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Toronto Maple Leafs Must Stick to Plan Despite Playoff Run

By Adam Eley |
Apr 9, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock talks to his players during a time-out called late in the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Air Canada Centre. The Blue Jackets beat the Maple Leafs 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock talks to his players during a time-out called late in the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Air Canada Centre. The Blue Jackets beat the Maple Leafs 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs expected results after entering a rebuilding phase. But have they come too soon and could it see the Leafs hurt rather than helped in the long run?

Few expected the 2017 Toronto Maple Leafs to be playing anything but golf in late April – not even President Brendan Shanahan could have seen it coming. Yet here we are deep into the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Leafs are still hanging on.

Friday night saw the Leafs drop their Eastern conference quarterfinal game five to the President’s trophy winning Washington Capitals to go down 3-2 in a series most thought, myself included, would go no further than five games max.

Despite being one game away from elimination, the rookie-filled Leafs haven’t just surprised Washington, they’re more than holding their own with the Alex Ovechkin led Caps who have needed overtime to get by the Buds in two of their three wins.

Apr 13, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan talks to the press during a press conference at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan talks to the press during a press conference at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Shanahan, who joined the Leafs as President in 2014 promised a patient approach to rebuilding the blue and white following years of failure and big money free agent signings and admitted sticking to the plan may be the hardest part in a city starved for hockey success.

He told The Star in 2015:

I’ve often said the plan is not some unique plan that you won’t hear 29 other teams say they have to do, which is draft, develop, patience. Make good choices. The challenge here in Toronto is not to come up with the plan. The challenge in Toronto is to stick to it.

After a  69 point, 29 win 2015-16 season and a bountiful 2016 NHL draft including first overall pick Auston Matthews,  Shanahan and the entire Leafs Nation would be forgiven for getting ahead of themselves as they go toe to toe with standings-wise, the NHL’s best team just a year on from being the basement boys of the league.

Now, with Matthews and fellow rookies including Mitch Marner, William Nylander, the Leafs look primed for years of promising seasons. The real challenge is to remember they still have time to grow.

The thirst for success in Toronto may stretch back to 1967, but despite early gains, this is not a team built to win now. And while it may seem tempting to make a splash in free agency, and through the trade market with their abundance of young talent, they will be much better served by adding the right pieces around the rookie core, as they did in acquiring Brian Boyle from Tampa Bay in February.

Next: NHL Playoffs: How the Blackhawks Can Recover

There is an argument that a playoff appearance relatively early into the rebuild may turn out to be a double-edged sword, as with success comes raised expectations. But the common consensus is that what the young Leafs are learning this year is invaluable.

And if cool heads prevail and expectations remain realistic, there’s no telling where this Toronto team could end up.

As Shanahan says, patience is key.

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