Toronto Maple Leafs Lack Leadership

The Toronto Maple Leafs are determined to never make the playoffs. That’s the only conclusion that a fan could come to after the Leafs suffered their fourth straight loss Thursday night and brought their recent ten game record to 4-5-1. The Leafs have fallen apart the last couple of games and their season is starting to seem reminiscent of last year when they fell apart after the half way mark.

Toronto is currently three points ahead of the ninth place New York Rangers who have played two less games, and are a point ahead of the eighth place Winnipeg Jets who have played one less game. Needless to say, the playoff race is tight.

The issue for the Leafs right now is that they’ve scored nine goals in their last four games but have allowed seventeen goals in that same amount of time, and can’t seem to get back on track. They’re missing key opportunities to score, and it seems like no one is willing to step up and turn the Leafs back into the right direction. And that is where the Leafs have a major issue.

There seems to be a lack of leadership in the Buds locker room. Not since the days of Mats Sundin have the Leafs had a vocal leader who could lead both in the room and on the ice. Dion Phaneuf, though a capable defenceman, does not strike too many people as a passionate leader, and what’s even worse is when you look for other leaders on the roster there aren’t too many (maybe Lupul?). No player has set the tone for professionalism in Toronto since 2010 and that is why they probably won’t make the playoffs this year.

New York will surely regain composure and get a playoff spot so the only hope the Leafs have for making the playoffs is to beat Winnipeg Saturday night. This may be the most crucial game for the Leafs who in their next five games will play Boston twice; a team that has had their number all year.

The Leafs don’t play like they want it, and that’s the key difference between them and Winnipeg. The Jets aren’t a stacked team but they’re a gritty bunch who earns each win and with leaders like Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, and Jim Slater, there is no doubt that they have an advantage over the Toronto Maple Leafs.