For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter The Toronto Maple Leafs face an uncertain future with a number of contract situations facing them this summer and questions about the status of Mike Babcock. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas avoided giving the Leafs head coach a stamp of approval on Thursday, which immediately raised doubts about whether the Stanley Cup and Olympic gold medal-winning coach will return for his fifth season. The likeliest scenario is that Babcock will return next season, in spite of taking the first major blows to his reputation for his handling of the roster and in-game decisions during this season, but after three straight first-round exits, there may be a move to shake up his coaching staff. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicated during HNIC’s Saturday Headlines that the Leafs have granted the Ottawa Senators permission to talk to assistant coach DJ Smith. Smith won a Memorial Cup with Oshawa in 2015 and drew interest from the Sens in 2016, but Leafs GM Lou Lamiorello denied the division rival permission to speak to him. Babcock’s history with assistants is littered with former and current NHL coaches, including Hockey Canada’s Tom Renney, former Sens head coach Paul MacLean, LA Kings head coach Todd McLellan, Calgary’s Bill Peters and Detroit’s Jeff Blashill, and his staff could be due for some changes (whether Smith gets the Ottawa job or not) after remaining unchanged during his tenure in Toronto.
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— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) April 26, 2019