Dreger on likelihood of Leafs coaching change
The Toronto Maple Leafs had an impressive regular season last year finishing with 46 wins and 100 points. Unfortunately, they were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round for the third straight season.
So far, the Leafs have gotten off to a slower than expected start to the 2019-2020 season. After winning their first two games, the Leafs find themselves on three game losing streak, with the most recent loss being a 7-3 beating at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Darren Dreger joined Micheal Landsberg and Carlo Colaiacovo this morning on TSN's "First Up" this morning to discuss Toronto's coaching future.
Dreger on the possibility of Babcock being fired:
" It's early for that, but I could see it happening at some point this season. This is too important of a year for the Maple Leafs as an organization. The Leafs are not done with Babcock and won't be replacing him with anyone other than Sheldon Keefe. So if at some point, whenever that point is, and the Leafs have to do something to salvage the season, then they're going to do it, I don't have any doubt in my mind."
Babcock was criticized heavily, following last season's early playoff exit for limiting his star players ice time; most notably, Leafs star forward, Auston Mathews.
The Maple Leafs coach also made noise in the media when he made the decision to scratch NHL veteran Jason Spezza on opening night against his former team, the Ottawa Senators.
Listen to Dreger's full interview on "First Up" here
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 11 | 849 ANSWERS Dreger on likelihood of Leafs coaching change If the Leafs struggle, should they fire Babcock this season? | ||
| Yes | 636 | 74.9 % |
| No | 213 | 25.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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YESTERDAY
JUNE 6, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Mitch Marner | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Tomas Hertl | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jordan Staal | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Shea Theodore | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sebastian Aho | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Brayden McNabb | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Taylor Hall | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Martinook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Andrei Svechnikov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jackson Blake | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Brett Howden | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Seth Jarvis | - | 1 | 1 | |
| William Karlsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Eric Robinson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jaccob Slavin | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Logan Stankoven | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Frederik Andersen | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Barbashev | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||