TORONTO – John Tavares and his teammates opened the NHL season with loads of hope.
Toronto’s sports scene was buzzing. The Blue Jays were within the early stages of what would turn right into a memorable run to the World Series.
The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, had made the second round of the playoffs just the second time within the league’s salary cap era back within the spring.
Sure, star winger Mitch Marner had bolted town, however the Original Six club still found itself among the many Stanley Cup favourites with a core led by captain Auston Matthews and supported by Tavares and fellow star forward William Nylander.
Things went off the rails quickly. Now it’s almost time for the autopsy after missing the playoffs for the primary time in a decade.
Toronto (32-35-14) closed out its home schedule Monday with an entertaining, mistake-filled 6-5 loss to the Dallas Stars (49-20-12) where the Maple Leafs had built a 3-0 lead by the primary intermission and led 5-3 midway through the third.
“When you already know it’s the last home game, it’s not sign,” said the 35-year-old Tavares. “In some ways, tough coming in today knowing this was the last routine you’re going through, opportunity to go play in front of your fans. In some ways it’s difficult, but you are attempting to go on the market and put your best foot forward.
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“Unfortunately, it was among the same for us.”
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Head coach Craig Berube, whose future is unclear beyond Wednesday’s finale in Ottawa against the Senators, lamented one other night where crucial errors cost his group.
The playoff-bound Stars, meanwhile, became just the sixth team in NHL history — and first in almost 40 years — to beat three-goal and two-goal deficits in the identical game en path to a regulation win.
Despite the bitterly frustrating season, fans still available at Scotiabank Arena gave the players a pleasant ovation after the ultimate buzzer.
“The support in Toronto is fabulous,” said Berube, whose club finished 18-15-8 on home ice. “It’s been fabulous for so long as I can remember, and it’s going to proceed to be fabulous. It’s a terrific hockey market, it’s a terrific sports town. The fans are awesome here.
“This can be a special place.”
One other member of the organization with clouds of uncertainty is defenceman Morgan Rielly. The longest-serving member of the present roster with 950 games across 13 campaigns, there are questions on his future with a club that can look to a chart its path once a brand new brain trust is in place following general manager Brad Treliving’s firing last month.
The 32-year-old Rielly, who has 4 seasons left on a contract that carries a US$7.5-million salary cap hit, would need to comply with a trade out of Toronto, but he was asked following the morning skate if he’d thought of Monday potentially being his last home game.
“It’s crossed my mind,” Rielly told reporters. “All athletes have that sooner or later.”
Tavares called the blueliner “one of the selfless teammates” he’s played alongside.
“The best way he handles himself day-to-day, the way in which he puts the team first, and the way much he cares about every individual,” Tavares said post-game because the Maple Leafs fell to 0-5-1 over their last six. “And also you talk concerning the level of hockey’s played for an prolonged time frame. With where we’re at this season, it’s pretty obvious everyone’s got to look themselves within the mirror.
“We didn’t come near where we desired to get to, in order that’s on everyone. He’d be the primary guy to place his hand within the air saying, ‘I gotta be higher. I got to search out ways to enhance my game’ — especially as a frontrunner to proceed to push forward and find ways to push the group to where we want it to go.”
LOTTERY TALK
The Maple Leafs will give up their first-round pick at June’s NHL draft to an Atlantic Division rival, the Boston Bruins, if it falls within the top-5 after the lottery.
Tavares was asked what it was wish to a play on an evening where lots of Toronto’s fans were hoping for a loss.
“There ought to be an extreme amount of pride to play on this league, to play this game, and to wear the crest that we’re wearing,” he said. “I attempt to approach each game the identical, regardless of the circumstances, the challenges, the spot you’re in.”
FINAL BOW
Legendary longtime play-by-play man Joe Bowen called his final Maple Leafs home game after 43 years working in radio and tv.
The 75-year-old was honoured within the third period with a video tribute and raucous standing ovation.
“Extremely special,” Tavares said. “Couldn’t be more well-deserved. He’ll be in Leafs lore for ceaselessly.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 14, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press