Changes Maple Leafs Have To Make To Break The Cycle

The Toronto Maple Leafs once again fall in a Game 7 and some say that their Stanley Cup window has slammed shut. I wouldn't go that far as they still have Auston Matthews and William Nylander signed long-term and in their primes as well as Matthew Knies well on his way.

A lot has to change and this is finally the offseason where that can happen. It seemed evident that Mitch Marner wasn't returning after this season and that amplified in the playoffs where he made bad plays and didn't play up to his contract once again when the Maple Leafs got later in the series.

With Marner gone and players like Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz heading to free agency, there are some spots for the Maple Leafs to fill internally or externally. I expect Knies to be signed before any offer sheets head his way, especially if Marner is leaving. Toronto can spare the little extra money to get something done quickly.

I also expect John Tavares to be back, but for less than $11 million AAV of course. He wants to win and he has made his money, but I don't think his AAV is going to be as low as some may suggest. I still think he gets around $6-7 million for three years or so.

The defense and goaltending are going to stay exactly the same, but it is at forward where the real work has to be done. I expect Easton Cowan to get NHL playing time as he was great this season in the OHL. That still leaves a need for 1-2 additions, one to play on the first line wing, and the other to play on the second line wing because Pontus Holmberg is not the solution on Tavares' wing.

The only way the Maple Leafs move positively out of this situation is with Knies and Tavares signing, Cowan coming in and making a difference, and the team bringing in a couple of pieces with the money saved on letting Marner go.