Settle down- I said the most skilled team, not the greatest Leafs team ever. There is a sizable difference between those two distinctions, but if there was ever a group to live up to both of those titles, it might be this team. First and foremost, it’s about time that we are in a year where the complaints about these three superstars are few and far between. Here in Toronto, we’ve become accustomed to the revolving door of complaints targeting them individually and collectively- with fans making it loudly known the ‘big three’ aren’t doing enough. “Matthews should score here”, “Marner does too much”, “Nylander needs to be more physical”- I’ve heard it all. 

Furthermore, the discussion always seems to end the same way- “if they do that, then we will win”. In reality, the performances of the big three have never been the primary reason why the Leafs lose. This core may have only secured one series win together, but out of their eight series losses, four came to the eventual Stanley Cup finalists on the Leafs’ side of the bracket. It’s not supernatural- aside from the Canadians who caught lightning in a bottle, on those four occasions the Maple Leafs came up against formidable opponents who were built to win the cup. 

Nobody is perfect, and these three superstars have gone missing in the occasional playoff game, but that isn’t grounds for expulsion. I urge you to think about a dystopian future where two of the three leave, and the Leafs become a basement team. By no means am I condemning the trading of Matthews, Marner or Nylander. If the Leafs get someone equally as impactful in return, then I am all for it- but that is one big if.