares' contract with the Leafs expires this offseason and there's speculation that he will not be retained by management after seven seasons with his hometown team. An emotional Tavares was asked about the possibility of moving on and what it meant for him to represent the Leafs during his tenure, that's when he made it clear that he would like an opportunity to remain with the club for next season.

Check it out:

While I feel for Tavares, personally I don't see how they can bring him back next season. To me, there's more value in turning the page and moving on from the Tavares era than anything Tavares could bring on the ice. 

When you look back at the Leafs under Tavares, they've mostly been a disappointment. Looking back at things it's easy to see where the trajectory of things changed. Former GM Kyle Dubas elected to chase after Tavares at $11 million per season while walking away from Nazem Kadri at $4.5 million per season. Kadri was the heart and soul of the Leafs at the time and went on to be a very effective player for the Colorado Avalanche during their 2022 Stanley Cup run. To me, this decision was the largest mistake made by Dubas and Leafs President Brendan Shanahan. It's time to move on from that mistake and move forward with new leadership in place if this team hopes to shed the mistakes of the past.

Thoughts, Leafs fans? Would you welcome JT back on a team-friendly contract? Or should the Leafs leave the past in the past?