from James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail,

Changing the coach isn’t a panacea. It won’t transform this roster into a world beater, one full of hearty back checkers and diligent crease clearers. But what it may allow for is a glimpse of what these players can do in a system that isn’t so risk-averse and under a coach that can effect some positive change territorially.

Season after season, Carlyle’s impact appears to be a negative one over time, as this is the third year in a row the Leafs have been progressively outshot more the longer he has tried to implement a solution to that very issue.

That’s likely the easy part of the issue facing Leafs management at this point. The tougher challenges come when you take a closer look at the Leafs personnel. What do you do with a roster that has some big (and bad) contracts, some key pending free agents and not nearly enough good two-way players?

Especially with so little available, via trade or on the open market?

Looking back, the curious thing about Shanahan’s first off-season with the Leafs is it amounted to a mild vote of confidence for what was in place, despite the warning signs.

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