The Toronto Maple Leafs are experiencing one of their most successful regular season runs in franchise history. Despite an 8-year playoff streak, they have only managed to secure one playoff series win. This begs the question: what is the problem with this Leafs team?

Just over a month ago, the Maple Leafs faced another early playoff exit, this time at the hands of their long-time nemesis, the Boston Bruins. This marks the fourth time in 11 years that the Bruins have ousted the Leafs in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Even with a restructured roster, the team in blue was unable to advance once again.

Following this disappointment, hockey fans flooded social media with their opinions on the Leafs’ issues. After much contemplation, a key problem has been identified: the Leafs’ mindset needs to change if they want to capture the Stanley Cup.

The Biggest Issue With the Current Toronto Maple Leafs

While I can’t speak to the exact atmosphere in the Leafs’ locker room, I firmly believe that every player, including stars like Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, is committed to winning the Stanley Cup. The idea that they don’t care about winning is simply absurd.

However, it’s evident that the Leafs struggle to win critical games, and this comes down to their mindset. To overcome this hurdle, the Leafs need to adopt a mindset focused on winning rather than merely trying not to lose.

Credit where it’s due: the Leafs know how to keep a series close. Excluding the 2023 series against the Florida Panthers, every playoff series they’ve lost since 2018 has gone to seven games (or five games against Columbus). They’ve shown resilience, coming back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Bruins twice and from 3-0 down in Game 4 against the Blue Jackets to force a decisive game.

Despite these efforts, the Leafs have only one series win since 2004. This repeated failure is becoming a growing burden for the players. It’s understandable that losing in crucial games is disheartening, but until they make a deep playoff run, the Leafs need to change their mindset in high-pressure situations.

Introducing a new coach like Craig Berube could be the catalyst for this change. While Sheldon Keefe did his best, it’s time for a fresh voice in the locker room.

In summary, the primary issue for the Leafs isn’t a lack of toughness or Mitch Marner’s playoff performance; it’s their mindset. Adopting a winning mentality is crucial for their future success.