After last season’s postseason run, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock was on thin ice.
This season started flat and only got worse as it went on. The breaking point was the Toronto Maple Leafs losing 6 games in a row.
Watching from afar, it was clear the Leafs needed a shakeup. They just seemed to be out of sync and unmotivated. The Leafs were riddled with sloppy defensive coverage and no confidence. Toronto had lost its high powered offensive identity.
When it comes to coaching, its important to hire stability, trustworthiness and a structure. Mike Babcock had that in spades, plus the confidence and swagger in his decisions. Babcock was a polarizing coach, you either love him or hate him.
Toronto Maple Leafs are a New Team
Unfortunately, this was his undoing, he had a high powered offensive team, developing before his very eyes, but couldn’t get the extra mile from them. His stubbornness is ultimately what got him fired, he wasn’t willing to make changes, he would only change out of necessity.
With a job that demands change and constant adjustments, it seemed as if the Leafs won despite Babcock many nights.
What also was an issue with Babcock’s leadership style, he’s an authoritarian, its his way, or the highway. For some players, this can work, but when your star players aren’t on the same page, it’s either you have to change, or get fired.
You can say “trade them, send a message” this doesn’t work because when you’re in the business of trying to win a Stanley cup, your players are what wins the cup. The coach can’t play the games, they are there to instruct, lead and manage these players.
When the league figures out your strategies and deployments, its going to be hard to coach, but Babcock did this to himself, he was steady on the rudder and dug in. This is a bold strategy for someone with no real “staying power”
There were some real nerves on if the Leafs ownership could make this call, we didn’t know if Shanahan would do it. I am going to say this- As long as Toronto continues to make these hard decisions, they will continue to be cup contenders. I am here to say, that hiring Keefe was the right decision.
This move was necessary for the Leafs, in order to allow themselves a better shot at a cup, its one step back, two steps forward. The Leafs get to start fresh tonight, this is what we have all been waiting for.
Sheldon and Kyle are back together again, just like their Marlies days and just like their Greyhounds days.
Now Kyle and Sheldon aren’t your typical “hockey men” no no. They come with a demand for success and a cultural buy-in to the same hockey theology. They are what you consider, Batman and Robin, Cheech and Chong, Laverne and Shirley, Bert and Ernie, Frodo and Sam, Butch Cassidy and- well, you get the idea.
This is a changing of the guard, a turning of a new Leaf, if you will.
Sheldon is working with a team that has been dubbed as an offensive dynamo, or a juggernaut on offence. This team doesn’t need developing or training, they are certified NHLers now.
But let’s not forget that there are currently 13. 13!!!! players on this team that have been coached by Sheldon Keefe. He knows the Leafs organization inside and out and will provide a fresh perspective on hockey.
What this team does need is a motivator, a coach who inspires them, touches their hearts and gets them running through walls. Sheldon does that. The training wheels are off, the baby fat is gone, its Sheldon’s turn to take the reigns and maximize this team to its capabilities.
The proof is in the pudding here, Keefe is immediately putting his stamp on the forward lines, day 1.
These were the lines for Sheldon Keefe’s first practice with the Leafs:
Johnsson – Matthews – Nylander
Mikheyev – Tavares – Hyman
Kerfoot – Spezza – Kapanen
Engvall – Goat – Petan
The defense looks about the same except for Barrie, Keefe will be utilizing the skilled defender in a multitude of roles. This is probably in an effort to rebuild his game and get a strong balance of offence across the team.
Rielly – Ceci
Muzzin – Holl
Dermott – Barrie
One more thing to keep an eye on, is how Keefe will deploy the goalies for the back to backs. Keefe looks to be a strong experimenter with this lineup and it’s going to pay strong dividends.
All will be well in Leafs Nation, do not fret, this team is just getting started.