In the aftermath of another heart-wrenching playoff exit for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the spotlight has once again shifted from the ice to the relentless scrutiny of the city’s media. As the Florida Panthers celebrated their hard-fought Game 7 victory, Matthew Tkachuk didn’t hold back in voicing what many around the league have whispered for years: the unique pressure cooker that is Toronto’s hockey environment can be as much a challenge as any opponent on the ice.

Speaking candidly on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Tkachuk reflected on the difference between playing in Florida and the constant circus that surrounds the Maple Leafs, highlighting how the intense media coverage and sky-high expectations can weigh heavily on even the most talented players. His comments have reignited a longstanding debate about the role of the media in shaping the fortunes of Toronto’s beloved but beleaguered franchise.

As another promising season ends in disappointment, questions linger about whether the city’s passionate fan base and ever-watchful press are helping or hindering the team’s quest for hockey glory.

Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers.

Photo credit: Athlon Sports

The Toronto media has been well known to turn some players off, and after defeating the Maple Leafs in Game 7, Matthew Tkachuk called them out.

After showing so much promise, the Toronto Maple Leafs fell in Game 7 of the second round in 2025, once again failing to deliver on all the potential that they’ve built up with this talented roster.

While many see this as two fantastic teams with the better one on the night coming out on top, the Toronto media has heaped way too much pressure and criticism on their team, and it could likely lead to Mitch Marner being run out of town.

That’s something that Matthew Tkachuk addressed on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast after they once more eliminated the Maple Leafs, noting how little the media effects the team down in Florida.

I think that we played well, sometimes you feel bad for them because they have some unbelievable players and a great team.

If their team was not in Toronto dealing with all the crazy circus stuff outside of it, they’d be an unbelievable team. I feel bad. We don’t have to deal with that in Florida and that’s what makes me and my team so lucky.

You almost use that against them, the pressure that these guys have to deal with day in and day out. I wasn’t surprised by how they played, they had stretches in those games where they played really well, look at last night, that second half of the first period they were unreal and Bob had to come up huge for us.

They definitely didn’t lay an egg at all, they took us to Game 7.

This has been a criticism towards how the Maple Leafs are treated for years now, as the city is often seen as the Mecca of Hockey with the most passionate fans and the biggest media market in the sport, but even after fighting so hard and playing well, it’s not likely that anything will change.