Disappointing loss turns up the heat on the Treliving-Berube era in Toronto
Photo credit: Rogers Sportsnet
Knowing they needed to come out with a strong performance, the Maple Leafs once again fell flat and it might be time to say goodbye to the Auston Matthews era.
Look, I've been a Toronto Maple Leafs fan for over two decades. I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but there's been some bad hockey played over that span; it's what led to Auston Matthews after all.
But lately this brand of what Toronto is putting on the ice looks even worse and their latest showing was just another example of how lifeless and uninspired this team really is.
Toronto's disaster in the Music City
Starting off hot against Nashville with a goal 1:30 into the game, it slowly unraveled and with Luke Evangelista's tie-breaker in the third, it was all she wrote for Nashville.
Coming away with a 5-3 loss, it was another miserable showing for the Maple Leafs. Being outshot 34-22 and having an abysmal 20 giveaways; the team wasn't able to keep a rhythm.
Joseph Woll stopped 29 of 32 shots, and Nashville scored two empty net goals. But even with the extra man Toronto wasn't able to tie the game, regardless of Bobby McMann's ninth of the year.
But this was a game they had to win, and win handily. They did not play like they needed to, and the same defensive lapses and half-hearted efforts really made things easier for the Predators.
Toronto's glaring issues are not fixed, regardless of changes
Cole Smith's empty netter should not have happened. Toronto had an offensive zone draw, and Morgan Rielly decides to haphazardly swipe his stick at the puck. Well, he missed, and Smith scored.
Stamkos' was even more egregious, as William Nylander lazily skated in with the puck, got stripped, and Stamkos was on a breakaway against a wide open cage.
There are no words to describe the frustration in seeing that.
It might be time for the team to realize that genuine change is needed. While we can't say for certain, Craig Berube might be fired, heck so too could Brad Treliving.
And by the looks of his posture during the game, you can tell that he's a man who knows his job isn't exactly 100% safe right now.
This is the same nonsense as we've seen and fans are tired of it. You are going to have the most die-hard, stick-with-it people desert you, and it's your fault and you are charging thousands of dollars for a chance to watch 60 minutes of what is legally classified as hockey, but is empty beyond that.
Auston Matthews still has two years on his contract (oh, he was also minus-three with three shots) and maybe it might be time to see if there's any buyers.
The Matthews era is all but over folks, and it's time the team resets and focuses on a new direction.
This one they're currently on is only going to drive them deeper into the abyss.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 20|3244 ANSWERS Disappointing loss turns up the heat on the Treliving-Berube era in Toronto Do you think it's time to end the Auston Matthews era in Toronto? | ||
| Yes | 2632 | 81.1 % |
| No | 612 | 18.9 % |
| List of polls | ||