Mixed in with all the normal rumors of Dion Phaneuf and Nazem Kadri trade rumors, the most frequent speculation regarding the Maple Leafs this season will be the status of head coach Randy Carlyle.
Leafs president Brendan Shanahan and GM Dave Nonis dismissed assistants Greg Cronin, Scott Gordon and Dave Farrish, added former Panthers bench boss Peter Horachek and promoted Marlies head coach Steve Spott to the coaching staff, but extended Carlyle for two more years, who was entering the final year of his contract.
Carlyle drew heavy criticism for his club’s inability to maintain control of the puck, play well defensively and the overuse of the club’s core players, but some observers believe that the 2007 Stanley Cup winning coach did the best he could do with a roster lacking quality depth and plagued by key injuries throughout the season.
Over the summer, the Leafs reshuffled their forward complement with the additions of Mike Santorelli, David Booth, Finnish import Petri Kontiola, Daniel Winnik, Leo Komarov and Matt Frattin, as well as adding experience on the blueline with the acquisition of Roman Polak and signing of veteran Stephane Robidas, which should give Carlyle more to work with.
If the Leafs are able to improve defensively, get more production and contribution from their bottom six and receive good goaltending from Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer, than a return to the post-season is likely and Carlyle’s job will be safe past next season. If the club continues to struggle and has a streak of ineptitude similar to their decline in the final month of the 2013-14 season, then Shanahan will be looking to bring in a coach who can quickly change the fortunes of the club.
“I really believe that had someone like Mike Babcock been available, or Alain Vigneault or Lindy Ruff, I don’t believe Randy Carlyle would be coaching right now.… said Adam Proteau of the Hockey News on TSN 1050 Radio on Thursday. “I think they are going to give him enough rope with which to hang himself and after that, they are going to be looking on the open market.…
Proteau believes that Carlyle’s tenuous status, Babcock entering his 10th season in Detroit, his deal expiring at the end of the 2014-15 season and the recent contract extension of Grand Rapids head coach Jeff Blashill could mean the stars are aligned to bring the Olympic and Stanley Cup winner to Toronto this time next year.
“If things go poorly in Toronto, Randy(Carlyle) will be gone in short order.… Proteau said. “As soon as the decision was made to bring back Randy, I thought this was Brendan Shanahan’s evaluation year for the franchise.…
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The signing of Boston’s David Krejci to a six-year, $43.5 Million contract extension on Wednesday is a significant hit to teams who may have been hoping to add a front line center in unrestricted free agency next summer.
The 28-year-old Stanley Cup winner will be making $7.25 Million through the 2020-21 season and eclipses Tuukka Rask as the highest paid Bruin starting next year.
The 2015 free agent class(which was thin to begin with) now has one less potential impact player and 31-year-old Jason Spezza appears to be the best center that could make it to the open market next July.
The trend of impact players not getting to free agency has become more common in the last few seasons and for teams like Toronto, who want to find that dominant presence up the middle, the only ways to get a player like that is either through the draft or trade.
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