Toronto Maple Leafs: How Mike Babcock Can Change for the Better

The Toronto Maple Leafs failed to advance in the playoffs last year, in part because of bad coaching.

In order to get farther this year, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock is going to have to improve in some key areas.

You can blame the Leafs loss to the Bruins on bad luck – Hyman, Gardiner and Dermott were all playing hurt, the Bruins scored an unsustainable one power-play goal per game, and Nazem Kadri was suspended.

The Leafs could have beaten the Bruins anyways, but after the loss, it was hard to think about anything other than the fact that Babcock’s coaching was the equivalent of several own-goals.

People like to blame Gardiner or Andersen, but it was Babcock who really screwed up in games six and seven.  For example, not shortening his bench, not playing his stars, playing Marleau like it was 2002, and whatever the hell he was thinking in back-to-back games when he pulled his goalie.

Coaching Improvements

Babcock won’t be able to overplay Ron Hainsey, Nikita Zaitsev, Patrick Marleau, and Connor Brown any more.  I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Leafs GM waited to endorse a return for Babcock, then proceeded to trade away all his favorite players.

Babcock will have new assistants this year, and while I won’t pretend to know the tendencies of assistant coaches, at least some new ideas will be inserted into the team.

Hopefully this will lead to a more creative approach on the power-play, and on the breakouts.  Perhaps an end to the home-run pass is advisable, and a focus on shorter passes when breaking out.

Playing Nylander with Matthews is a must.  As is dialing back Freddie Andersen’s playing time – there’s no need for a goalie to play over 60 games.

The main thing that Babcock must do is give Auston Matthews more ice time.  Matthews needs to be playing among the most minutes in the league. Instead, he’s been ranked around 50th at his position. It’s crazy.

One thing to do would be to leave him out for the entire power-play, and another would be to double shift him when the game is on the line.   I wouldn’t complain if, down by a goal entering the third, Matthews-Tavaers and one of Nylander/Marner team up for a super line.

All in all, I don’t expect Babcock to take advice from me, or to do exactly what I want him to.  I would just like to see him coach a more modern game – that means no dump ins, no off-the-glass and out plays, and no long-bomb home run passes.

I’d like to see him get a bit more creative, and play the proper players the proper amount.  If he does that, I think he can make a really positive difference for the Toronto Maple Leafs this year.