The leafs did try the "tough coach" and it got them a record season in points and unexpectedly making the playoffs.
Unfortunately, that "tough coach" turned out to be a huge douche and bully when our main core were just kids.
I think a tough coach approach could work with this team, as long as he/she is respectful about it. Babs crossed some lines apparently.
- Fakepartofme

I just want a coaching staff that can motivate these guys to play better defensive hockey. Keefe had them playing pretty good defensive hockey in prior seasons and the failings in the playoffs were more about the other teams best just outplaying our best (or running into a wall like Bob).

The best teams this year (Van, Wpg, Vegas, Bos, FLA, ...) all have consistent g'tending and play good structured hockey.

Whether it's now or in the summer this team needs to find a blue liner or two who stabilizes the blue line and then they need to get consistent goaltending.

For me, in the summer, (frank) adding wingers for the top 6. Spend that money on the blue line and on good smart two way guys to fill out the middle six. Knies and Robertson can play with the big4 on the cheap.

The lack of secondary scoring narrative is BS. Yes, Bertuzzi and Knies are icy cold but the Leafs scoring balance is no different from most teams. Col, Edm, FLA, NYR, TB, etc.. all teams have 4-5 producers and the rest go out and play good hockey without producing.

The jeannot trade is still a horrible overpayment imo.
Dont care how many years of control he came with.
But i agree, we've done 4 years of rentals, hasnt worked out that well.
- Fakepartofme

Totally, the Jeannot trade has not been good at all, but would rather give up multiple picks for someone with term, than a first rounder for a month rental.

They will go into the playoffs knowing how to win the battles late in the game and in overtime. I believe this is the year the Leafs will fight and claw their way through into the Conference finals and perhaps beyond.
- spatso

Except they are losing a lot of the close games and have been mediocre overall.

Leafs are at the same point as the LA Kings in terms of points who had nowhere near the expectations on them that the Leafs did.(Leafs were expected to be challenging for the division). They fired the coach and are expected to be sellers at the deadline.

But no let's spend more draft capitol this year so there is nothing left in the coming years when we do a slight retool and have a better balanced lineup. There are a number of players we could jettison and are AHL/prospect replaceable in terms of what they are providing.

Except they are losing a lot of the close games and have been mediocre overall.

Leafs are at the same point as the LA Kings in terms of points who had nowhere near the expectations on them that the Leafs did.(Leafs were expected to be challenging for the division). They fired the coach and are expected to be sellers at the deadline.

But no let's spend more draft capitol this year so there is nothing left in the coming years when we do a slight retool and have a better balanced lineup. There are a number of players we could jettison and are AHL/prospect replaceable in terms of what they are providing.
- Azuredoom

Should we storm it?