5 things we learned from the Maple Leafs’ first-round loss to the Bruins

4. The young stars (hopefully) learned some tough lessons

Sorry, Buds fans. But you’re probably going to hear about this one throughout most of the summer.

The Leafs’ first-round series saw strong performances from a range of players. Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly, in particular, were key difference makers during the seven game period. They rightfully earned massive praise from their opponents, as well as Boston’s head coach, Bruce Cassidy.

That said, somewhat underwhelming performances from Auston Matthews and William Nylander are now enveloping the talk circuit of the hockey world. Nick Kypreos’ suggestion that “somewhere down the stretch, Mike Babcock lost Auston Matthews” has even prompted a response from coach and player alike.

Whether Matthews and Nylander were non-factors is certainly debatable. Offensively, the former tallied 1 goal and 1 assist while the latter collected 1 goal and 3 assists. In Game 7, Matthews was one of just two Leafs to record a positive plus/minus rating and he led his team in shots over the course of the series. Yet the question remains: was it enough?

The answer, succinctly, is no.

Going forward, the Buds’ young guns will look to learn from what has surely been one of the toughest series that they have ever partaken in. It’ll be no easy task, but one can bet that the Leafs’ coaching staff shall be closely reviewing footage to pick out the flaws in their superstars’ games. There’s no doubting the fact that the Bruins did a superb job of pressuring the Leafs’ young core, giving Matthews and Nylander no time to think once they gained possession of the puck. If they’re serious about contending for the Cup, expect Toronto to translate short-term pain into long-term success, as the Buds grapple with the complexities that underlie playoff hockey.