John Tavares: "Personally from the injury, I'm doing really well and continuing to progress. I feel very fortunate considering what I went through, the traumatic nature of the injury. I haven't seen it myself, just seen a few images."
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Page 6ix Wednesday, June 2nd: The Leafs lost, again, so let’s see what they have to say about it
Welcome to a grumpy special edition of Page 6ix: Locker room cleanout. For today’s column, your writer is feeling salty and therefore will just be dumping the Leafs locker room cleanout quotes in here and snarking about them. There are many tweets from many reporters about what the players said, so I collected some of them and shared my brief gut response.
I want to preface, though, with this:
Alright, let’s do the thing.
First up is the captain @John Tavares, and honestly there isn’t anything to snark on here because I’m just glad he’s doing better:
John Tavares on #Leafs end: "It's really hard to put into context the disappointment, just the devastation of what this loss brings to the group and the challenges we have ahead of us. It's been a tough go I think we all take significant responsibility."
John Tavares on that hit: "[Corey] Perry reached out to me immediately that night. From everyone I talked to, there was no intent or trying to be dirty or hurt me. From everyone I talked to, it was just an unfortunate set of circumstances. I'd like to think there was no intent."
John Tavares on why he hasn't watched the hit: "I know how traumatic it was for my family, especially how many times they saw it and the attention that was on it. Even the looks on [people's] faces made me realize that it was pretty significant. Maybe I will watch it [someday]"
Kudos to JT for stepping in and speaking for the team – all I can say is I hope he takes the offseason to fully and completely recover so that we see him don the C again in the fall.
Next up is @Mitch Marner, and oooh boy.
First though:
Tavares: "No one wants it as bad as them" -- on Marner, Matthews.
Hmm. We sure?
Anyways:
Mitch Marner: "I've deleted all social (media) apps. Even before the playoffs."
That was probably a good move on his part, considering what’s being said on Twitter the last couple days.
He also addressed rumours that he refused to play a certain role on the powerplay:
Marner on the alleged PP issue: "It's a complete lie." #Leafs
"I'd play any role to help this team win." #Leafs
Well, I appreciate the honesty here about saying the same words over and over:
Mitch Marner on #Leafs ending: "This year we had the talent, we had the will and we had the fight and it just didn't come through. It's always the same words at the end of the year and that sucks."
I actually tweeted about this a few weeks ago, and I do think it’s commendable that not one Leafs player tested positive for COVID this season. Interesting though to see Mitch link that to their commitment. I can see how that makes sense to them. They followed all rules and guidelines to avoid getting placed on the COVID protocol list and cost their team any players, I suppose.
Marner: Not one Leaf tested positive for COVID -- "shows how committed we were"
Marner: "Everyone just wants to get into panic mode and do stuff and try to change something up, but I think they (management) have a lot of confidence in our team. It's up to them to decide what they want to do. We all know how much talent we have."
This is actually….very levelheaded. I agree, Mitch.
We interrupt this locker room cleanout quote dump for breaking news:
Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Sidney Crosby are finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award, as voted on by their @NHLPA peers.
And not one of them made it past the first round. Sigh.
Back to locker room. Time for @Morgan Rielly to speak:
Rielly: "We have to learn how to close a series out." #Leafs
I mean, obviously. But what’s taking so long?
Rielly: "As a group, we prepared well." #Leafs
Uh huh….
Morgan Rielly: "If you could go back and change things, we all would. But when we were talking to each other before games, I truly thought that we were up to the challenge. Maybe it's a good opportunity for us to look at ourselves in the mirror, ask if that was really the case"
Ah, there we go. Love that honesty, Mo.
Now onto @Jake Muzzin, who is known for being very open with his media availabilities:
Jake Muzzin said he just "felt a pop" when he was skating back to the bench in Game 6: "It was weird; I don't know."
Jake Muzzin: "The teams that go furthest, play the hardest."
Deep insight there, Muzz.
Jake Muzzin on #Leafs: "I believe in this group. We believe in each other. We believe in the process. Sometimes it takes a little bit longer to learn the lesson."
Aw this is sweet though.
Oh and now we have @Frederik Andersen and I am in a glass case of emotion okay?
Pending UFA Frederik Andersen on his time with #Leafs: "I'll definitely look back on these five years with a lot of good memories. With regards to the future, I don't know what's in store yet; we'll have to see."
Pending UFA Frederik Andersen on his five years in Toronto: "It's been a big honour to play in front of a fanbase that's this dedicated, especially when they're allowed in the building."
Welp it’s fine I’m not crying.
Frederik Andersen on his priorities in free agency: "I want to talk to Kyle [Dubas] here and see where he's at. I don't want to look past that conversation at all. We have to see what makes sense for both parties. More than that, I don't really know."
Andersen how much he played hurt this season before going on IR: Probably more than I should have looking back on it.
Oh Freddie….
And now onto Jumbo @Joe Thornton:
Joe Thornton on his future: "This came to suddenly, I really haven't had time to think about it. I have to be a dad for a little bit here. I feel really healthy, really good. We'll see. I haven't made any decision. I feel really good, but I have to take some time and be a dad"
Aww, take time to be a dad, Jumbo. Savour it!
