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Top 5 Least Memorable Toronto Maple Leafs Moments This Year

By Stephen Nixon

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Dave Ayres signs autographs for fans during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ayres, in emergency relief, recorded eight saves, the win and first-star honors in his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 22. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Dave Ayres signs autographs for fans during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ayres, in emergency relief, recorded eight saves, the win and first-star honors in his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 22. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 23: Head Coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 23: Head Coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

#2. Mike Babcock Fired

Some may call it a bright spot in the season because it embarked change, but in hindsight this wasn’t a memorable moment at all.

After signing an eight-year contract in 2015, the first few years of Mike Babcock were great.

With help from the Front Office, he was a key piece towards the rebuild and rebirth of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Even though the team finished dead last in his first year on the job, that was on purpose. The team wanted to bottom-out and get a high-draft pick, which they did when they selected Auston Matthews first overall.

The Leafs weren’t expected to make the playoffs in Babcock’s second year as coach, but they squeaked into a Wild Card position and gave the Washington Capitals a run for their money, despite losing in six games.

With high expectations, the Leafs made the playoffs two years in a row but unfortunately lost to the Boston Bruins in back-to-back Game 7’s, and Babcock had a lot to do with those losses.

His stubbornness and inability to play his best players in the biggest moments were a huge criticism towards him. For a team that was filled with so much skill, he was never able to optimize that skill and seemed like he didn’t let the Leafs play the way they were designed to.

Although the Leafs seem better off with Sheldon Keefe as their Head Coach moving forward, firing a coach is never a memorable moment in a season.

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