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Roundtable: Should Toronto Maple Leafs Management Trade Or Fire Someone?

By Wilbert Timmermans

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 4: Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas during interview with Bruce Arthur (Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 4: Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas during interview with Bruce Arthur (Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 2: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock /

Zoë Mason

Should the Leafs management trade or fire someone? Well, something’s got to give. On paper, the current Leafs roster could be the most chock-full of raw talent of any in the organization’s history. Teams that boast as much star-power as this one, with the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly, Frederik Andersen, Tyson Barrie and William Nylander are few and far between.

So why have the  Toronto Maple Leafs been flirting with .500 since January? With 26 wins and 22 losses in 2019, the Leafs sit in the middle of the pack in 2019 performance. Well, it’s not a lack of talent. Its hardly even a lack of defence, the typical fallback excuse in the organization, what with the acquisition of Jake Muzzin and Tyson Barrie.

I know you’ve heard it before, but what’s that leave? Coaching. The types of things that are bringing the Leafs down at the moment — for example, the lack of ice time star-goalscorer Auston Matthews sees in high-pressure situations (ahem, Game 7 this past April comes to mind)— are decisions that are in the hands of head coach Mike Babcock.

I understand, Babcock has a pedigree unmatched in the NHL, with a championship in nearly every notable competition the hockey world has to offer under his belt. You owe the man a fair trial to see what he can accomplish. However, I think that trial is rapidly expiring. I think it would be a grave error to wait for another first-round exit in the playoffs before letting Mike Babcock go.

If this team fails to start performing at a level that we can and should expect from this roster by midway through this season, I think Babcock should go. I understand his replacement could be complicated, but we have arguably the best coach in the minors in Sheldon Keefe who could take his place in a pinch. He could even rock it.

Sure, its a gamble, but when the team reaches a point of stagnation, which the numbers indicate this one has, maybe it’s time to try something a little radical.

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