Insider: Maple Leafs Front Office “Really Worried”

The Toronto Maple Leafs managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat Tuesday night after a disputed shootout goal in which players had to be called back from the locker room. But overall the 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers was another disappointing performance, and the Toronto front office is “really worried” about the state of the team, per Leafs Insider James Mirtle of The Athletic, speaking on Sportsnet 590 Radio on Wednesday. 

I know for a fact that this front office is worried. They're really worried for what they're seeing on the ice. (Head coach) Sheldon Keefe is worried... He's really concered about the way that they're playing, because their record could be a lot worse than it is right now. 

The Leafs are 11-6-3, 4th place in the Atlantic Division. But a nice trip to Sweden aside, the Leafs have not looked good in the past 30 days, winning only six of 13 games, and four of those six were in overtime or shootout. In fact, this season, they have only five (5!) regulation wins all season—the same number as the San Jose Sharks. Yikes. 

Their top players coming into this season, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, have been eerily quiet the last eight games, with only three points each. 

The defense is reeling, with three regulars out of the lineup, in John Klingberg, Timothy Liljegren and now Mark Giordano. And even when healthy, have been nothing to write home about. 

Mirtle says, in the short term, they need to urgently make at least a "depth move" on defense and keep a close eye on the waiver wire. 

But until the big stars are back to performing, and GM Brad Treliving does some major reconstruction to the blueline, that "worry" will continue around the team, and around Leafs Nation. 

Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports