The Maple Leafs are the richest team in the NHL and the Rangers are second richest. (Can you guess what's coming next?)

That could explain why the Blueshirts missed the playoffs and the Maple Leafs ignominiously got punted out of the playoffs, 6-1, by the Panthers on Sunday night. (In Toronto, of all places.)

Similarities? Each team is loaded with overpaid, Fat Cat players who seem not to care at times when you demand high-intensity play – even in a seventh game of the playoffs.

What The Rangers Management And Fans Can Learn From The Panthers-Maple Leafs Series No question, the Panthers-Maple Leafs series was hockey melodrama at its best. 

"The Rangers were in position to make the playoffs in the homestretch," says The Old Scout. "But instead of stepping on the gas pedal they just faded out of contention. It was inexcusable and hard to believe."

In the club's most critical game of the decade, overpaid Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares miserably let down and failed when the chips were down. 

Likewise, high-priced, supposedly-elite Breadman Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Igor Shesterkin seemed more like onlookers than heroes when most needed.

"In Game Seven, The Maple Leafs lacked energy, effort, determination and desperation," says Toronto-based Sportsnet reporter-podcaster Justin Bourne. "They also were not even aggressive."

Sounds like The Boys From Seventh Avenue? Doesn't it? Sure does!

What I want to know is WHY this happens to the two richest teams in hockey. Not even coach Craig Berube shouting down his bench in mid-game could get his Leafs even remotely back in the game.

"Instead," adds The Old Scout, "the Panthers came right back and scored a goal. That should not have happened."

Why did the key Leafs virtually ignore their coach? For the very same reason  the Rangers core paid no attention to Peter Laviolette.

THEY DIDN'T REALLY CARE. THEY DON'T CARE.  Mika knows he can't be moved; his money is secure long-term, so what? He plays hard when the spirit moves him and not when it doesn't.

In Toronto, they ripped the C off then captain John Tavares jersey and gave the captaincy to Auston Matthews who – in the end – demonstrated all the leadership of last week's mashed potatoes.

Who provides the Rangers inspiration? Since there's no captain it has to be a rubbery dancer in the upper seats. Dancin' Larry.

Also noteworthy: Each team had a definitive, dismaying season ending. The Rangers were declared a non-playoff team well before the curtain came down on 2024-25.

Toronto lost home games 5 and 7 to Florida by identical 6-1- 6-1 scores. "Those were the final notes," Bourne concludes.

As for future moves, everyone is wonder where Mitch Marner will play next season. Me, too!

 I checked in with my all-seeing, all-knowing super scout Jess Rubenstein whether he could foresee Marner as a New York Ranger. The following is exactly what he told me:

"The good news is that Chris Drury does not have the money to offer guys like Marner and John Tavares." 

Then, a pause: "The bad news is that Drury  just might cut enough contracts to waste on either of the overpaid UFAs!"