Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are facing an uncertain future as the Toronto Maple Leafs stumble

With spanning uncertainty casting multiple futures in front of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, the Toronto Maple Leafs remain on track for another heartbreak. With the 6-1 crushing in Game 5 of the second-round playoff series handed by the Florida Panthers, it almost feels like the core group under the leadership of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner could approach somewhat of an end to their career together. While the disgruntled fanbase is probably still processing another premature exile, management has to make difficult decisions on who stays and who leaves in a desperate effort to mold a title contender.Yet again, the Leafs' playoff journey has hit a familiar wall and might, this time, spur some long-overdue change within the organization. Central to those changes are two big names: Mitch Marner and John Tavares. With the two players poised to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, suspicions about how much longer they will be donning the Maple Leaf blue and white have grown.Marner, who is undergoing undue scrutiny to be the better for his playoff failures, was said to have declined extension negotiations during the season, much to the chagrin of the franchise. Big picture-wise, Toronto asked Marner to waive his no-movement clause before the trade deadline, which underscores that the franchise is considering a new direction.Tavares, while still respected as a veteran presence, faces a difficult reality: his salary of $11 million is not worth any comparable return, and any return to the current team would most likely require a drastic pay cut. At 34 years old, therefore, his place in Toronto's long-term planning seems uncertain, especially with management eager to start funneling resources toward young prospects.The chance of breaking the so-called "Core Four"-Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares-has never seemed greater. Years of playoff heartbreaks have pressured the decision-makers to take a stand soon, perhaps making this offseason a point of no return. While Toronto weighs its options, other franchises are also preparing to do some heavy lifting. The Golden Knights, for example, are contemplating the future of their core post-playoff exit. With a few of their important members soon to be 30, and not much room in the salary cap, they could entertain the thought of supplanting aging stars with youthful forwards. A player of Marner's calibers would, if indeed he comes up for trade, fit right in with their plans should they clear salary through the trading of either Shea Theodore or Tomas Hertl. Another team worth keeping an eye on is the Avalanche. It is rumored that they may be in the market for a gritty forward like Florida's Sam Bennett or even consider acquiring Martin Necas, depending on how his contract negotiations unfold. To create that space, they could move off Ross Colton or Samuel Girard.Also Read: Toronto Maple Leafs face a make-or-break match in Game 6 against the Florida PanthersAll said and done, there is an endless stream of big decisions to be made this offseason with Toronto staring down elimination. Mitch Marner's and John Tavares's future hangs in the balance with teams such as Vegas and Colorado watching attentively. What happens next could change the face of a few franchises going into the 2025 season.