The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled to find their rhythm this season. Right from the start, they seemed to be a work-in-progress due to a challenging summer. Surprisingly, throughout the season, the new Maple Leafs didn’t make much progress.
Head coach Keefe was close to being fired multiple times, only for the team to turn things around and embark on winning streaks. One memorable instance was a comeback win in an early-season game against Tampa Bay, where they were down by three goals in the first period.
There were moments of desperation when the team needed a goalie or a defenseman, yet they failed to take action. It was unusual to see a team with high expectations for a championship just stay idle whenever a problem arose throughout the entire season.
In the end, having 5 superstars and a strong supporting cast worked well for the Leafs for a while. They were one of the top teams for 28 games, winning over 70% of their points and leading the league in scoring. However, despite their success, other teams they were competing with also had impressive runs. With only 10 games left, the Atlantic Division title seems out of reach for the Leafs, and they might even be overtaken by Tampa Bay, forcing them into a Wild Card spot which would be embarrassing. While anything can happen in the unpredictable Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t appear to be a strong contender for winning the championship.
If our team is fortunate, this will act as a reverse jinx, and when they win the Cup, my too-short list of regrets will come back to haunt me.
The discussion about Kyle Dubas has become frustrating due to biased and ridiculous opinions that hinder normal conversations about him. The Leafs took a chance on him as a young manager, allowing him to gain experience before he left for another team. It was controversial because it was rare for a billion-dollar franchise to entrust a young individual with such responsibility in an industry resistant to change. Despite the setbacks he faced, it was a unique and positive experience that is unlikely to be replicated. While some preferred to retain him, it is time to move forward. Transitioning from a cutting-edge NHL figure to an average GM is not ideal, but it is necessary.
The Leafs took a chance on grooming a young manager, allowing him to gain experience on the job before he ultimately left for another team. Dubas’ tenure was controversial due to the team’s decision to entrust a young individual with such a significant role in a traditionally conservative industry. Despite the unfortunate circumstances that prevented him from achieving success, it was a unique and positive experience that is unlikely to be repeated. Moving forward, while some may have preferred to retain Dubas, the current GM seems to adhere to traditional hockey beliefs and has not delivered the desired results. If the Leafs fail to advance in the playoffs, a potential shakeup in leadership could lead to changes within the organization. Ultimately, it is disappointing that a talented manager like Dubas was not able to capitalize on the opportunity, especially during a crucial period for players like Auston Matthews.
Brad Treliving’s decisions during the summer spending were heavily criticized, especially the signings of players like Max Domi, John Klingberg, Ryan Reaves, and David Kampf. These signings were considered questionable and the lack of improvement on the blue-line and the choice of starting goalies further added to the criticism. Treliving’s summer moves were deemed detrimental to the team, and the current success of the team is seen as happening despite his decisions, not because of them.
