The internal reality for Berube and Treliving: Why firing them isn't the solution for Toronto
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Firing Craig Berube and Brad Treliving may not be enough for the Maple Leafs because according to Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston, the players themselves are a large part of Toronto's problem and the fans are getting tired of it.
Both men were guests on TSN's Overdrive where the topic of the general feeling in the Maple Leafs organization was up for debate, and while there's certainly turmoil from a coaching and management standpoint, there may be bigger underlying issues.
Dreger says MLSE knows the players are part of the problem
Dreger explained that MLSE CEO Keith Pelley and other executives are getting the feeling the team's issues extend beyond Craig Berube and Brad Treliving and takes aim at the Maple Leafs roster instead:
We don't know what Pelley is thinking or anyone above him, and there is a higher level of responsibility on the GM and coach who structures the team but there's a healthy realization from Pelley and MLSE; a lot of this is from the players. - Dreger (03/12/26)
If Pelley and company thought the team lacked that passion and intensity, they're going to be rightly upset after they did nothing when Radko Gudas kneed Auston Matthews and put him out potentially long-term.
When your players who you pay millions upon millions of dollars to end up doing nothing when your captain, face of the franchise and essentially 'money-maker' goes down? That's not Brad Treliving or Craig Berube's fault at all.
Johnston says fan apathy worries MLSE more than fan anger
It could end up leading to even more tension from the fanbase, which is something that Chris Johnston noted as well on Overdrive:
One thing, I had some talks with people who are concerned that people are actually resigned to things. The fanbase is a little too disengaged.
That was in response to Bryan Hayes' remarks that the fans have a huge voice and related the Ron Wilson and Randy Carlyle firings as examples of Leafs Nation using their jeers to create change.
Right now though, it sounds like they're more apathetic than anything, which could almost be more dangerous.
Despite the fact the team sold out during their eight-game home losing streak, the team has seen a decline in attendance, especially in the lower bowls. The boos have been loud multiple times this year, and now it just seems tiring.
It's already expensive enough to go out to a game, but to watch a mediocre product and sit there for two or three hours, plus traffic, just to have a bad time? No one wants to go out and do that.
A coaching and GM change doesn't matter if the same players are in the locker room
But what does it matter if the team makes a coaching change and a GM change if the players are the issue?
Look at what happened with the Gudas hit. Nobody responded - not even Matthews' decade-long teammate in Morgan Rielly. Why did it take a 20-year old rookie to drop the gloves?
The face of your franchise just went down with a potentially career-altering injury and you sit on your hands? That's not a Berube or Treliving issue; that's solely on the players.
Remember, Anthony Stolarz was run over earlier this season and Brandon Carlo just stared at it. There's no urgency, there's no passion.
Why would anyone want to watch a team who looks like they don't care about each other? William Nylander doesn't really sound confident, Rielly has been a disaster on top of this. Why are you going to run it back with a lineup that clearly doesn't gel together?
Start by getting rid of the dead weight.
Moving on from Rielly, Carlo, and Max Domi are good building blocks. You are supporting around three stars right now in Matthews, Nylander, and Knies - start doing the work and gives you a clearer idea of where you need to improve.
Then, and only then you might see the Maple Leafs fans starting to come back around and think maybe things will actually be different.
Until real change is made though, it's a whole lot of 'wait and see'.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Auston Matthews MRI: Why the Maple Leafs must face the 'shut down' reality regardless of results
Auston Matthews MRI: Why the Maple Leafs must face the 'shut down' reality regardless of results
Previously on Hockey Patrol
| POLL | ||
MARS 13|1094 ANSWERS The internal reality for Berube and Treliving: Why firing them isn't the solution for Toronto What do you think is the biggest issue with the Toronto Maple Leafs | ||
| Coaching | 79 | 7.2 % |
| Front Office | 172 | 15.7 % |
| Players | 124 | 11.3 % |
| All Of The Above | 719 | 65.7 % |
| List of polls | ||