The struggling hockey team faces an unfamiliar challenge as they become the first in franchise history to miss the postseason after a season marked by last-place finishes in their division and conference. Fans and analysts alike are examining how the organization will respond to this rare setback, which comes after years of playoff appearances. The shift in expectations now centers on rebuilding efforts and whether key changes can reverse the downward trend. With no automatic qualification this year, the team’s future trajectory takes on new urgency.

After a disappointing season where they finished last in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference, it was new territory for the Maple Leafs to not only miss the…