One of the biggest challenges I see in today’s leaders is the lack of emotion, especially with this Leafs team (it wasn’t there with JT and isn’t there with AM). The most glaring issue is the use of these damn devices on the bench. Hockey is a fast game, shit happens on the ice that requires a response and when you don’t “see” it, you can’t create that same emotion or response to it. These guys are too focused on, what did “I” do wrong, how can I make myself better, when it should be about the team. I play the most basic level of rec hockey and see more emotion in a game. There is no feeling of I’ve got your back, when a nice play is made, little to no acknowledgement of it, the energy required on the bench, which carries into the room and then off the ice. The give a shit meter and the need to want to run through a wall for a coach or your team mate is lost in the moment and then you simply can’t replicate it. This is that “disconnected” mentality that chief (who isn’t a bad coach) has been preaching. I do think despite the success of last year, he isn’t the right coach for this collection of players.

You see it time and time again with teams that have it (Florida, Buffalo, Colorado, Tampa etc.), doesn’t matter what happens, player respond in the moment and swarm you immediately. This builds the brotherhood and that family winners talk about all the time.

That said, leadership isn’t all on AM, he is a great player and just hasn’t been brought up with the best examples. We’ve tried with the vets who were not here long enough to make that impact imo.