We know Dubas and Keefe are safe, but there's another member of the Leafs' staff who needs to be fired immediately
MLSE's belief in Brendan Shanahan and Kyle Dubas is evident, and you need look no further than the fact that, despite suffering a series of setbacks in multiple postseasons, the organization remains steadfast, backing the process, and trusting that the desired results will come.
We also know that the organization is behind Sheldon Keefe, which should not be a surprise, given his track record in his limited time with the club - most notably, his record-setting 2021-22 season, leading the Leafs to a franchise best 54 wins and 115 points. However, there is another member of the coaching staff who may need to go.
Goalie coach Steve Briere has been with the Leafs organization since the 2015-16 season, and if you've followed every Leafs goaltender since that point in time, you'd know that consistency has always been an issue for the Leafs, save maybe Jack Campbell's 2020-21 season, where the longtime backup went on a 17-3-2 streak for the club, leading them to a 1st place finish in the North Division, followed by a solid individual performance against the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs.
What we saw from the Leafs in goal this season was an absolute disaster. While Campbell started the season in Vezina Trophy candidate form, a rib injury quickly derailed his season, leading to the 30-year-old posting some of the worst numbers in the NHL from December through the end of the season. Campbell aside, I think everyone is fully aware of how the Petr Mrazek project turned out.
With even consistent league-average goaltending, the Leafs likely win the Presidents Trophy this season, and it's not even a stretch to suggest that. Campbell gave the Leafs a sub .900 save percentage from January through March, while Mrazek, for almost his entire tenure as a Leaf, posted a sub .900 save percentage. I refuse to believe that a pair of goaltenders, whose career average save percentages are .916 (Campbell) and .909 (Mrazek) are suddenly both unable to stop a beach ball for long stretches.
Since Briere came in, the Leafs have gone through the likes of Jonathan Bernier, Frederik Andersen, Garrett Sparks, Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek. Pretty much every one of them posted their career low seasons as a Leaf. Sure, we can talk about the defensive inefficiencies, but at the end of the day, your goaltender needs to make a clutch save every now and again. The Leafs have had a hard time getting that.
Take a look at how quickly things turned around for both Bernier and Andersen after they left Toronto. Bernier posted a .923 sv% for the Leafs in 2013-14 and then a .912 sv% in 2014-15. He posted a .908 sv% in 2015-16, when Briere arrived in Toronto. The very next season, Bernier posted a .915 sv% with the Anaheim Ducks. Meanwhile, Andersen began his tenure in Toronto with a .918 sv% and got progressively worse over the 5 years of his contract. He ended his contract with the Leafs with a .895 sv% and a 2.96 GAA in 24 games last season. This season, his first with the Carolina Hurricanes, Andersen has posted a career best 2.17 GAA and a sparkling .922 SV% with 4 shutouts, en route to a Vezina Trophy nomination.
The Leafs would be wise to begin vetting candidates to replace Briere now and having a replacement in place by the time training camp rolls around. Otherwise, I have a feeling that it's not going to matter whether the Leafs bring Campbell and Mrazek back or find a couple of new faces to tend the goal in Toronto. If Briere remains the Leafs' goalie coach, regardless of who is in goal, consistency is likely going to be a real issue under his tutelage.
| POLL | ||
MAI 24 | 272 ANSWERS We know Dubas and Keefe are safe, but there's another member of the Leafs' staff who needs to be fired immediately Should the Leafs replace goalie coach Steve Briere this summer? | ||
| Absolutely | 185 | 68 % |
| No, it's not his fault the goalies fall apart | 41 | 15.1 % |
| Don't care - just win, baby! | 46 | 16.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
