The Toronto Maple Leafs had a nightmare Game 5, and fans and analysts haven’t shown any mercy when it comes to criticizing the team’s star players. Now, a former NHL general manager has shared exactly what he thinks about the Maple Leafs—and it’s an absolutely brutal assessment.
Things looked promising for Toronto two games into their second-round series against the Florida Panthers. But after two straight home wins for the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers absolutely humiliated the Maple Leafs—in Toronto—in Game 5.
Florida ultimately won 6–1 after another terrible showing from star players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Since then, many have been harsh in their criticism of Toronto’s weak mentality and their never-ending playoff struggles.
Former GM slams Toronto Maple Leafs
Now, Craig Button, a former NHL general manager and current TSN hockey analyst, has delivered a scathing review of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Who’s going to get the pound of flesh?” Button said on SC with Jay Onrait. “I’m not sure. Just tell me who it is.”
“I’ve been around this game a long time, and they don’t have guys that are ready to go get a pound of flesh,” Button continued. “It’s not part of their mentality.”
Button also said the Toronto Maple Leafs seem unable to learn from past failures—and this time, he’s not buying into them.
“Fool me once, fool me twice, fool me thrice, and on and on and on,” Button said. “I’m not fooled by it. … They haven’t shown me one thing that they’ve learned a lesson. Not one thing. … It started in Game 3, went to Game 4, and here we are now after Game 5.”
“They’re not fooling me. Sorry,” Button concluded. “Your actions speak so loudly, I don’t even hear what you’re saying.”
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