James Tanner
This is a tough question because I want the Toronto Maple Leafs to make a trade and to fire the coach, but their start to the season has nothing to do with why I want those things.
I want the Leafs to trade Cody Ceci because playing him in a top pairing role is one of the worst ideas anyone has ever had in the history of the NHL. His $4.5 million dollar salary is brutal and the Leafs are capped out. Not only that, but there’s no reason to pay a guy with zero potential that much money to play as your #6 defenseman (Ceci’s max potential).
But I wanted this back when I was convinced the Leafs would start the season 10-0 on their way to the first undefeated season in NHL history. Well, obviously I didn’t think that, but you get my point.
As for Babcocok, he’s not the guy to lead this team. Players don’t like playing for him, his message is probably getting old, and he doesn’t seem to want to coach the players he has, but rather make those players fit his predetermined ideas.
In an article the other day – I believe it was in the Athletic – Matthews complained that the Leafs have a very structured offensive playbook, as opposed to the Bruins who let their top line get creative in the O-zone. What I want is a coach that lets Matthews and Marner be creative. There’s a litany of other reasons I’d like to see him gone, but that’s #1.
As for the Leafs start to the season, I see no reason to change my mind about the fact that I think they’re the league’s best team with the best roster. They’ve played with extreme heart and determination to overcome the unfortunate amount of injuries they’ve had dating back to last season.
I love this team, and yeah, I’d like to see some moves, but not because of how the team has played to start the season, which I think has been the tops, despite their record, all things considered.