The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled severely at the start of the 2019-20 NHL season and coach Mike Babcock has done little to change this. He continues to play Cody Ceci on the top pairing while only playing Matthews and Tavares 18 minutes a night. He also refuses to switch around the lines to shake up the team’s performance. 

On Saturday night, the Maple Leafs lost 6-1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on national television and it was an absolute embarrassment. The team looked unmotivated as if they no longer have interest playing under Babcock. If the team is going to make a playoff push, they need to make a change now. They are currently on pace for 82 points, 1/4 of the way into the season. This is not going to be good enough to make the postseason. 

Don Cherry of Hockey Night in Canada was recently fired for remarks about Veteran’s Day which now leaves him unemployed. I believe hiring Mr. Cherry would give the Maple Leafs the spark they need as well as implying a more physical game to get past the Bruins in round 1 of the playoffs. Cherry will teach the team the good Canadien way of the game and get this team back on track!