While many fans are sure to make calls for the Toronto Maple Leafs to break up their core after yet another playoff setback, the team's mainstays don't see that as the right thing to do.
"That's not up to me to decide. We're proud of our season and things we were able to do over the course of it. I love these guys. I don't want anything to change," Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly said after a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the second round on Friday.
The Leafs' so-called Core Four of William Nylander, John Tavares, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews didn't score in the first three games against the Panthers.
Nylander, with two, and Marner had goals in the final two games, but 2021-22 Hart Trophy winner Matthews and captain Tavares were held in check.
The Leafs lost in the first round of the post-season the past six seasons before finally breaking through to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round this season. However, the joy quickly disappeared as they lost to an underdog Panthers team in Round 2.
“We all got years left on our contracts. I mean, I don't know. It’s not up to us, but we got a lot of belief in this group," Marner said. "We got a lot of belief in that core. It sucks right now, but I got belief.”
While the players have term left, general manager Kyle Dubas' contract expires after this season. His future figures to be a hot topic.
"There's a great foundation here. A lot of belief in this group," Tavares said.
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