The brotherhood inside the Leafs locker room is gone and those close to the room say the love has vanished
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs once brotherly bond doesn't seem to be there anymore, as one analyst sees it.
A losing season for the Toronto Maple Leafs is beginning to raise questions over the current state of the team's dressing room, and potential discontent between the players.
Former Leaf Carlo Colaiacovo spoke on TSN's 'First Up' about the state of the Leafs locker room, and has been hearing that the bond between the team doesn't seem as strong as it was last season.
Right now, everything about this, Maple Leaf team and the culture that they're living in this season is in question. Because, the best example of loving each other and sticking up for each other and wanting to battle for each other, is the Auston Matthews injury situation? That's when everything about this team's culture started to be started to get put into question. - Carlo Colaiacovo
People close to the team say the difference between last year and this year is that the love in the room is not there anymore
Further to his remarks, Colaiacovo added as well that it appears that the Leafs organization isn't having as much camaraderie as the season prior.
I've talked to a couple of people that are close to certain individuals on this team, And the difference between this year and last year, is that the message was last year. These guys loved being around each other this year. Hasn't been that same feeling.
With that Auston Matthews injury situation. Made people believe. That there's something more wrong with this team than just wins and losses. - Colaiacovo
With that Auston Matthews injury situation. Made people believe. That there's something more wrong with this team than just wins and losses. - Colaiacovo
The Leafs are evidently a very different team. A close friend of the team's core in Mitch Marner left after nearly a decade in Toronto, a move that certainly played a factor in the change between the team, but is only part of the equation overall.
Winning is no help either. When a team is losing, blame can often be thrown around, and players can become less social and more like their friendly selves, becoming more coworkers than friends.
Gudas hit on Matthews didn't create
the culture problem it just made it impossible to hide
The Radko Gudas hit has only heightened the potential disconnect. Fans noting the lack of response began to speculate if there was a deeper meaning to not avenging Matthews. While those theories may be far-fetched, many came out to say the Leafs response wasn't the best.
Recently traded Scott Laughton considered the response to the Matthews hit as "surprising", while rookie Easton Cowan admitted he'd had done more initially.
What's notable is that it's new players such as Laughton, and a rookie in Cowan, who see the flaws in the Leafs mentality. While they may be saying differently if still on the team, it reveals Toronto's issues may lie in its heart in it's longstanding roster.
It's not clear if the front office played a role, or if the dismissal of GM Brad Treliving changes things, but the indication seems to be connected in part to the players themselves.
The Toronto Maple Leafs core hasn't been used to losing, and now that they are, it's exposing a potential major chasm between their star players.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Chris Pronger warns the Maple Leafs must trade Auston Matthews if he refuses to 'win at all costs’
Chris Pronger warns the Maple Leafs must trade Auston Matthews if he refuses to 'win at all costs’
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 3|1231 ANSWERS The brotherhood inside the Leafs locker room is gone and those close to the room say the love has vanished Do the Toronto Maple Leafs look less together as a team this season? | ||
| Yes | 1182 | 96 % |
| No | 49 | 4 % |
| List of polls | ||