Okay but this picture is making me LOL:
"This came so sudden, I haven't really had time to think about it. First and foremost, I have to be a dad for a bit here. I feel really, really healthy. I feel really good. We'll see." - Joe Thornton on his future in the league.
Thornton: "This group has a lot of great pieces, a lot of great people." #Leafs
Yes yes the pieces are there but if you don’t fit the puzzle together properly it doesn’t matter!
Jumbo: "It wasn't our time, for whatever reason."
So insightful and philosophical, Joe.
Well this is nice, though:
"I think this team is going to be a good team for a long, long time. And I know this stings now, but it's going to rebound real quick." —Joe Thornton
And now onto the other newly added veteran, @Wayne Simmonds:
Wayne Simmonds: "Being a guy from Scarborough, from the GTA, I wanted to and was hoping to be a piece to the puzzle, to help push past that [hump]. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. It's extremely disappointing. It's heartbreaking."
Wayne Simmonds: "It was definitely an honour to put the blue and white on this year." Simmonds said "I've got no clue" about his future, but he "thoroughly enjoyed" his time with the #Leafs.
I might be alone here but I kinda want him to come back? He’s so likeable.
Oh, well:
Okay for the love of all things holy KEEP @JASON SPEZZA FOREVER:
Jason Spezza said he wants to return to the Leafs next season, saying he's invested in the group. "There's a lot of unfinished business."
Make him captain or like honorary captain or like captain emeritus idc just DO IT KYLE:
Jason Spezza on if he'd like to return to the #Leafs: "Yeah, I would. I feel like there's a lot of unfinished business, I feel very invested in the group here and hopeful that I get another opportunity to do that again next year and push this team over the top."
Too pure for us:
Spezza: "I believe in Auston and Mitch. I think they improved a lot of things that people don't see."
THE GAME LOVES YOU DADDY SPEZZA
Spezza on his level of play: "I love the game. I realize my opportunities to win are becoming less and less." #Leafs
I can not reiterate enough how much I adore this man and need him to remain a Leaf for all eternity:
Spezza: "This team felt real. It felt like a team with a real opportunity to win, and we fell short. And that's what leaves us feeling so empty and disappointed."
Speaking of…I’m not at all prepared to consider @Zach Hyman not being a Leaf. At all.
Hyman on UFA: "All of I've been thinking about is this year ... I have not had time to think about it." #Leafs
WELL GO TALK TO KYLE AND GET IT DONE ZACH!
Zach Hyman said he hasn't had time to think about next season, and that he hasn't even spoken to Dubas yet about his expiring contract either.
I don’t like sad Zach Hyman:
Hymna: "This one hurts the most. It's the most heart-breaking of all of them."
Stop, I can’t take it. Just sign a contract please:
It’s time for the man himself to speak – Rocket Richard winner @Auston Matthews:
Matthews humbled by Ted Lindsay nom, but there's still a sour taste in not having advanced in the playoffs. #Leafs
Auston Matthews on being nominated for the Ted Lindsay: "It's really humbling to be in the same conversation as those two players. Those individual awards, I think they're great and all, but I don't think there's quite the satisfaction compared to winning with the team"
Rallying around Mitch, too:
HEH I giggled:
Okay hockey but make it sexual?
Matthews: "I hold myself to a high standard ... not being able to produce is frustrating ... we weren't able to get it done." #Leafs
Sorry sorry trying to delete.
Matthews on Hyman and Andersen: "I can't say enough good things about the both of them ... we'd love to have both back." #Leafs
Oh @William Nylander, never change:
Nylander: "It really hits you hard ... I don't like this feeling." #Leafs
Ummmm
Nylander mentions inexperience while in a position to knock out an opponent as part of the reason why the Leafs failed to complete the job, which is an interesting take
It’s just so simple with him:
William Nylander on his playoff performance: "I just wanted to take it to another level. I know my playoffs before, I haven't been super happy with and I just wanted to step it up. I don't like this feeling."
And last up we have @Jack Campbell and I am not sure I’m ready.
Jack Campbell: "I thought it was a step in the right direction this year, but I know I can be a lot better."
Jack Campbell was asked what it'll take for him to be satisfied with his play. "Winning the Cup," he says.
Campbell: "To win in the playoffs, I have to be dialled (in) every game ... overall, it was a great learning lesson." Says he felt good physically. #Leafs
Jack Campbell on what Auston Matthews said to him after losing game 7: "We'll get it done together."
Aww buds!
Well, that was a rollercoaster. It’s going to be an interesting offseason, that’s for sure.
Check back later for more on what our coaching and front office staff had to say.
See you next week.
Breaking News
- Guy Gadowsky thinks Gavin McKenna is perfect for Toronto: Leafs Morning Take
- 2 Maple Leafs draft picks go unsigned, will re-enter 2026 NHL Entry Draft
- Frederik Andersen reflects on friendships with Mitch Marner, late agent Claude Lemieux ahead of Cup Final
- Luke Haymes deems Marlies’ Game 3 loss ‘just not good enough’, Toronto holds 2-1 series lead
- Jack Eichel feels Mitch Marner was treated unfairly in Toronto