It was another year of the Toronto Maple Leafs making the playoffs and another early first round exit for the team. The Leafs had an outstanding year with 115 points but is change needed for the team to have a long playoff run?
James Mirtle of The Athletic reports, the Leafs have done well with managing Toronto’s salary cap, drafting, development and analytics. But he asks what do you do with the head coach?
Mirtle wonders if Leafs management will target Barry Trotz in the offseason for a coaching change? The team will have players exit because of the salary cap and will a change of the head coach get the Leafs past the first round of the playoffs?
The guess is, the Leafs will stick with the coach for one more try. If ownership is going to commit to the front office, you commit to the coach.
There have been NHL trade rumors swirling this past season of the Leafs trading William Nylander, but GM Kyle Dubas is committed to him, so we will see what happens in the summer. I am sure there will be a lot of Leaf rumors.
Keep the coach, the core is young and entering their prime. They will make it past the first round next year. Book it!