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Some Very Good Reasons to be Optimistic About the Toronto Maple Leafs

By James Tanner

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 05: Mikey Anderson #44 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against Denis Malgin #62 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Staples Center on March 05, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 05: Mikey Anderson #44 of the Los Angeles Kings skates against Denis Malgin #62 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Staples Center on March 05, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 03: Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs Sheldon Keefe   December 3, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 03: Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs Sheldon Keefe   December 3, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Sheldon Keefe

I’ve seen a lot of “Keefe’s recent record was as bad as Babcock’s so maybe they shouldn’t have fire Babcock”  arguments lately.

As someone who argues about the Leafs for a large portion of every day, I just want to emphatically state that that is one of the worst ones I’ve heard.

It ignores the fact that Babcock should have been fired in the summer, and it ignores what Keefe has had to deal with lately – specifically 9 games with without his two best defenseman.

The facts are that Keefe has done an excellent job with the Toronto Maple Leafs so far.

Despite playing nine games without his two best defenders (including several with three of his top six missing) the Toronto Maple Leafs somehow have the ninth best record in the NHL since Keefe was hired.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been called an idiot because I criticized the one-line wonder Colorado Avalanche, but they have just three points more than the Leafs since November 21st when Keefe was hired.

Leafs are 6th in ROW (wins in overtime + regulation) since Keefe was hired, and 8th by points-percentage).

If you can be the 9th best team in hockey over 46 games (over half a seasons) while playing nine of 46 games without your two best defenseman, I think you might be OK.

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