Leafs falling

What is wrong with the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Is it as simple as injuries? Let’s not forget that two-thirds of last year’s top line, and a defenceman who would be in their top-four right now are out.

In a league built on parity, maybe not many teams could weather the losses of John Tavares, Zach Hyman and Travis Dermott.

(Dermott and Hyman are eligible to come off long-term injured reserve Friday vs. San Jose. I’m going to guess Dermott will, Hyman won’t.)

 I don’t think it’s injuries. They look like they don’t care. There is very little passion in their game. It’s like there’s something else going on in their heads.

Did all that social media hate over the summer get to Mitch Marner? Did Auston Matthews lose his mojo when the disorderly conduct charge he faces in Arizona come to light? Remember when William Nylander said he would dominate the NHL this year? From the far boards, I guess.

 Is Morgan Rielly wondering where Ron Hainsey is? Is Frederik Andersen wondering if he should play all the games? Is Michael Hutchinson wondering if Andersen should play all the games? Why does Andreas Johnsson think it’s a good idea to hook and hold in the offensive zone?

If ever a team was trying to get its coach fired ... I’ll let that thought sink in.

As for coach Mike Babcock, you’ve got to wonder what he’s thinking. He’s had three years to coach a system into his core players, and now they seem to be ignoring it.

He took a tough love approach with Marner (remember his fourth-line duty) and was pilloried for it, but of all the young guns, it worked for Marner.

He took a “praise all the time” approach with Matthews who was never great defensively but did display a dogged pursuit of the puck. The dogged pursuit is gone.

The Leafs have lost more than they’ve won out of the gate (5-4-2). A team that used to score its way out of trouble seems to want to skate itself into trouble on a regular basis

Pure and simple, they suck right now,  hope it doesn't last long.