How can GM Brad Treliving make Maple Leafs' DNA change happen?
Article content
It's not just at the top where a change in the Leafs' approach has to happen. The Panthers depth players, specifically the third line of Anton Lundell between Eetu Luostarinen and Marchand, were tone-setters in the march to a second Cup win in as many years.
The Leafs don't have much comparable in their bottom six, not that many teams in the NHL do. What players such as Max Domi, Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann bring is OK, but they're a notch below what Panthers coach Paul Maurice had at his disposal.
And, if you're going to follow the Panthers model, there's going to have to be change in how the Leafs work on the forecheck, isn't there? The Panthers' diligence and tenacity was crucial throughout the playoffs.
It's not that the Leafs don't have a good forechecking system — under Berube, they do — but finding ways to make it more impactful have to be among the off-season goals.
The clock started ticking on the Leafs and their off-season goals late on the night of May 18, when the Panthers squashed them in Game 7 at Scotiabank Arena.
Adding some of the Panthers' DNA, or something similar, would add up to a good summer of work Treliving.
A stiff test awaits. We'll have a firm idea in a few weeks whether Treliving was able to attain a good grade.
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