Keefe reveals where his players' heads are at with the playoffs looming
As the book begins to close on another NHL regular season, the discourse around the Toronto Maple Leafs must be comical to the casual observer. Here we have a team that is sitting on a 50-20-6 record, with a 50, possibly 60 goal, 100 point player leading the way, a better defence than they've had in years, the League's number one powerplay and a top 10 penalty kill. They have a player in the running for the Hart, Rocket, and Selke Trophies, they've broken their all time record for wins and points. Still, some of the fans aren't happy.
I wrote earlier this year that no matter what they do in the regular season, the Leafs won't be able to win with the fans. Well they've done just about everything a team could have done but low and behold, they haven't won back the hearts and minds of the league's biggest fanbase. The only way they'll truly win back the fans is with playoff success, and boy do they look ready.
Since the trade deadline, the Leafs are 11-2-1. Jack Campbell is rounding into his early season form, they are unstoppable on offence, and their physical game has ramped up dramatically. The Leafs seem to be peaking at the right time, and they are consistently beating quality teams along the way. For a team that has lost in the first round of 5 straight seasons, they're doing everything they can to restore a little faith in a skeptical fanbase.
After morning skate on Tuesday, Sheldon Keefe was asked about the mindset of the team. his response confirmed what keen observers of the team already know.
Focused and confident. The Leafs have made it crystal clear the past few weeks what they are focused on. Every interview, every question about Auston Matthews record breaking season, or the team's success this season has been answered with "There's still work to be done" or "It's nice, but it's not what we're after." This quote from Morgan Rielly paints a perfect picture of where the team's focus is.
It's all about the playoffs baby, and as many times as we've had our collective hearts broken, I'm having a very hard time not believing in this group. They seem more mature than past iterations, and they all seem to get it. The only success that matters is playoff success. The Leafs are ready for it, are you?
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 19 | 200 ANSWERS Keefe reveals where his players' heads are at with the playoffs looming If the Leafs get Tampa in round 1, what do you think the odds are of the Leafs beating the defending champs? | ||
| 0%-19% | 17 | 8.5 % |
| 20%-40% | 58 | 29 % |
| 41%-60% | 53 | 26.5 % |
| 61%-100% | 72 | 36 % |
| List of polls | ||
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