Something's Off With the Maple Leafs, and Everyone Can See It
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a major problem with their roster, but the panic button may not be necessary, yet.
On 'The Leafs Nation', Frank Corrado described the specific challenges affecting the Leafs early on in the season, and what needs to change on Toronto's end to see them succeed.
Toronto starts the year with a 3-3-1 record, but have been criticized for a lack of physicality after spending the offseason targeting such and acquiring players meant to do so. Corrado says that more is needed, but fans don't need to be entirely worried just yet.
Frank Corrado Gets Blunt Describing The Leafs Early Flaws
Frank Corrado expressed what he feels is wrong with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it's a problem that the Leafs have been trying to fix this offseason, seemingly so far to little avail.
It feels like it, feels like every year we're revisiting this.
You know, there was a few years ago where they kind of go out on the West Coast early in the year and they struggled and then, you know, last year they're trying to work through the transition of a new coach and how does that look?
And this year, I'm more worried about the team finding their identity and that's a huge issue because when stuff hits the fan, you're not playing well, you always go back to «What are we at the crux of it?» «What's the simplest form of what our team is?» And that's like that's what you lean on.
Well, for the Leafs this year, like they've they've tried to change things, right?
Like that they're the heaviest team in the NHL. But they don't play mean, so they look slow and they don't have the puck a lot. And you're like, well, all that kind of just tells me that you're stuck in the middle.
It looks like a team that doesn't really know what its identity is right now. - Frank Corrado
You know, there was a few years ago where they kind of go out on the West Coast early in the year and they struggled and then, you know, last year they're trying to work through the transition of a new coach and how does that look?
And this year, I'm more worried about the team finding their identity and that's a huge issue because when stuff hits the fan, you're not playing well, you always go back to «What are we at the crux of it?» «What's the simplest form of what our team is?» And that's like that's what you lean on.
Well, for the Leafs this year, like they've they've tried to change things, right?
Like that they're the heaviest team in the NHL. But they don't play mean, so they look slow and they don't have the puck a lot. And you're like, well, all that kind of just tells me that you're stuck in the middle.
It looks like a team that doesn't really know what its identity is right now. - Frank Corrado
The Toronto Maple Leafs have built a team that was supposed to be a winner, yet the planned changed culture is still waiting to prop up to life.
So what is keeping the Leafs from being the team they wanted to be? A few things.
What's Keeping the Toronto Maple Leafs From Early Season Success?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a few major hurdles keeping them from being the team that they want to me, some of which don't have an easy fix, or as of right now any fix at all.
For one, the Leafs have a problem with the performance of their bottom-six. Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy were brought in to add some offensive production in the Leafs depth, with neither proving themselves to be adequate solutions to the problem.
Scott Laughton has been out to start the season, someone who was gaining momentum to be a comeback player and a potential help for Toronto's depth scoring. Once again, the scoring relies on the top-six, and that's without a certain 100 point player in the lineup.
The Leafs, as pointed out by Corrado, are the heaviest team in the league, but not using that strength to their advantage enough.
Toronto isn't getting enough physicality and pressure from their big men, leading to a lack of gritty leadership. Corrado isn't the only one to say it, also echoed by Steve Dangle as well.
A common mantra that has been popping up among some Leafs fans is that the Leafs can afford to regress in the regular season as long as the team is ready for the postseason, giving up a few in-season goals to have a more aggressive playoffs.
In theory, the Leafs focusing on the postseason makes sense, but no team is thinking postseason in October, and Toronto's focus is going to be day-to-day.
If the Leafs aren't able to shape up now, there's not guaranteed to be a playoffs that the Leafs can be ready for.
For the idea that Toronto's best needs to come playoff time, and if they don't shape up now, they risk being at their best by the time their window is over, and risk another identity crisis taking effect.
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