Insider Roasts Leafs' Core After Poor Performances Against Florida
With their poor performances since reaching the second round, the Maple Leafs have disappointed everyone, including their fans, coaches, and managers.
The truth may be bitter, but it remains the truth: Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares have been awful in the last three games.
NHL insider Craig Button didn't mince words about the Leafs' top players.
Craig Button Roasts Leafs' Core After Poor Performances Against Florida
As he said on TSN, this level of production is simply unacceptable at this point in the season:
"You might be able to get away with that game in November, but you do not get away with that game in a Game 3 when you're down 2 games to nothing."
The core didn't even give their all for this crucial game.
"Matthews had his best shift on the opening shift when he hit the post, and Mitch Marner was nowhere to be found in this game," said Button. "They created so many different turnovers and didn't create very much for themselves."
Then he blamed Samsonov's injury on Matthews:
If the Leafs are swept by the Panthers, the players won't hear the end of it.
Finally passing the first round after an almost 20-year drought, only to lose in four games in the next round, would bring shame to every player wearing the Maple Leaf on their chest.
Tomorrow, the Leafs could very well end up on vacation. If they don't want that, they'll need to give more. It's as simple as that.
As seen on Hockey Feed - Matthews, Marner slammed over 'far below standard' effort in Game 3.
| POLL | ||
MAI 8 | 423 ANSWERS Insider Roasts Leafs' Core After Poor Performances Against Florida Do you think the Leafs will win game four? | ||
| Yes | 156 | 36.9 % |
| No | 267 | 63.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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APRIL 30, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Quinn Hughes | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Marcus Foligno | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nico Sturm | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Oskar Back | - | - | - | |
| Jamie Benn | - | - | - | |
| Lian Bichsel | - | - | - | |
| Colin Blackwell | - | - | - | |
| Zach Bogosian | - | - | - | |
| Matthew Boldy | - | - | - | |
| Mavrik Bourque | - | - | - | |
| Michael Bunting | - | - | - | |
| Matt Duchene | - | - | - | |
| Joel Eriksson Ek | - | - | - | |
| Brock Faber | - | - | - | |
| Radek Faksa | - | - | - | |
| Nick Foligno | - | - | - | |
| Thomas Harley | - | - | - | |
| Ryan Hartman | - | - | - | |
| Miro Heiskanen | - | - | - | |
| Justin Hryckowian | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||