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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 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) /

Alex Hobson

Firing Babcock was absolutely the right move. And not because he’s a bad coach. But rather because he was a square peg in a round hole.

If you look at anything that the current Leafs say about Sheldon Keefe, you’ll notice a common trend. Matthews said; “He wants us to utilize our God-given talents”. Dermott said; “The boys want to play for him. He lets us play to our skill and that’s exactly what we needed”. Barrie stated; “you’re going to be seeing that style of hockey much more from now on”.

Everybody can voice their opinions from their couch at home. But who has more accurate opinions than the guys who are actually playing for the team and getting coached day in and day out?

The reality is, Babcock was trying to get the team to adapt to him instead of adapting to the team himself. For this group of players to succeed, they need to play their own style of game. Defensive, conservative, physical hockey is just not their style.

They will win based on offence and skill, and now they have the proper coach to lead them in that direction. I think the biggest change you’re going to see going forward is simply that they will look like what everyone expected them to look like heading into the season. And Thursday night in Arizona was a perfect indicator of that.

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