Dave Nonis found out last season what it’s like to be in charge of the Maple Leafs when things go surprisingly well.

Now, he’s experiencing life as Leaf GM when things are going unexpectedly poorly.

Four straight losses have sent the club tumbling out of a playoff position, and have the town buzzing in a decidedly unhappy way. But Nonis made it absolutely clear Saturday that firing coach Randy Carlyle or moving top young players for battle-hardened veterans are not options he’s willing to consider.

“Randy’s job is not in jeopardy,” said Nonis, who recently celebrated his one-year anniversary as Leaf GM. “It’s the players who have to play better, and they know that. The biggest piece in all of this is the players, collectively. This is not a bad hockey team.”

Nonis said he’s heard some of the criticisms of his coach, all of which he believes are unfounded, such as:

That he’s lost the dressing room.

“This coaching staff led us to the playoffs last season. They did it,” said the Leaf GM. “They supplied the belief, the coaching and the teaching, all the things you need to have happen.

“Switching coaches isn’t going to make our players play harder or prepare better. And I think this coach works his ass off.”

That Carlyle is too abrasive on his players.

“This notion that Randy is a tyrant is nonsense. He wants the players to do well. He cares about how they’re playing.”

That the veteran head coach doesn’t tailor his coaching sufficiently to young players.

“He’s way more patient with kids than people seem to think,” said Nonis. “He does have time for kids, and he does have time for development.”

Nonis did see a glimmer of hope in Friday’s frustrating 3-2 defeat in Washington.

“That was our best game in about two months,” he said. “We didn’t get what we deserved. But everybody felt good about it.”

The Leafs host New Jersey on Sunday night to begin a challenging week that includes a trip to Boston on Tuesday and visits from Buffalo and Montreal on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively.

Nonis said he’s still looking to make a significant trade if he can to jolt his team into playing more consistently. So far this season, he traded defence prospect Jesse Blacker and a draft pick to Anaheim for centre Peter Holland, and on New Year’s Day acquired defenceman Tim Gleason from Carolina for rearguard John-Michael Liles and a prospect.

“I’m still trying to see if there’s a deal out there that can change our look but not hurt us in the long term,” he said.

He reiterated once again that he has no intention of trading either defenceman Jake Gardiner or centre Nazem Kadri, and that the only way either would be moved would be for a blue-chip player of similar age. Similarly, defenceman Morgan Rielly, 2013 first-round pick Fredrik Gauthier and the team’s first-round pick in June are all basically untouchable.

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Having faced immense pressure from ownership while GM in Vancouver to trade the likes of Ryan Kesler, Cory Schneider and Alex Edler for older players, and having still refused to do so, it’s unlikely Nonis will change his mind and make the kinds of moves previous Leaf GMs have made under duress for short-term improvement.

“I’m not doing it,” he said. “The pressure cannot get strong enough for me to trade our best kids for older players.”

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