Leafs Flounder on Crucial Homestand, Raising Questions About Front Office and Coaching Direction
The Toronto Maple Leafs are limping into the Olympic break, and there's no sugarcoating it-this recent stretch of hockey has been a gut punch. A five-game homestand, billed as a key opportunity to gain ground in the playoff race, has instead turned into a troubling slide. With an 0-3-1 record so far on the homestand, the Leafs are staring down a five-point gap behind the final wild card spot-their largest deficit since Boxing Day.
That’s not where you want to be with just 10 home games left in the final 30. Especially not when your road record sits at an uninspiring 8-11-3.
This homestand was supposed to be a springboard. Instead, it’s looking more like a warning sign.
Injuries haven’t helped. William Nylander is out.
Chris Tanev is out. But the issues run deeper than missing pieces.
Even if the Leafs manage to tread water over the next five games before the Olympic break, the math is working against them. And maybe, just maybe, that’s not the worst thing.
Because now might be the right time to take a hard look at the direction of the franchise-starting at the top.
Brad Treliving: Time for a Reset?
GM Brad Treliving is in the spotlight, and not for the right reasons. His track record-both in Calgary and now in Toronto-hasn’t exactly inspired confidence.
In Calgary, he was known for losing star players without adequate replacements. In Toronto, he doesn’t have the luxury of high draft picks to reshape the roster, and his moves so far haven’t moved the needle.
The trade deadline is looming, and Treliving’s history there hasn’t been stellar either. If the Leafs are going to make a playoff push-or pivot to a more future-focused approach-they need someone in the GM chair who can execute with clarity and conviction. Right now, that’s not what we’re seeing.
Craig Berube: Playing It Too Safe?
Head coach Craig Berube gave the team a jolt after Marc Savard’s departure, but that initial boost has faded. What we’re seeing now is a system that seems to prioritize caution over creativity. That’s a tough pill to swallow when you’ve got offensive weapons like Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Max Domi, Nick Robertson, and (when healthy) William Nylander at your disposal.
Berube’s system has the Leafs consistently getting outshot and outpaced. It’s not just a matter of execution-it’s a matter of philosophy. And when your lineup is built around high-end offensive talent, asking them to play a conservative, reactionary game feels like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
Injuries have forced Berube to shuffle the deck at times, and some of those changes worked. But as he’s settled back into his comfort zone, the results have trended the wrong way.
Why the Olympic Break Matters
Here’s the thing: if the Leafs are going to make a change-at GM, head coach, or both-this is the window to do it. The Olympic break gives the organization a rare mid-season pause. The NHL’s roster freeze kicks in on February 4, and while trades can’t be finalized until February 22, that stretch of downtime offers a new GM a chance to get up to speed, assess the internal landscape, and pick up conversations where Treliving may have left off.
An internal candidate could hit the ground running, and an external hire would at least have time to align with ownership on priorities. Either way, it’s a better option than letting someone navigate the trade deadline if they might not be around after the season ends.
And let’s not forget the upcoming decisions on pending unrestricted free agents like Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton. A new GM might take a more pragmatic view-turning those players into assets rather than re-signing aging bottom-six forwards with likely pay bumps.
Coaching Carousel: A Chance to Reset
On the coaching side, the Olympic break gives a new bench boss a golden opportunity. Time to meet the players, study film, and implement their system. Treat it like a mini training camp, and you’re not just plugging someone in-you’re giving them a real shot to make an impact.
With the Leafs returning to action on February 25, there’s enough runway to recalibrate and make a legitimate push. The question is whether the current coaching setup gives them the best chance to do that.
The Case for Action
This isn’t about scapegoating. Neither Treliving nor Berube has been a disaster.
But in a market like Toronto, where expectations are sky-high and resources are plentiful, “not terrible” isn’t good enough. These are roles where the Leafs can afford to aim for greatness, and right now, it doesn’t feel like they’re getting it.
Keith Pelley and the Leafs’ brass have a decision to make. If they’re even remotely unsure about the current leadership, the Olympic break is the moment to act.
They’ve got interim options in-house-Brandon Pridham could step in as GM, and Derek Lalonde could take the reins behind the bench. That buys time to explore long-term options in the spring.
This season isn’t over. Not yet.
But if the Leafs want to salvage something from it-and set themselves up for 2025-26-they need to make bold, calculated decisions now. The clock is ticking.