Tuesday night’s 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights was more than enough for the brass at the Toronto Maple Leafs.
There was little fight in the Leafs and the Golden Knights toyed with a bored, bloated roster full of extravagant contracts and little emotion.
Goalie Frederik Andersen #31 and Defenseman Cody Ceci #83 of the Toronto Maple Leafs
On Wednesday, Mike Babcock was relieved of his duties as head coach.
And “relieved” may be his emotional state Thursday. Relieved he doesn’t have to find the players’ motivation for playing.
“I think everybody knows here Mike Babcock is a good coach,” Montreal head coach Claude Julien said. “He’s won everywhere he’s gone, at all levels as well, whether it’s junior, in the pro level, the Olympics, et cetera, et cetera. As far as I’m concerned, if he wants to work again tomorrow, he’s got a pretty good chance of getting back to work. That’s how I think everybody who knows Mike feels about him.”
There was certainly a short leash for Babcock this season; he had to know his replacement was across the street where the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate Marlies play.
Sheldon Keefe was given a contract extension at the end of the 2018-19 AHL season, Keefe stayed in the organization despite the fact that he had suitors lined up to lure him away.
“When I came into the league it was a huge adjustment for me, probably a little harder than I thought it was going to be,” Marlies’ Adam Brooks said. “But he’s been there the whole way. He always tells you exactly what he wants. And when he sees your game isn’t going the way he wants, he straightens it out and shows you what you’re doing wrong.
“I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for us and the development he’s helped with for so many guys making the jump to the NHL. It shows what kind of a coach he is.”
The night the Maple Leafs dipped below .500 hockey was the night Babcock lost his job.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock
“He’s (Babcock) a very good coach,” Ottawa head coach D.J. Smith said. “I know that Mike would keep battling and and get that thing turned around in time … All I can do is be here for Mike if he calls.”
The loss in Las Vegas dropped the Leafs to 9-10-4 and when your competition of lesser paid, younger and in all fairness, not the same level of talent, is playing better with more emotional investment, the end is near.
“Our game is not really meeting our expectations,” Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said. “We’re mistake-prone on defense, the attention to details aren’t there. And even the offense, the explosive offense that our team has been known for, has been missing for a while now.”
No kidding.
This is an organization that struggled to find the cash to pay the salaries that have the team panhandling for coffee money.
The cause is always seen as the coach, and whatever you think of Babcock, the reason is more likely sitting on the bench.
“It wasn’t an easy conversation to have. It wasn’t pleasant,” Shanahan said. “But we felt it was important for the club, and once you realize there’s something that you should do and have to do, it’s best to act on it.”
Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Shanahan said something was missing.
“I think that’s the magic question. We feel that we haven’t played up to our expectations this year,” Shanahan said. “I think that that there are key elements to our game and attention to detail that has been missing often this year.”
Babcock released a statement through TSN.
“(Maple Leafs chairman) Larry Tanenbaum talked me into going to Toronto,” Babcock said. “I would have never gone until I met Larry. He’s one of the finest people I’ve ever met. Had an absolute riot and met another friend for life in (former general manager) Lou Lamoriello. I thought we did an amazing job taking a franchise from where it was to where we had 100-point seasons, we set franchise records if I’m not mistaken, got into the playoffs. I’m disappointed we didn’t have the start to the year we wanted, and that’s on me. I want to thank the fans, I want to thank the media, I want to thank the city. It was spectacular, I loved every second of it. And I wish the new group nothing but success. (Defenseman) Morgan Rielly has been here the whole time, I can’t thank him enough. And all the players I got an opportunity to coach.”
Shanahan said he thought the team was still in a good position.
“We’re still optimistic that we’re going to get back on track,” Shanahan said. “We think Sheldon’s earned it. Look at Sheldon’s track record, the amount of players that play on the Toronto Maple Leafs that have played for Sheldon with the Marlies, the job he’s done in developing players for us — some early draft picks, some very late-round draft picks. He’s had success basically everywhere.”
That just seems like a whole lotta empty optimism.
The head coach is gone and Keefe is now charge, but the change needs to happen on the bench.
“You’d go through a wall for a guy like that,” the Marlies’ Jeremy Bracco said. “He’s got his players’ backs and he’s a lot of fun to be around at the rink. A head coach has to be serious at times, but he likes to keep it light as well. He’s an honest guy, he’s a players’ coach and I’m sure the guys up there will love him.”
Kasperi Kapanen #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs scores on Brian Elliott #37 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Keefe has coach the Maple Leafs’ forwards Andreas Johnsson, Frederik Gauthier, Pierre Engvall, Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen, Trevor Moore and William Nylander, as well defensemen Travis Dermott and Justin Holl.
“You know where you stand, you know what you need to do to contribute to play a lot and he expects you to be better in the areas you’re not so good at,” Bracco said. “He’s very easy to talk to about life, not just hockey. He’s always been with an open-door policy.”
Goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo also has iced under Keefe’s coaching.
Keefe is now the man stuck with the players who cost Babcock his job. There is little opportunity to trade away any real problems on the roster. The question is, who can afford of any of the salaries the Maple Leafs saddled themselves with in the off season and last campaign.
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