For the dizzying array of moves the Maple Leafs have made over the past two off-seasons, they've ignored the one change most of the hockey world thinks it should make, says Ken Campbell.
John Tavares, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and William NylanderSince the summer of 2023, the Toronto Maple Leafs have made a mind-boggling number of player moves. They've remodelled their defense corps, their bottom six, their goaltending and their front office.
Yeah, but, here's the thing. As long as the Core Four stays intact, those changes might not amount to a hill of beans. How can the Leafs continue to walk it back while the rest of the hockey world can plainly see that a core of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares isn't working?
Well, it's not that easy, at least not anymore, now that everybody's no-move clauses have kicked in. So, unless Marner changes his mind, the Leafs won't be in a position to really do something about this until Tavares' and Marner's contracts run out after this season.
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