The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ season could already be over.
Toronto entered the season with goals of winning the Atlantic Division again and competing for a Stanley Cup. However, to begin the year, the Maple Leafs have struggled and put themselves in a hole.
The Maple Leafs are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, and one rival NHL executive said the team is poorly constructed.
“The roster is so poorly constructed,” said one rival executive via text to The Athletic.
Meanwhile, another executive felt like the Maple Leafs’ season is already up in the air as Toronto is in trouble.
“Leafs are in trouble,” mused another.
Toronto is 8-9-2 and has the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. Although it is still early, the Maple Leafs are now four points out of a playoff spot and need to pass six teams to get into the playoffs, which could make it difficult.
Analyst Explains Why Maple Leafs Could be in Trouble
Toronto has gotten off to a slow start, but Maple Leafs analyst James Mirtle of The Athletic believes it could be a bigger issue.
The Maple Leafs analyst points to Toronto’s easy schedule to begin the year and the fact majority of the games have been at home.
“As bad as the Leafs have looked through 18 games, they’re still only two points out of a wild-card spot and, incredibly, four back of Montreal, Boston and Ottawa for the Atlantic Division lead,” Mirtle wrote. “It will likely still take around 95 points to make the playoffs, however, which means Toronto will need a record equivalent to 38-25-1 the rest of the way to get there.
“They’ve already burned one-third of their home schedule to date and faced the easiest opposition leaguewide. So things are about to get more difficult as they start to head on the road and face more playoff teams night after night. And these Leafs have hardly looked like a group up for that challenge so far. Especially considering the results have gotten uglier as the season has worn on.”
Although the Maple Leafs have the talent to go on a lengthy winning streak, this current group hasn’t shown that it is possible. However, if Toronto is going to make the playoffs, the Maple Leafs need to start winning soon.
Craig Berube Believes Toronto is ‘Unconfident’
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube believes the team is lacking confidence amid their slump.
Toronto hasn’t been playing to the best of its abilities, and Berube thinks confidence is playing a role.
“We’re just a little bit unconfident, I’d say, right now,” Berube said after the game on Saturday. “But got to get through that, because we got the leads. And we have an opportunity to close this game out, win it. And we get a power play in the third, and we don’t do anything with it either.”
When asked how he could help the Maple Leafs gain confidence, Berube wasn’t sure.
“That’s a good question,” he replied. “I mean, I got to motivate them the best way I can. And maybe it’s a kick in the ass. But maybe it’s positive reinforcement, too.”
Toronto will return to the ice on Tuesday at home against the St. Louis Blues.
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