Maple Leafs: Assistant coach fired and questions about Auston Matthews’ future

Félix Forget
Maple Leafs: Assistant coach fired and questions about Auston Matthews’ future
Credit: Screenshot/Twitter

For the first time in almost 10 years, the Toronto Maple Leafs are unable to count on the services of Mitch Marner in their line-up. The club saw Marner leave for Vegas last summer, and tried to replace him with more depth.

And the result is, shall we say, unconvincing.

The Maple Leafs have a 15-15-5 record this season, which puts them last in the Atlantic and second to last in the East. The ultra-tight Eastern standings mean they're (really) not dead… but they're not strong either.

And you can feel the panic slowly spreading through the club. In the last few minutes, for example, the club dismissed one of its members.

Marc Savard, Craig Berube's assistant, lost his job three days before Christmas.

The feeling is that Savard is probably the first domino to fall. The club will try to see if the dismissal will provide an electroshock… but if it doesn't, other changes are likely to follow.

The club doesn't seem to want to fire Berube… but perhaps sooner or later, it will be forced to do so.

But there's another name whose future in Toronto is starting to be talked about: Auston Matthews. He's not having a great season… and should the Leafs decide to clean house, you have to wonder if Matthews could pack his bags.

Nick Kypreos, at least, wonders if the Kings (who just lost Phillip Danault and will see Anze Kopitar retire next summer) might take a chance.

What's clear, though, is that things aren't going well in Toronto right now. It feels like the club is starting to smell like hot soup, and you have to wonder if big changes could be coming soon.

Because yes, there are a few signs pointing in that direction.


Overtime

– Maybe that explains Savard's dismissal.

– What do you think?

– Things are hopping in the ECHL.

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