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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 - OCTOBER 2: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock looks up to the scoreboard prior to an NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on October 2, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 2: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock looks up to the scoreboard prior to an NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on October 2, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /

My Take

Firing Mike Babcock, however inevitable, was a mistake. Without implying appointing Sheldon Keefe is a mistake.

There’s no point sugar-coating it; Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan, they faltered, significantly, handling the coaching situation. It affected their credibility, making their positions vulnerable moving forward.

They chose to do the season with Babcock, backing out of that, what I assumed to be well thought out, decision when the results were poor due to circumstances out of Babcock’s control. Dubas telling the world game 5 against Boston convinced them to continue with Babcock is an absolute fallacy.

Moving forward with Keefe I expect the team to undergo a transformation, playing to their strengths. Little by little, step by step, the one game ice will improve. With the material at hand, it’s a matter of time that the results will come as well.

The most important change, however, moving forward, will be the players will rediscover their joy on the ice as they looked rather anhedonic under Babcock’s last games.

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