The Toronto Maple Leafs lost, and that sucks.
The Bruins were down on the mat, and the Toronto Maple Leafs were unable to administer a finishing move.
That’s how she goes.
A lot of people will be angry, and some of them will call for the organization to make major changes.
In a fit of pique late in the season, I called for coach Mike Babcock to be fired. To be honest, I regretted that article the next day. The emotions run high in sports, and I find that emotional writing is the most honest, but also sometimes the most misguided.
But now that I think about it, I don’t think a change is necessary. Sure, there’s some things I hate about Babcock, like the stretch passes and his veterans over skill policies, but he still coached this team to within one head-shot of a second round birth. Or two saves that Andersen routinely makes. Or just one penalty kill. It was close. You get the idea.
I might change my mind later, and certainly I think it’s a topic worthy of discussion. But for now, I think that Babcock should stay.
Big Changes?
What about Dubas? People have the guys they hate, and they don’t let anything change their mind. For some, Dubas will always reflect the marginalization of a certain outdated viewpoint and thus he’ll never be fully embraced by Leafs nation.
That said, he’s done a hell of a job – Tavares, Muzzin, and signing a lot of cheap talent to augment the high cost of his RFAs.
Easy to forget that the Leafs are well ahead of the timeline of their rebuild, but they are. Dubas couldn’t replace Zaitsev, Hainsey and Marleau this season, but he will next season. The GM and the coach are solid.
So what changes to the Toronto Maple Leafs need?
None, really. Their core of Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, Marner, Rielly and Andersen is rock solid.
Kadri screwed up, but he makes peanuts compared to what he contributes and he should stick around. Obviously there’s no need to get another goalie.
Basically, the Leafs just need some improvement around the edges. Johnson, Kapanen, Marner, Nylander, Dermott and Matthews aren’t even in their prime yet.
Rielly, Dermott, Muzzin and maybe even Gardiner form an excellent top four. The Leafs have Calle Rosen, Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin coming.
They will still probably want to add on the blue-line, and improve on the wing. A free agent will be added. Maybe a trade goes down…..maybe even a big one……but the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t going to alter their core, they aren’t going to change coaches and they sure as heck aren’t changing General Managers or goalies.
Changes are coming. Just no foundational ones. At least there shouldn’t be. The Leafs are on the right track and the best thing they can do is stay the course. Not the most exciting take, but there it is.