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

Nick Barden

I don’t think the Toronto Maple Leafs should do either – yet.

I’ve said many times before that everyone should be patient. The Leafs are without three key players in John Tavares, Zach Hyman and Travis Dermott.

Once all three players return and Toronto has a full team, then I think that’s the time to judge their play.

While I understand that yes, the team should be performing well even without key players because of their depth in the lineup, I can see why they’re not doing well.

However, if all three players come back and still, the Maple Leafs aren’t doing well, I think the coaching staff will be shaken up a little bit. I’m not saying Mike Babcock will be let go, but something will have to change.

This is a team that, on paper and on the ice, can go deep into the playoffs. It could be the way they feel about a coach, or they’re not motivated enough (which is probably why they get scored on first all the time).

But they’re good, really good. If nothing can be fixed and the Leafs are still playing like this in mid-November, early December, then maybe it’s time to go into a different direction with a coach, or someone in management.

For now, wait and see what this team has to offer once all three of Tavares, Hyman and Dermott return. I guarantee, the team won’t play like that once they come back, and if they do, management will fix it.