The Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff journey for 2024-25 wrapped up in a way that felt all too familiar, as they faced a second-round exit against the Florida Panthers. This series brought back the usual chatter about captain Auston Matthews’ performance in the postseason. Even though Matthews scored 11 points with 3 goals and 8 assists in 13 games, his influence seemed to fade during the crucial moments. Toronto’s loss just added to their ongoing struggle to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, and Matthews faced a wave of criticism from the fanbase.
In the midst of the backlash, Kyle Dubas, the former general manager of the Maple Leafs and now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, came out swinging in defense of Matthews while speaking on The Cam & Strick Podcast on YouTube.
“You’ve seen the evolution as a leader and the evolution on the defensive side as well. Of course, everyone knows about the goalscoring, but to see him named captain there, captain of Team USA, he puts a lot into his craft.” Dubas said. “I don’t think any of the stuff that people talk about, the pressure, the market, his pressure is probably internal and trying to be at his absolute best, and you saw different steps that he took throughout his career. He took constructive criticism well, especially as he got into his mid-20s, so it’s been great to see him continue to evolve, and I hope that he gets back to 100 percent, I think as he talked about after the year, and get back to having a dominating year next year.”
It’s interesting how the praise stands out against what’s happening in Toronto right now, especially since Dubas highlighted how open Matthews is to feedback and the small steps he’s been making. Dubas also touched on the bigger picture regarding Matthews’ challenges.
During the 2024-25 season, Matthews’ goal production took a hit, dropping to 33 goals. That’s quite a contrast from the impressive 69 goals he scored the year before. But Dubas saw these challenges as just a part of Matthews’ journey in his career. The former GM’s comments also served as a response to the growing calls for major changes in Toronto, where fans have been raising questions about Matthews’ role as captain and his ability to perform in the playoffs.
Instagram/ @austonmatthews
The defense really highlighted Matthews’ impressive track record with 401 career regular-season goals, while also pointing out the crazy expectations on him to turn around Toronto’s playoff situation all by himself. But, you know, that playoff loss was such a letdown that it really sparked a bunch of changes for the Maple Leafs.
The trigger was pulled after Auston Matthews and the team failed to deliver results
Captain Auston Matthews recognized the team’s shortcomings after the playoffs, saying, “I thought the first 10 minutes, they came out strong. The next 10 minutes, we controlled play, and then I just thought we had too many passengers throughout the rest of the game.” After the defeat, there were some quick changes in the organization. They let go of longtime president Brendan Shanahan, which really showed a shift in leadership.
CEO Keith Pelley decided to give full control to GM Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube. Pelley highlighted the importance of a cultural reset, promising to connect with the team and its frustrated fans, saying, “They’re as happy as the team is playing well. And there was nothing more evident than seeing that on Sunday. I respect, understand and appreciate their disappointment in the way the season ended. I thank them for it. I thank (them) for the way that they’ve invested in the team. And I understand, to our fans, that winning is the only thing that matters.”
Pelley showed confidence in the current leadership but emphasized that just making it further in the playoffs isn’t enough anymore. The only goal now is to win a Stanley Cup, something Toronto hasn’t achieved in almost six decades. The offseason is shaping up to be a crucial time for the Maple Leafs. With key players like Mitch Marner heading to the Vegas Golden Knights, the roster might be in for some big changes. But Matthews is still the heart and soul of the franchise.
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