In Toronto, turnover expected among Maple Leafs
As bad as the show has been here in the Hub of Hockey for the better part of 15 years, the Leafs officially fell into lockstep with their pair of losses last week to the Bruins. Two spiritless and utterly unkempt efforts, sure to send coach Paul Maurice packing at the end of the season according to the Boston Globe.
Toronto, yet to qualify for the postseason since the end of the lockout, had not missed the playoffs for three straight seasons since 1926-28, the same period the franchise changed its name from the St. Patricks to the Maple Leafs (official change came in February 1927). Much like the Nordiques of old, the Leafs showed a bit of a dead-cat bounce, going 12-4-1 leading up to the two against Boston, teasing some into believing they could make the playoffs. But when it came time to play a meaningful game, or two, they wilted.
What now? Maurice, once the Whaler boss, will be perhaps the first of the postseason coaching casualties (figure on about a half-dozen firings). Because the Leafs missed the playoffs, Pavel Kubina’s no-trade clause falls away, and he’ll be gone, along with his $5 million-per-year salary. Not much more the new GM (yet to be named) can do, other than maybe persuade Bryan McCabe, who will turn 33 this summer, to waive his no trade and start over with someone else. But that’s tricky, because McCabe has $14.45 million due over the next three years.
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