Joe Bowen shares message to Leafs Nation after final home game: Leafs Morning Take
All in all, Monday night’s home finale was a perfect night—aside from the result. The fans got a barnburner and were thoroughly entertained, which is all that really mattered. As for the Leafs, they simply couldn’t afford to win that game.
That’s where the conversation started on the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take as Jay Rosehill returned to the mix. With one game left, the Leafs sit in the bottom five—though they’ll need that position to hold through next month’s draft lottery to retain their first-round pick. Sadly, a lot can still go wrong. Meanwhile, the other piece of good news from Monday night was Los Angeles clinching a playoff spot. As a result, Toronto’s third-round pick from the Scott Laughton trade upgrades to a second-rounder—per the condition in the deadline deal.
Back to the game. It had a bit of everything as Joe Bowen called his final home game. The Leafs blew a 3-0 and 5-3 lead on route to dropping a 6-5 thriller in regulation to Dallas. Jacob Quillan scored his first NHL goal and both Robertson brothers managed to hit the scoresheet. The Leafs have dropped six in a row (0-5-1). Furthermore, we got a rare Auston Matthews sighting as the captain helped give away a pair of season tickets for next season on Fan Appreciation Night.
After that, Joe Bowen joined the show to reflect on an emotional final home broadcast, offering a candid look at what the night meant to him as he continues to process the “lasts” of a legendary career. He spoke about the journey, his long-standing partnership with Jim Ralph, and the significance of getting back on the road for the season finale. Bowen also shared advice for his successor, acknowledged his hope that his son David gets a shot, and closed with a heartfelt message to Leafs Nation that perfectly captured his connection to the fanbase.
At last, we’ve reached the season finale of this train-wreck season. Firstly, we’ll preview Toronto’s visit to Ottawa —Bowen’s final game. Plus, hear from Bo Groulx, who’s back with the Toronto Marlies and looking ahead to the Calder Cup Playoffs.