from Micael Traikos of the National Post,

The Leafs are still one of the best in the league. But they’re not playing like it. Not with Gardiner losing puck battles, the power play seemingly getting worse by the day, and William Nylander looking like he left his hands back in Sweden when he signed that massive contract.

For the first time this season — and really, for the first time since Mike Babcock took over as head coach — the on-ice product is falling short of what’s on paper.

It’s one thing to beat up on non-playoff teams, such as New Jersey and Vancouver, as Toronto has done recently. But when you lose 4-0 to the Predators, then drop the season series to the Bruins at home, followed by a loss to the slumping Avalanche, then it’s natural for the fans to wonder if this team is good enough to take that next step.

Right now, this team doesn’t look like a contender. It looks like a team that needs significant changes to its back end and a swift kick in the butt from its head coach.

more including the booing of Jake Gardiner last night...