For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The last 24 hours have revealed how organizations struggling and under pressure are forced to make sweeping changes. In spite of their success in last year’s playoffs, the last seven months have not been kind to the Montreal Canadiens, who have seen the firing of GM Marc Bergevin, head coach Dominique Ducharme, their best defensive forward (Phillip Danault), their best defenseman and team captain (Shea Weber), and their #1 goalie (Carey Price).
The Habs appear to be going down the path of a full rebuild, with names like Jeff Petry, David Savard, Jonathan Drouin, Tyler Toffoli, and Christian Dvorak potentially being traded before the deadline or this summer.
The Edmonton Oilers tire fire and GM Ken Holland’s failure to acquire a goalie finally resulted in Dave Tippett’s head being placed in the guillotine on Thursday, but it’s hard to believe that new bench boss Jay Woodcraft will have more success with an ancient Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen between the pipes.
The dismissals of Ducharme and Tippett make four coaching changes for Canadian-based teams, along with two GMs in Bergevin and Jim Benning (Vancouver) this season.
While that type of upheaval is not on the minds Toronto Maple Leafs fans right now with a 30-10-3 record and their club winners of their last six, it could be something pondered at the end of the season if they fail once again to advance in the postseason as they have the last five years.
🚀 from @brendan_brisson gets the scoring started!#WinterOlympics | #TeamUSA 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/NRTtBIqNcG
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 10, 2022
Team President Brendan Shanahan has overseen the rebuild of the franchise since being hired in 2014, and progress has been made in scouting and player development since Kyle Dubas was elevated to GM in 2018, but the question remains whether both will survive if Toronto bows out in the opening round again against the likes of Florida or Tampa Bay.
Based on how the Leafs under Dubas are perceived around the league, it is hard to imagine what direction they would go in terms of replacing him (or that he would be unemployed for long), but that uncertainty may put the Toronto GM in a position to go all-in before the trade deadline and make a move to upgrade his roster to leave nothing left to chance when May rolls around.
Holy snipe @Matty_Beniers10 #WinterOlympics | #TeamUSApic.twitter.com/FI7EdVzWLX
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 10, 2022
*******
The Leafs open a three-game swing through Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest on Thursday against the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that both Auston Matthews and Jake Muzzin will return to the lineup. Matthews showed no ill effects from a collision with Brett Pesce on Monday, while Muzzin returns after missing the last seven games with concussion issues.
With Wayne Simmonds out due to the birth of his second child, Toronto will play 11 forwards and seven defensemen in front of starter Jack Campbell. The Flames are playing in the second of back-to-back games after shutting out Vegas 6-0 on Wednesday and will go with backup Daniel Vladar between the pipes.
*******
Lot’s of â¤ï¸ for the 💙ðŸ¤
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) April 26, 2021
Convo on Podcast.#theleafsconvo https://t.co/Xdn3CDLVCI
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******