GDT: Brad Treliving End of Season Presser Thursday @ 10am

[Stephen]

My guess is that had Dubas not been fired in 2023, he would have moved off the core before the NMC kicked in.

That doesn't mean we would have been better though - had he, for example, traded Marner to San Jose for Erik Karlsson like he did as soon as he got to Pittsburgh, would the Leafs have been better off? Unlikely.

That’s a counter factual I can’t really sign off on.

I think he would have gone after Erik Karlsson, as was reported he was after at the deadline. And inexplicably acquired for the Penguins to play ahead of Letang.

 

[centipede2233]

I think berube has significant say on who says and goes. When berube met with pelley for dinner and then the next day pelley says “chief is a major asset”, you know berube gave his real thoughts on marner lol

 

[Jojalu]

Okay, so they will sign Ehlers?

I don't see them signing the same sort of players, I think DNA changes mean they will again chase intangibles (an issue of other GMs too), and focus less on addressing the scoring issue they have every single year........



The previous season was horrendous, anyone could have improved it.

But ya, it is self-inflicted, the coach and D that was assembled is not built for that kind of hockey.

0art of the lack of scoring is that the 4 almost never score later in the series.

Outside this year's game 7 disaster, there have been a lot of 1 goal, maybe 2 goal losses that if the core just kept up their end of the bargain might have resulted in an extra series win or 2.

Good teams should always be able to shut down other good teams once in awhile, but not every year no matter who the opposition is

 

[Leafsfan74]

stop playing mr nice team we coddle players
rielly already leaked to lebrun its a definite no for his nmc
tell him to fk off honestly and force his hand

He waives or Leafs waive. These NMCs are a blight on the league. There should be a minimum of 10 team list.

Waive him and if he isn't picked up you send him to the minors, save some cap space and find a replacement. That's how I would deal with these circumstances. I've seen decades of the clubhouse and I don't care how they describe how much they want to win, if you are losing that many Game Sevens, clearly they don't want to win enough.

I'm a pretty nice guy but there is a point where a player has to say to himself "I'm not getting it done here". He is within his rights to say No to a trade. Leafs are within their rights to waive him.

These players owe their bloated salaries to the Leafs. Notice how much cheaper the players the trade for are compared to when Leafs negotiate contracts? The average player gets paid less outside of Toronto in general. Man up and accept some responsibility and find a new team that can use you.

 

[Suntouchable13]

JT is not a 2nd line C for a SC contender. Even if you bring him back, you are still missing a 2nd C. Sorry, he got overmatched in the Florida series. And now he is a year older next playoffs.

 

[notbias]

So we're acting like a 68 point pace in the 3 seasons leading up to the extension isn't good? He also had 10 points in 8 playoff games

And he's taking advantage of his golden opportunity of playing PP with the two stars. If he wasn't any good, he'd be off the PP...

He was coming off a season where he was pacing for 55.

He had 15 EVP at 5v5 in 52 games... that is not good.

He was behind Yamamoto and Poolparty that year in EVP, Khaira had similar numbers...

He had an outlier year where he was PPG then dropped back down.

I guess if you just do a 3 year average and ignore the latest season, it looks good.

 

[ACC1224]

I think berube has significant say on who says and goes. When berube met with pelley for dinner and then the next day pelley says “chief is a major asset”, you know berube gave his real thoughts on marner lol

He loves Marner.

 

[Roo]

JT is not a 2nd line C for a SC contender. Even if you bring him back, you are still missing a 2nd C. Sorry, he got overmatched in the Florida series. And now he is a year older next playoffs.

Fully agree. I believe we need Tavares to shift to LW. He does a lot of great things for us, like net front play, faceoffs, etc. He can still do those things as a LW, without the demands of the C position. He's fine in the regular season, but once the pace picks up in the playoffs you can tell it becomes a challenge for him to be effective, offensively, given the demand on the defensive side.

 

[The Shadow]

JT is not a 2nd line C for a SC contender. Even if you bring him back, you are still missing a 2nd C. Sorry, he got overmatched in the Florida series. And now he is a year older next playoffs.

Agreed 100%. He needs to move down the lineup

 

[Aashir]

JT is not a 2nd line C for a SC contender. Even if you bring him back, you are still missing a 2nd C. Sorry, he got overmatched in the Florida series. And now he is a year older next playoffs.

JT has been getting out matched nearly every year he has been here

He has 31 in 50 as a leaf (not counting montreal)....that's a 50 point pace with a 23 assist pace whilst he plays with almost exclusively pp1 and nylander who's the best goal scorer during that time.

his last 5 series have been:
2 in 7
5 in 6
2 in 7
1 in 5
7 in 6

you have to go back to 2023 tampa to see him actually being a core piece. He's just as big a reason we lose/ have lost as matthews and marner. He has never had a series where he was the best player, he's never even been the second best player. He probably doesn't even crack the third spot either, his best series might be the 4th best player on the team. All of that for 11M a year.

 

[ULF_55]

He loves Marner.

That is irrelevant as far as team building goes.

One can always love the wrong person ... happens all the time.

Changing the DNA of a team is huge, and you don't make much change replacing someone like Jarnkrok, or Robertson.

Some players received NMC's from Treliving, so I'm guessing there might be some love there.

Some players with NMC's might have received from a previous GM, so perhaps not so much love?

 

[ULF_55]

JT is not a 2nd line C for a SC contender. Even if you bring him back, you are still missing a 2nd C. Sorry, he got overmatched in the Florida series. And now he is a year older next playoffs.

I'm guessing they'd love to land a 2nd. line center.

