New Maple Leafs coach facing defensive, goaltending challenges
Following a six-game winless skid that sent them tumbling in the standings, the Toronto Maple Leafs last week called up minor-league coach Sheldon Keefe to replace Mike Babcock as their new bench boss.
The coaching change provided immediate dividends as the Leafs defeated the Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche. Keefe is loosening the reins on his best offensive players, allowing them to do what they do best. However, he faces the same challenge as his predecessor: improving the defensive liabilities with a club top-heavy with expensive scoring stars.
The Leafs still lack a reliable backup goaltender to spell off overworked starter Frederik Andersen. Jake Muzzin remains their only experienced shutdown defenceman. They're lacking a physical presence on the blue-line and among their checking-line forwards.
If Keefe struggles to address those problems, it'll fall to general manager Kyle Dubas. He showed considerable skill swinging off-season deals to clear sufficient salary-cap room to re-sign Mitch Marner to a big raise. However, it'll be tougher to address their current problems in-season, especially with a number of teams pressed for salary-cap room.
ISLANDERS ON A ROLL
The New York Islanders exceeded expectations last season by reaching the playoffs and sweeping the favoured Pittsburgh Penguins from the opening round.
Entering this season, however, some observers predicted the Isles would regress. They allowed goaltender - and team MVP - Robin Lehner to depart via free agency, and did little during the summer to bolster their roster.
Nevertheless, the Islanders continue to confound the experts. In their second season under head coach Barry Trotz, they broke a franchise record with a 17-game points streak (15-0-2). They're challenging the Washington Capitals for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Forwards Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier are off to the best starts of their careers while off-season pickup Derick Brassard is thriving under Trotz's tutelage. Lehner's replacement, Semyon Varlamov, is doing a fine job splitting the goaltending duties with Thomas Greiss.
Trotz continues to burnish his longstanding reputation as a players' coach, ably assisted by his long-time goalie coach Mitch Korn. Under their guidance, the Islanders are starting to win over their critics with their solid team play.
SOME CLUBS FACE A POTENTIALLY BLACK FRIDAY
There's an ongoing, wellfounded opinion among NHL observers that most teams sitting out of a playoff spot by the American Thanksgiving weekend stand little chance of reversing their fortunes before season's end.
That doesn't bode well for several of last season's playoff clubs. That includes the Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets in the Eastern Conference, and the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks in the West.
The Lightning dominated the league last season while the Flames finished atop the Western Conference. The Predators was the NHL's top team in 2018 while the Sharks reached the conference finals last spring. All risk finishing outside the playoff picture by next April if they don't turn things around soon.