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5 Ways to Make the Toronto Maple Leafs a Better Hockey Team

By James Tanner

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 12: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates with teammates Nazem Kadri #43 and Morgan Rielly #44 after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on February 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 12: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates with teammates Nazem Kadri #43 and Morgan Rielly #44 after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on February 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 7: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock looks on against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 7, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 7: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock looks on against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 7, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#1 Get a New Coach

The list of Mike Babcock  problems is long:

  • Often over-coaches (see line matching the Blue Jackets in OT)
  • Doesn’t trust his best players. (see Shore taking defensive draws in OT).
  • The power-play is brutally constructed (see above).
  • Is supposed to be a motivational genius, but his team never starts on time, regularly blow leads, and often look listless and like they aren’t trying.
  • Often out-coached (When Tampa loaded up one line to compensate for the Leafs superior depth, Babcock let that line destroy him and didn’t match it with a 3 x superstar line of his own).
  • His goalie pulls are often wacky and wrong.
  • Players don’t seem to like playing for him.
  • When an opponent criticizes his best players, he agrees with the opponent.
  • Doesn’t give stars the chance to be creative and unstructured.
  • Doesn’t play his stars enough.
  • Stubbornly sticks to his ideas when they are clearly terrible and not working (Ceci on top pairing).
  • Doesn’t coach the team he has, but rather the team he wishes he had.
  • Trolls the GM in the media.
  • Doesn’t give players like Nick Shore a chance.
  • Still can’t believe he benched Spezza in game one.

The main problem with Mike Babcock is that the Leafs have assembled a high-flying team of offensive superstars, and he just doesn’t coach the team in a way that compliments the players he has.

The Leafs are desperate for someone who’s vision aligns with that of the GM’s.  Kyle Dubas is the best thing that ever happened to this franchise, but to fully take advantage of his vision, the Leafs need someone in charge who is going to implement that on the ice.

What they don’t need is a guy who uses Cody Ceci has his “top shut-down guy” when Jake Muzzin is available.

Next. Coaching Change and Rental Trades. dark

What they don’t need is a guy who  undercuts Auston Matthews growth and development by making Nick Shore take faceoffs in the defensive zone, or hiding him from the Blue Jackets best line.

Nothing could be more obvious than the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs need a new coach.

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