Don't expect it though.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

DNA change means one of Marner and Tavares are gone for sure.

Maybe both cause he didn't sound like he was eager for Tavares either.

I think the way he praised Knies shows he sort of extends that approach into what the "DNA" should be like for the team moving forward. Someone willing to grit it out under the brightest lights and do well.

 

[ACC1224]

That is irrelevant as far as team building goes.

One can always love the wrong person ... happens all the time.

Changing the DNA of a team is huge, and you don't make much change replacing someone like Jarnkrok, or Robertson.

Some players received NMC's from Treliving, so I'm guessing there might be some love there.

Some players with NMC's might have received from a previous GM, so perhaps not so much love?

if you feel they won't value Berubes opinion you should reply to the original post that mentions it.

 

[centipede2233]

Brad should tell JT, play for 2x6 and we will give you a nice $3 mil per x2 post retirement as an “advisor”

 

[hockeywiz542]

Treliving calls for a “DNA change” after another Leafs playoff disappointment

TSN

May 29, 2025

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving met with the media for the first time since another disappointing playoff loss. Treliving discussed the need for a 'DNA change' within the organization, while discussing the dismissal of Brendan Shanahan and the expiring contracts on the roster.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Basically the same crap every GM has stated the last 10 yrs at pressers. Nothing.

Some interesting points reading between the lines but only speculation on my part reading the tea leaves:

1. The mention of DNA means blood, which means humans, which means players on current roster. Change will happen.

2. More puck movement from the D core. Means a puck moving dman will be brought in. But who leaves? My guess is its Reilly out, new D man brought in with size, puck moving skills. Ekblad????

3. Matthews injury happened at training camp. Managed his injury that wouldnt get worse with rest and a visit to Germany which interestingly enough has the best back doctors in the world. So he has a back problem.

4. Questions about Marner free agency. He didnt say he didnt want Marner back, but player plays a roll in it. Marner doesnt want to come back and he is aware of it. He knew this at trade deadline.

5. Nobody specifically asked him about Tavares. But he brought up how he had a great discussion with JT. JT is coming back.

6. Florida was brought up by Tre a couple of times. As they are the standard. How teams want to emulate them when they build a team because of their success. Bennett and Ekblad and Marchand will be Leaf targets this summer.

6 is such a funny idea, I think this is at least the 3rd time we’ve fallen for it.

1) some team wins playing a distinct style of game by getting big contributions from cheap players playing that style
2) everyone else tries to copy them, overpays the formerly cheap players that play that style
3) that style is no longer effective on a per dollar basis
4) someone else wins the cup playing a different style by getting big contributions from now-undervalued players

Burke tried to become Boston/LA after their cups and ended up with Clarkson instead of Lucic. Dubas tried to become Pittsburgh/Chicago after their cups and ended up with Barrie instead of Letang/Keith. Now we’re going to try to become Florida and end up with whatever overpaid 30 year old rats we can get our hands on.

 

[ULF_55]

if you feel they won't value Berubes opinion you should reply to the original post that mentions it.

I'm saying whether Berube loves a player or not, doesn't change the fact he might agree that in the best interest of the team, they go in another direction.

 

[Leafsfan74]

DNA change means one of Marner and Tavares are gone for sure.

Maybe both cause he didn't sound like he was eager for Tavares either.

I think the way he praised Knies shows he sort of extends that approach into what the "DNA" should be like for the team moving forward. Someone willing to grit it out under the brightest lights and do well.

I'd guess both gone.

If he brings Marner back he is reminding Leaf fans what the teams focus has always been.

The Leafs will never win a Cup with Marner on this team. I've said it for 6 years. Book it.

 

[wingman75]

You do such good summaries, much appreciated. Are you AI?

I am pretty sure it is a Gen-X thing, but I HATE watching a video of something where I can simply read the text... sigh... old.

 

[Tak7]

I'm saying whether Berube loves a player or not, doesn't change the fact he might agree that in the best interest of the team, they go in another direction.

It's also irrelevant because Marner doesn't want to be here.

Hypothetically, Berube, Treliving, Pelley, MLSE, and the entirety of Leafs Nation may all want Marner to stay - but if he wants to leave, he wants to leave. The rest of it doesn't matter.

Reading between the lines, that's what Treliving seemed to be suggesting today.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I am pretty sure it is a Gen-X thing, but I HATE watching a video of something where I can simply read the text... sigh... old.

Me too, mostly because it's just so much faster that way.

 

[ULF_55]

It's also irrelevant because Marner doesn't want to be here.

Hypothetically, Berube, Treliving, Pelley, MLSE, and the entirety of Leafs Nation may all want Marner to stay - but if he wants to leave, he wants to leave. The rest of it doesn't matter.

Reading between the lines, that's what Treliving seemed to be suggesting today.

Watched the Big M, get moved, so seeing the Little m moving is just another whatever.

 

[ToneDog]

Watched the Big M, get moved, so seeing the Little m moving is just another whatever.

Big M won cups and wanted to be paid. Little M has won nothing and wants to be overpaid.

 

[namttebih]

I agree, Bubbles is 50/50 in his moves so far with the Leafs, that ratio needs improving. Hopefully he’ll get something (anything) for Marner’s rights or God forbid can muster up a sign and trade. I like the direction he’s headed with making the team tougher, but he needs to do better with not overpaying like he did on the Laughton deal………

To be honest - and I realize that this might be overly optimistic - but I'm excited to see him in a full season. I'm not expecting him to score 30 or anything, but he really struggled to get his footing with this team post deadline. Overpay aside.