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Doug MacLean believes Maple Leafs need to revamp D-core before they see better results
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2026, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 11, 2026, 09:41 EDT
The Toronto Maple Leafs are three games away from an off-season that could bring seismic change if the club has their sights set on returning to the playoffs next year.
On Friday morning, following the Maple Leafs’ 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders, former NHL executive Doug MacLean joined Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill to discuss some of the issues that plagued the Maple Leafs this year and what he’d be looking for in his next head of hockey operations, among other items.
“Unless they fix their back end, and get a group that can move, transport and make plays with the puck, you have no chance. Typically, if you don’t get 150 points from your defence core, you don’t make the playoffs,” MacLean said. “I love Chris Tanev, but he’s injured all the time. I love Jake McCabe because of his character, but it needs to be revamped to today’s type of blue line. To me, that’s their biggest problem.”
After the Toronto Maple Leafs fired Brendan Shanahan, the club opted to give former general manager Brad Treliving a greater role. MLSE CEO Keith Pelley appears to be trending in the direction of bringing in a President of Hockey Operations and general manager as the Maple Leafs revamp their front office. MacLean spoke about what he thinks needs to happen to best set the Maple Leafs up for success.
“First of all, hire your President of Hockey Operations, and do an unbelievably thorough search on who that president is. Get a guy that has great experience and has been in the league recently, not someone who has been out of the league for 14 years,” MacLean said. “Let him hire the general manager and then let the general manager decide in consultation with the President of Hockey Operations who the coach is going to be.”
The Maple Leafs and Berube appear to be trending toward needing a split. MacLean touched on whether he thinks the Maple Leafs will be in the market for a new coach in the upcoming weeks.
“Craig did a good job in St. Louis. He’s been an assistant, he’s been in the minors, and he’s paid his dues. The organizations brought in what, 10 new guys this summer and not one of them worked out. Is that the GM’s fault? Is that Craig’s fault?” MacLean said. “Nobody even came close to what people hoped they might be, so I think it’s going to be really tough for Craig. I really like him as a guy and don’t want to see him lose his job, but I think it needs to be a fresh start.”
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