Considering they lost to the 3rd overall team in the league, a first round exit isnt a true first round exit. While im not trying to make excuses, it was a tough matchup and it went the distance. If the series plays out 10 times, im sure each side will come out winning 5 times a piece.
Do they need to improve? Yes, but a lot of the improvement can be internal. Another season of growth, proper ice time for their star players, in game adjustments, improvements on the special teams. A lot of their issues were coaching related, not player related. While you think they need to improve their D "big time", it was fine through the series, although it can use an improvement. Game 7 Gardiner wont be a problem next year, aging Hainsey who cannot clear the zone wont be a problem next year. However, with that said, I am not naive and know the loss of Gardiner will be a bigger blow than most people in Leaf nation are predicting.
Rielly, Muzzin, Dermott are 3 solid top 4 guys. Ideally Rosen/Liljegren come in and prove they are worth NHL bottom pairing minutes. Zaitsev, while im higher on than most, likely is a cap casualty so the Leafs will need a bottom pairing and top 4 D going into next season. Who will that be? Im not sure, but I suspect one of Kadri, Nylander, Johnson, Kapanen will be going the other way to make that deal.
