Toronto Maple Leafs Struggles Could Trigger Major Coaching Change
The hype surrounding Toronto's revamped game plan has hit a big snag, and if they don't turn it around soon it could lead to them moving on from a key staff member.
When Craig Berube was hired this summer to replace Sheldon Keefe, he brought a brand new vision to a team desperate for an identity change. Berube however wasn't the only new coach to come into the fold.
Toronto added Berube's old powerplay coach from St. Louis in Marc Savard, a PP wizard who was expected to bring a crafty bit of offense to a dominant powerplay.
The team also added Lane Lambert to help their PK and defense and so far, he's been a great addition.
Savard on the other hand hasn't and after a dismal start to their powerplay, it turned things around.
But they are currently stuck in a rut and without any real change to their unit, it might be signaling his quick end.
Toronto Can't Afford A Middling Powerplay Especially In The Playoffs
Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jay Rosehill was chatting with Zack Phillips, producer of Jeff Marek's 'The Sheet' and touched on Savard's inability to bring it around and if it's time to cut ties:
Bring in someone with a completely different voice who has a track record of overhauling struggling powerplays.
Even if it's not that person, anyone with a different voice to say 'Hey guys listen, this isn't that freakin' hard.
Every one of you is skilled and have the capabilities and you're telling me all you guys together can't do it?"
Toronto sits currently 18th in the NHL with a 20.6% and while it's a respectable number, it's nowhere near the top level needed.
Winnipeg, New Jersey, Vegas, Florida, Tampa Bay and Edmonton are all near or at the top of the NHL in the standings, and they owe a lot of their success to their powerplay.
Not to mention that if Toronto wants to be successful come playoff time, they need to do better than the abysmal 4.8% last year.
How a contingent that features Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly can't put anything together is puzzling, though the team could benefit from shooting more and haven't had more than two goals in a game on the man advantage.
Savard in his playing career was known for being a special teams demon, having 80 of his 207 career goals on the man advantage. But it hasn't translated to success for Toronto and it could be time to make a change before things get too out of hand.
