Coaching shakeups hardly a cure-all
Mid-season changes have not led to experiencing instant playoff success
Mike Babcock became the fourth straight Toronto Maple Leafs head coach to lose his job with the team on the road when he was fired Wednesday, with Sheldon Keefe making his debut behind the bench Thursday in Arizona. Here’s a look at the last five Leafs coaches who took over the team after a mid-season coaching change:
PETER HORACHEK
Took over: Jan. 6, 2015 Replaced: Randy Carlyle
Record at the time: 21-16-3 End of season: 30-44-8 Toronto was still in a playoff position when Carlyle was fired following a 5-1 loss at Winnipeg, though it had lost seven of its last nine games. Former assistant Horachek took over as interim coach and debuted with a 6-2 home loss to Washington. It didn’t ever get better for Horachek, who posted an 8-26-6 record as Leafs coach as Toronto finished second-last in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs cleaned house after the season, parting ways with Horachek, three other coaches and general manager Dave Nonis. Babcock was then brought in to kickstart a rebuild in Toronto.
RANDY CARLYLE
Took over: March 2, 2012 Replaced: Ron Wilson Record at the time: 29-28-7 End of season: 35-37-10 Wilson was let go following a six-game losing streak that put the Maple Leafs’ playoff chances in jeopardy. Then-Leafs GM Brian Burke compared the situation to an “18-wheeler going right off a cliff.” Carlyle, who coached the Ducks to the 2007 Stanley Cup title, had been fired by Anaheim earlier in the season after the Ducks struggled to a 7-13-4 record. Carlyle led Toronto to a 3-1 win over Montreal in his Leafs debut, but the team went 6-9-3 under their new coach and missed the playoffs. He led Toronto to its first playoff appearance in eight years the following season, but the team missed the playoffs again in 2013-14 and Carlyle was fired in 2014-15. He compiled a record of 91-78-19 in Toronto.
NICK BEVERLEY
Took over: March 5, 1996 Replaced: Pat Burns Record at the time: 25-30-10 End of season: 34-36-12 Burns, who had led the Maple Leafs to the Western Conference final in 1993 and 1994, took the fall after the struggling team lost eight straight games and went 3-16-3 over January and February. Beverley, then the Leafs’ director of pro scouting, director of player personnel, took over on an interim basis. The Leafs skated to a 2-2 tie with the New Jersey Devils in Beverley’s debut. They ended up making the playoffs for a fourth straight season after going 9-6-2, including wins in six of their last eight games, with Beverley behind the bench. Toronto lost to St. Louis in six games in the first round of the post-season. Mike Murphy took over as head coach to start the 1996-97 campaign.
TOM WATT
Took over: Oct. 29, 1990 Replaced: Doug Carpenter Record at the time: 1-9-1 End of season: 23-46-11 Watt, who had just joined the Maple Leafs as an assistant coach, was quickly thrust into the spotlight when Toronto fired Carpenter following a dismal 1-9-1 start. The Leafs beat the visiting Minnesota
North Stars 5-4 in his debut but ultimately finished last in the Norris Division and missed the playoffs. Watt remained head coach in 1991-92, and was replaced by Burns, formerly a successful coach with Montreal, for the 1992-93 campaign. Watt compiled an overall record of 52-80-17 with Toronto.
GEORGE ARMSTRONG
Took over: December 1988 Replaced: John Brophy Record at the time: 11-20-2 End of season: 28-46-6 Armstrong, the popular former Leafs captain and a favourite of then owner Harold Ballard, took over behind the bench after Brophy was fired. The Leafs ended a nine-game winless streak in Armstrong’s debut with a 4-3 win over St. Louis, but Toronto went 1626-4 the rest of the season and missed the playoffs. Armstrong was replaced by Carpenter after the season and returned to his scouting duties with the Leafs, a position he holds to this day.