Elliotte Friedman breaks down exactly what's ahead for the Maple Leafs

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Tyler Ball
May 8, 2024 (11:08)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs recently rescheduled their end-of-season press conference with several front-office members. After several days of being left in the dark NHL insider, Elliotte Friedman confirmed the reasons why the press conference was moved.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to make several moves this offseason to shake up their team. Many are waiting patiently to hear from the front office regarding the new plan. After a surprise rescheduling the media is expected to hear from them on Friday. Now new reports have confirmed why the delay has occurred.

According to insider Elliotte Friedman there are several factors that led the Toronto Maple Leafs to move the press conference. The first was to take emotion out of their decision making process after a painful playoff loss to the Boston Bruins.

I think I have a little bit of a better idea of why this week is unfolding as it is. You know, the players and Sheldon Keefe had their availability on MondayI think Wednesday is an important day in terms of meeting and planning In the organization. I don't know exactly who's all going to be in this, I don't know exactly when it's all going to happenbut I do think Wednesday is a day where they're really going to start to drill down on where things are going to go here over the next little while. I think you have to get over the emotion of the situation, everyone wanted to wait a couple of days but now it's time to start moving everything forward.

Next was an encouragement from the NHL to move the press conference. Elliotte Friedman believes that the NHL wanted the Draft Lottery to take center stage and they thought this press conference could derail that.

One thing I believe is the NHLTuesday was draft lottery dayI don't think the league wanted a lot of news on that day (mentions the league understood Ottawa's coaching change) but the league didn't want too much to interfere with the Celebrini celebration.

Lastly, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was honored by the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday. It is believed that the Maple Leafs did not want to overshadow or ruin this moment for Sheldon Keefe regardless of their final decision on his future with the organization.

Also Sheldon Keefe was inducted into the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday night and the Maple Leafs are very sensitive of that. But I think Wednesday is going to be the day where they really start to meet and go over what's coming and I think that's why the availability was pushed from Thursday to Friday

Overall a Friday meeting gives the organization to come up with a well-thought-out and concrete plan for the future. As of now, there is no confirmation of what that future looks like. Once the press conference takes place on Friday we will pass along all of the pieces of big news and notes that come from anyone at the podium