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Roundtable: Evaluating the Toronto Maple Leafs Coaching Change

By Wilbert Timmermans

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks on from the bench during a game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on November 21, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The game was Keefe's first game as an NHL head coach. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks on from the bench during a game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on November 21, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The game was Keefe's first game as an NHL head coach. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 5: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock returns to the locker room before playing the Los Angeles Kings at the Scotiabank Arena on November 5, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 5: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock returns to the locker room before playing the Los Angeles Kings at the Scotiabank Arena on November 5, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Philip Van Riesen

As of right now not only Leafs nation as a fan base but the whole Leafs team’s mood seems to have been boosted drastically with the firing of Mike Babcock and the new addition of Sheldon Keefe.

As Tyson Barrie quoted “He came in with a really fresh attitude … we felt excited. It was almost like a fresh start. He was really positive & made a couple of changes that helped us big time.” Barrie basically summing up the new feeling in the room.

When I look at the whole situation the biggest argument in favour of firing Babcock was his inability to change and his high degree of ignorance to the point where he thinks he invented the game of hockey and rules above all critics.

Here is a quote from Babock that basically sums up what I’m alluding to, “I’ve always bet on Mike Babcock, I’ll continue to bet on him”. My favourite example I always like to point out is Babcock benching guys like Holl or Levio who have proven to be successful NHL hockey players, Babcock did not even give these players a chance for a whole season.

It was also pointed out by James Mirtle of The Athletic that almost 90% of the Leafs players did not like Mike Babcock, and his message in the locker seemed to be dry. This alone should warrant that Mike’s time was up with Babock losing the room. Moving forward with Sheldon Keefe, the Leafs front office will share the same vision that seemed to be lacking with Babcock in the fold.

There are many new bright ideas that I could see Keefe implementing to the Leafs brought from previous success in Keefe’s coaching career. Personally I am most excited for the emphasis on puck possession through short passes to gain over the opposition blueline rather than deferring to dumping the puck.

Another tactical change that I found when watching the game the other night against Arizona was I noticed the Leafs forwards forechecked as a team rather than one man on the forecheck and as a result, they gained more puck possession that leads to high-quality chances for. Right now it is a glorious time in Toronto and there is certainly a big bright side to this coaching change and a new era.

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