Insider report points to uncomfortable consequences ahead for the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Elliotte Friedman reports on his 32 Thoughts podcast that if the Toronto Maple Leafs don't turn things around, there could be some big changes going forward.
Thursday night was a miserable night for the Toronto Maple Leafs, coming away with a 4-0 road loss to the Washington Capitals. The players had no real answer as to what was going on, and things are getting dire for Craig Berube.
He's frustrated, the fans are disappointed, the team has no real direction forward and they still have injury issues to concern themselves with. Things are reaching a critical point and may initiate some type of big change.
Toronto could make drastic changes if they don't improve
According to Elliotte Friedman, if the team doesn't figure it out soon then they are going to have a lot of decisions to make.
Speaking on the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman explained that the Maple Leafs could have some tough discussions soon if they don't improve, but stopped short of saying there would be definitive change.
The way this one unfolded and the way Berube spoke postgame, Toronto is headed towards a lot of very uncomfortable conversations if they don't sort this out.
What's our direction? Where are we going? What do we think about some of the players on his roster? You know, if this season doesn't turn around, it's the kind of season that has consequences.
I know the coach is under a lot of heat right now, and that's fine, that's life in the big city. But this is not all on the coach. I see games like this, and nobody walks away unscathed.
What's our direction? Where are we going? What do we think about some of the players on his roster? You know, if this season doesn't turn around, it's the kind of season that has consequences.
I know the coach is under a lot of heat right now, and that's fine, that's life in the big city. But this is not all on the coach. I see games like this, and nobody walks away unscathed.
Berube's comments post-game sounded like a coach who was resigned to his fate and just waiting for the boot. He's lost for what to do, it's seems he's lost the locker room too, and it's only going to get messier the worse the team plays.
Whether it be a coaching change or a series of roster moves, Toronto needs to make some type of alteration to their current plans because it is not working. Brad Treliving isn't publicly on the hot seat, but MLSE CEO Keith Pelley can't be happy with how the team has performed.
If Toronto doesn't change, they're going to lose more than just games
You're already charging fans thousands of dollars to come watch and you're putting out a below average product, and you're going to start losing more and more diehard fans who realize the money isn't worth it anymore.
When you have hardcore Maple Leafs supporters like Steve Dangle throwing in the towel and saying 'It's over.' then you have a problem. You're losing the ones who have stuck with you through and through and are giving them no reason to stay.
There's no immediate solution for Toronto's problems but they need to find some type of stop-gap. If Berube isn't the answer, move on and hire someone else at least to hear a new voice; especially if the players have quit on him.
But if a new coach comes in and it's more of the same, then it's definitely time to reassess the team and make some even bigger changes come summertime.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 19 | 3194 ANSWERS Insider report points to uncomfortable consequences ahead for the Maple Leafs Should Craig Berube be fired? | ||
| Yes | 1154 | 36.1 % |
| No | 2040 | 63.9 % |
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