The Toronto Maple Leafs have entered a rebuilding phase following their painful loss to the Florida Panthers in the second round of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Star forward Auston Matthews was at the center of the series that left the entire franchise reeling.
Among the most significant changes, Brendan Shanahan will no longer serve as the Maple Leafs‘ president. At the same time, both Mitch Marner and John Tavares are set to become free agents in July, signaling a chain of moves aimed at reshaping the roster.
The elimination against the Panthers was especially painful because the Maple Leafs held a 2–0 lead in the series but failed to close it out. They missed another opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup after multiple attempts. The internal changes prompted a candid statement from general manager Brad Treliving.
Treliving’s message on the loss to the Panthers
“That series is going to stay with me a long time. They’ve set the bar in our division, they’ve set the bar in our league. That’s what we aspire to,” said Treliving, according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun. The Maple Leafs’ GM expressed his deep frustration following the team’s second-round playoff exit with Matthews as the main star.
Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Columbus blue Jackets.
Changes coming to the Maple Leafs
Shanahan had been with the Maple Leafs since April 2014, so his departure brings an end to an 11-year chapter in the team’s front office. While head coach Craig Berube noted he had a good relationship with the former president, a new direction is now on the horizon.
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Mitch Marner’s potential exit from the Maple Leafs could reportedly have major implications for Auston Matthews’ future
The loss to the Panthers marks the end of an era for the Maple Leafs, who have reached the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons but advanced past the first round only twice. With Treliving in charge, the franchise will look to redefine its identity and aspirations heading into next season.
