Management Takes Interesting Stance on Maple Leafs' Play: Are They Delusional?
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Maple Leafs' management group is surprisingly encouraged by what they're seeing on the ice, which is raising eyebrows following a 6-3 blowout loss.
The Toronto Maple Leafs head into the month of November with a very pedestrian 5-5-1 record, but it wouldn't be the first time they've turned a modest October into a sensational November.
Leafs Losing to Very Beatable Opponents
The concerning part of the Leafs' performance to kick off this season hasn't really been the 5-5-1 record, but rather the teams that they have lost to early on this season.
While New Jersey qualified for the playoffs last year, the Red Wings, Blue Jackets, Kraken and Sabres did not, and unfortunately, dropping points to teams they should beat is nothing new for the Leafs.
Leafs' Management Group Encouraged by Team's Play
Still, despite just being shelled by a score of 6-3 in their last outing against the Blue Jackets, TSN's Chris Johnston has revealed that the Leafs are actually liking what they're seeing from the team right now, pointing out during "Insider Trading" that, while there are some things they feel they need to clean up, the management group really likes where they are right now.
"There is a little more calm, maybe, inside the management office than there might be on the outside around this team... and when they look at the games, they're actually seeing some improvements here in this last stretch, even with this loss in Columbus... There's a feeling that this is still a positive thing and maybe the alarm bells don't need to be ringing just yet."
Regardless of how the management group feels, it hasn't changed their stance on wanting to improve the team via a trade for a top-six forward.
There are some rumblings that Toronto is a potential landing spot for Steven Stamkos, if the Nashville Predators opt to move him this season. Also, the team does have designs on moving out 1 or two bottom six forwards to clear out some cap space.
A big reason why the Leafs are sitting at 5-5-1 right now might be their goaltending as well. While Cayden Primeau has a 2-1-0 record, he hasn't looked like an NHL goalie in any of his 3 starts, and Anthony Stolarz is posting some of the worst numbers of his entire NHL career, despite not playing as badly as the numbers might dictate.
At the end of the day, the fans simply want results, and regardless of how the management group feels about the team, fans are getting tired of paying exorbitant prices on tickets and merchandise only to be left disappointed, so the Leafs are going to have to turn this season around in short order to avoid fans littering the ice with jerseys again this season.
Leafs Looking to Improve Roster
Regardless of how the management group feels, it hasn't changed their stance on wanting to improve the team via a trade for a top-six forward.
There are some rumblings that Toronto is a potential landing spot for Steven Stamkos, if the Nashville Predators opt to move him this season. Also, the team does have designs on moving out 1 or two bottom six forwards to clear out some cap space.
A big reason why the Leafs are sitting at 5-5-1 right now might be their goaltending as well. While Cayden Primeau has a 2-1-0 record, he hasn't looked like an NHL goalie in any of his 3 starts, and Anthony Stolarz is posting some of the worst numbers of his entire NHL career, despite not playing as badly as the numbers might dictate.
At the end of the day, the fans simply want results, and regardless of how the management group feels about the team, fans are getting tired of paying exorbitant prices on tickets and merchandise only to be left disappointed, so the Leafs are going to have to turn this season around in short order to avoid fans littering the ice with jerseys again this season.
| POLL | ||
7 HOURS AGO | 146 ANSWERS Management Takes Interesting Stance on Maple Leafs' Play: Are They Delusional? Do you think the Maple Leafs are playing better than their record might indicate? | ||
