Former Maple Leafs player exposes major issue for Toronto in upcoming season
Photo credit: TSN
The Maple Leafs are poised for a strong 2024 season, but a former player has shed light on why the team has struggled to meet expectations lately.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up for another ambitious 2024 season, but recent comments from former player Carlo Colaiacovo shed light on persistent issues that have plagued the team.
With the biggest fan base in the NHL, the Maple Leafs' yearly playoff disappointments become more magnified, especially following their heartbreaking elimination in a Game 7 against the Boston Bruins. As they usher in a new era with Craig Berube as Head Coach, Colaiacovo's insights provide a stark assessment of the team's struggles.
In recent years, the Maple Leafs have faced increasing scrutiny due to their inability to advance past the early rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carlo Colaiacovo, a former Toronto defenseman, has weighed in on what he believes is a fundamental problem: player development, particularly on the blue line.
«The only thing that I do agree with on these rankings is their drafting and developing. They deserve a �C' because, as I've stated all along � and this goes back to when Kyle Dubas was managing this team � when you put yourself in a position to build a salary structure with your team where you're going to build around four forwards, and it is going to occupy a large percentage of your cap, almost half of your cap, how the heck, organizationally, you did not decide to draft and develop more stud defensemen is beyond me,» Colaiacovo said.
This critique hits at the core of the Maple Leafs' ongoing issues. The team's persistent challenge has been finding and nurturing effective puck-moving defensemen. The selection of Ben Danford in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft signals Brad Treliving's intent to address past mistakes and shift the focus from Kyle Dubas' era. Yet, Colaiacovo's frustration underscores the broader failure to develop solid defensive talent.
«That's what has kept this organization back. Since Morgan Rielly, what defenseman has this team drafted and developed that has been a stud on defense?»
Colaiacovo questioned. "Justin Holl, (Rasmus) Sandin, (Timothy) Liljegren � that's where the organizational failure has been with this team. You've built around four forwards, and you just continue to draft forwards to play with those guys.»
The addition of seasoned defensemen like Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson aims to bolster the team's blue line this season. However, Colaiacovo's comments suggest that without a concerted effort to cultivate young defensive talent, the Maple Leafs may continue to face the same obstacles despite the significant investment in their forward group.
As the Maple Leafs continue their pursuit of success, addressing these developmental gaps will be crucial for achieving their long-awaited playoff aspirations.
Source: House of Hockey
Former Maple Leaf details the biggest issue the current Toronto team face
Former Maple Leaf details the biggest issue the current Toronto team face
| POLL | ||
11 AOUT | 97 ANSWERS Former Maple Leafs player exposes major issue for Toronto in upcoming season Do you agree with Carlo Colaiacovo's evaluation of the Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 58 | 59.8 % |
| No | 39 | 40.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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