Sportsnet: Luke Fox on the Jeff Marek Present on the Toronto Maple Leafs needing to win a minimum of one spherical, perhaps two, or else some adjustments could should occur.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Marek: “While you take a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs for the longest time, it was at all times first-round success, first-round success, first-round success. Need to get out of the primary spherical. Final yr they did. They knocked off the Tampa Bay Lightning after which bowed out in opposition to the eventual Stanley Cup Finalists Florida Panthers.
What do you take into account to be success this yr for the Toronto Maple Leafs? Like what has to occur in Brad Treliving’s first yr because the supervisor of this crew?”
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Fox: “I feel you gotta win two rounds. Or, or for those who exit within the second spherical, there’s no excuse going out in first spherical. Which is perhaps too excessive of a bar as a result of they’re going to be underdogs in that first spherical, however what they achieved final season I feel they completely should win a spherical and for those who’re going to lose within the second spherical, you bought to push it to seven, you bought to go down combating. You bought to go away the fan base saying, ‘Ah they need to have gained that or they may have gained that.’ You possibly can’t exit the way in which you went out in opposition to Florida final yr.
And , perhaps that’s unfair, as a result of they’re the third seed. They’re going to be underdogs whether or not they get Boston or Florida, however I simply suppose with the truth that you may have all of your, your prime guys that you just’re paying gobs of cash to, they’re all having good years. (Mitch) Marner is a bit banged up proper now, however they’re all having sturdy years. They’re all of their prime. They’ve had many, many a playoff disappointments. It’s time to see some precise outcomes and no extra ethical victories. They obtained to win a pair rounds.”
Marek: “I don’t disagree, however I at all times come again to, what’s the following step of that sentence, and that’s ‘or else clean.’”
Fox: “I feel Sheldon’s gone.”
Marek: “I perceive. Such as you suppose, you suppose it’s a training resolution?”
Fox: “I feel it’s a training resolution?”
Marek: “That is two rounds or it’s a training resolution?”
Fox: “Nicely, they’ve already, they’ve already given (Auston) Matthews and (William) Nylander they’re their monster raises. Marner has full no transfer. I, I don’t , that’s a really sophisticated commerce to make. What else are you gonna do?
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I feel , I feel Brad Treliving saved this bullet for a cause. And I feel in the event that they don’t carry out strongly within the playoffs, and I’m not, who is aware of the way it goes down, it won’t be Keefe’s fault. I simply really feel like one thing has to alter and that’s the best change to make.”