THE STATE OF THE LEAFS
GM Lou Lamoriello reflects on his team as the NHL season hits the halfway mark.
It is a remarkable turn of events that the Maple Leafs can sit, rather consistently, among the bottom five teams in the NHL this season and the fan-base is as calm as it has ever been.
It wasn’t that long ago the team was in annual playoff runs — top three perches, even — and jersey-throwing fans were in a tizzy that the team wasn’t good enough or built to win.
What a difference a plan — to rebuild through the draft — and a coach has made.
“The job that Mike (Babcock) has done and the commitment the players have given, I think the fans should feel great with what is happening, and what the present and future holds,” said Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello. “The work ethic has been there on a consistent basis. That’s what you ask for.”
There are times, like a recent 8-2-2 stretch, where one can allow oneself to believe that a run up the standings is possible if the team is kept together.
“The trade deadline is something the players don’t talk about,” said Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly. “It’s part of the business. We’re not sure what’s going to happen. We’re right now worried about playing well as a team with the players we have and try to get wins. “We believe in the group we have.” But mathematically and realistically speaking at the halfway mark, the Leafs seem well on their way to being a team in the lottery for the top three picks in a robust June draft.
“We got off to a rough start as far as wins and losses, no question,” said Lamoriello. “That was in the process. That’s what you go through.
“Certainly we don’t feel good about the number of points we have or where we are in the standings. But about the process? Yes.”
The team took to Babcock’s system after a horrible October. The promised pain was limited to a couple of spankings courtesy the Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks. And Jonathan Bernier’s reputation took a hit.
Both Lamoriello and Babcock took to TV, radio and print interviews over the past couple of days to remind all that more pain — serious pain — is on its way.
“Mike was upfront in saying we all know there is going to be pain along the way,” said Lamoriello. “We’re all going to feel it. It might take time. Sometimes it will take more time than we would like. Remember, we are all basically impatient people. We all want to win today. In saying that, we still have to stick to our commitment.”
That commitment is to build from within, through the draft. Friday night’s opponent — the Stanley Cup
“We all want to win today. In saying that, we still have to stick to our commitment.” LEAFS GM LOU LAMORIELLO ON BUILDING THROUGH THE DRAFT
champion Chicago Blackhawks — did just that. Their core — Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Corey Crawford, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook — were all Blackhawk draft picks.
“They’ve done a good job with their core group in maintaining it, and they have done a lot of winning,” said Babcock. “Let’s look at the 10 years before. They had a lot of pain. I am hoping our pain isn’t quite as long.
“It is our job to build the core players as best as we can.”
The Maple Leafs will be sellers at the trade deadline again this year. Last year, in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, the Leafs acquired prospect Brendan Leipsic, Nashville’s first-round pick in 2015, Pittsburgh’s second-round pick in 2015 and fourth-round pick in 2016, St. Louis’s sixth-round pick in 2016 and Anaheim’s fifth-round pick in 2016.
This year — with contracts expiring for the likes of Brad Boyes, Shawn Matthias, Roman Polak and Michael Grabner — promises to be no different. And Lamoriello is in no rush. “When time is on your side, use it,” said Lamoriello. “There’s no imminent decisions on what will and will not be done.”
The Maple Leafs have famously collapsed at some point in the second half in three of their last four seasons. Last year was particularly brutal, with just eight wins against 30 losses and five overtime losses from Jan. 3 on. It resulted in the fourth overall pick in the June draft (Mitch Marner).
Lamoriello said he’d rather not see history repeat itself.
“(I want) a solid finish, no matter what you do or where you go,” said Lamoriello. “You always allow the end result to take care of itself. The commitment is to win each and every night.”