My Take
The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t met my expectations. Not even by a long shot, sadly.
Nevertheless, for the Toronto Maple Leafs to intervene right by firing Babcock now, would be a reflection of an inadequately managed team. It’s not the Edmonton Oilers for crying out loud!
It’s funny, right? How quickly a virtue such as patience is easily forgotten when passion’s involved. And I know, we’ve been asked to be patient from the moment Babcock was hired in 2015, I do.
Last year was the first year in which the Toronto Maple Leafs hoped to reap the benefits of developing their young stars. They brought in the captain and the long-term plan finally took its final form, the blueprint was finished.
Obviously, in Toronto, everyone longed for immediate success. Making last year’s playoff stint like a horrid recurring nightmare, but in all fairness, getting knocked out by a top-three team of the league can happen. Disappointing? Yes. Shameful? No.
I do believe this is the year Babcock will need to show results in the form a more successful playoff stint, but it’s only October, nothing has been lost yet folks! October has been a tough month, with a lot of speedbumps along the way, I’ll grant you that.
I think the same applies for trading for someone right now, the other GM’s will recognize the hail mary pass and will try to lure Dubas in a Taylor Hall like trade, which in the end can only cost the Leafs something valuable.
I will not deny the Toronto Maple Leafs are in trouble right now, they are. But there’s time for this roster to grow into a team and fulfil their potential.