BOSTON – At least Dave Nonis got his wish.
When the Toronto Maple Leafs entered the playoffs two weeks ago, the general manager was eager to see how his young roster would react to a pressure situation.
What followed should give him plenty to consider heading into the off-season. The Leafs pulled out two must-win games in a row over the Boston Bruins and built a 4-1 lead in the third period of Game 7 on Monday night; then they wilted in spectacular fashion at TD Garden.
“This is new territory for a number of players,” Nonis had said before the series started. “For a lot of guys, it’s going to be different. How they approach it and how they tackle it will be interesting for us to see.”
As time passes, the Leafs GM will likely see more good than bad from this seven-game rollercoaster. That will take some time though.
James van Riemsdyk provided a great example of how experience can help in the post-season. He was a force throughout the series and finished the first round with more shots on goal (33) than any other player in the league.
He also led the team with seven points.
Phil Kessel finally managed to break through against his former team with four goals, Reimer made 72 saves in the high-pressure Games 5 and 6, Cody Franson had some good moments after a quietly productive season and Jake Gardiner showed plenty of promise (although he was guilty of the final turnover on Monday before Patrice Bergeron ended the series in overtime).
The top members of the Leafs organization were keeping detailed notes throughout the series.
“When you get in situations like this you see the character, you see the clawing and scratching and fighting for space on the ice and there are some people that really elevated their play,” said coach Randy Carlyle. “It does change your opinion on some individuals and for some it reinforces what you thought.”
Before leaving the scene of the crime, here are a few quick thoughts on the series and the summer ahead:
– Respect. The Leafs earned plenty in this series against a division rival who has spent the last few years beating up on them like a schoolyard bully. The Bruins players were extremely complimentary of their opponent from start to finish, with Milan Lucic saying after Game 7 that the city of Toronto should hold its head high. One of the more interesting — and honest — quotes of the series came from Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk, who said this of the Leafs: “It looks like they finally care.”
– Kessel. He answered the call in every way in this series. Not only did he show up and play some good hockey against the Bruins — something he had basically failed to do since the 2009 trade to Toronto — he also made a noticeable effort to speak on behalf of the team. Kessel took heat prior to the playoffs for shirking his interview responsibilities, including from this writer, but he was a total professional once it got going.
– Tough choices ahead. The most important decisions facing Nonis involve the long-term futures of Kessel and captain Dion Phaneuf. They are each signed through 2014, but negotiations on an extension can start in July. Is Nonis prepared to commit big money to them long term? How will the playoffs affect that decision? Phaneuf logged major minutes in this series and experienced highs and lows — the bad pinch before Boston scored in overtime in Game 4, the big goal in Game 6. He was also on the ice for the two late Bruins goals that sent Monday’s game to overtime.
– Tyler Bozak. Has the centre played his last game with the Leafs? An undisclosed upper body injury kept Bozak out of Games 6 and 7 and he is now set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 6. There aren’t too many centres on the market so he’ll be looking for a raise. While Bozak hasn’t produced the offensive numbers you’d like to see from a No. 1 pivot, he’s become a reliable faceoff man and was a key part of the Leafs impressive penalty kill this season. The team’s other pending UFAs are Clarke MacArthur, Colton Orr, Ryan Hamilton, Ryan O’Byrne, Mike Kostka and Frazer McLaren.
– Blue-line. Too many turnovers. Way too many turnovers. The depth was tested against the Bruins because of injuries to Kostka and Mark Fraser, but there will almost certainly be changes made at this position. It is arguably the team’s biggest weakness. Expect Gardiner to be part of the top-four on opening night in October.
– Reimer. He was the primary reason the team was in position to win Game 7, but he also contributed to the loss with some shaky play at the end. However, Reimer established himself as a No. 1 goalie in the NHL this season. The 25-year-old was excellent down the stretch and seems to have a great demeanor to handle the most scrutinized position on the team. While the Roberto Luongo rumours are bound to resurface at some point, the Leafs would be wise to give Reimer another shot as the top man. It’s worth remembering that Tuukka Rask, his counterpart in the first round, helped blow a 3-0 series lead during his first playoff run and looked excellent in his second one.
– Fans. Bravo, take a bow. The scene in Maple Leaf Square was talked about throughout the hockey world — one member of a rival NHL team said it reminded him of the atmosphere at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics — and those lucky enough to get inside the Air Canada Centre rose to the occasion as well. From these eyes, it looked like the passion returned.
Final thought: The collapse in Monday’s deciding game shouldn’t have happened. There’s no way around it. No other team in NHL history had ever blown a lead that large in the third period of a Game 7.
However, that doesn’t mean that this was a failed season for the Leafs, far from it.
For Nonis, Carlyle and the other decision-makers within the organization, the work for next season starts immediately. Everyone will need to be better next time.
