Former NHL coach prepares Leafs fans for the worst with this year's team
To say that the Toronto Maple Leafs have underperformed in the first half of their season would certainly be a fair assessment. Yes, the team is 3rd in the Atlantic Division and has games in hand over each team in their range, but they also have the toughest remaining schedule of any NHL team.
Former NHL Head Coach and Stanley Cup winner Bruce Boudreau spoke on Leafs Morning Take today and had some blunt, but realistic, comments about the Maple Leafs this season. Boudreau, a Leafs fan, born and raised, isn't sold on this year's team being a true contender.
With the second half of Toronto's season starting tonight against a hot and flashy Edmonton Oilers squad, Bruce Boudreau went ahead and assessed the first half of the season for Toronto and what he saw.
Maple Leaf fans' expectations are always high, especially with the skill level the core possesses. Boudreau pointed out the fact that, in recent years, the Maple Leafs coasted into the playoffs and never worried about winning every single game knowing they were almost guaranteed a playoff birth.
The same can't be said this season. This team will have to battle to get in and they'll be battling with other teams who have playoff aspirations. With the team playing average hockey and not living up to their potential on a consistent basis, The Leafs find themselves trailing Boston and Florida by a wide margin, while only ahead of Detroit and Tampa Bay by one point, with their games in hand running out quickly.
Starting a tough four game road trip out west against some teams that are playing very well and then returning home and having to battle Winnipeg, one of the top teams in the league, in a home-and-home series matchup before the All-Star break should have fans wondering if the Leafs will be in a playoff spot going into the All-Star weekend.
This is the time where Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe needs to rally his players and get them prepared for a difficult second half season schedule.
Will the Maple Leafs rise to the occasion in their gruelling second half schedule, or will they fall apart and miss the playoffs entirely? Let us know in the comment section below!
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 16 | 1414 ANSWERS Former NHL coach prepares Leafs fans for the worst with this year's team Will the Maple Leafs make the playoffs this season? | ||
| 1st in the Atlantic | 40 | 2.8 % |
| 2nd or 3rd in the Atlantic | 305 | 21.6 % |
| Wild Card spot | 671 | 47.5 % |
| Miss the playoffs entirely | 398 | 28.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
