The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again left reeling after a disappointing Game 7 loss, this time to the Florida Panthers, who delivered a crushing 6-1 defeat on home ice. This marks the second consecutive Game 7 blowout in the playoffs for the Maple Leafs, further solidifying their troubled playoff history with a now dismal record of 0-6 in winner-take-all games since 2018. The frustrations of fans boiled over, with jerseys and beer thrown onto the ice in a display of anger and disappointment.

With the team's core, including stars Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander, failing to deliver once again, significant changes seem imminent. Marner, slated to become a free agent, rejected an extension last year, raising questions about potential trades. Fans are left to wonder if the time has come to break up the beleaguered core or if president Brendan Shanahan will face the consequences for the team’s repeated failures.