After five straight losses, the Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Mike Babcock on Wednesday evening and replaced him with Sheldon Keefe. Here’s a look at what other media organizations are saying about it.

A big disappointment?

“This is clearly a signal that management — specifically team president Brendan Shanahan and GM Kyle Dubas — thought Babcock’s message had grown stale on the players, and there needed to be a fix before the team truly spiralled. At least now there’s a chance to salvage the season,” Emily Kaplan from ESPN wrote.

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski added: “Underwhelming offence (3.13 goals per game) that could no longer overcome the porous defence (3.43 goals against per game) that had become a hallmark of Babcock’s teams. Three straight seasons, the Leafs failed to advance out of the first round. Their current quality of play combined with that lack of results would have sent any head coach packing, even a brand name like Mike Babcock.”

A coincidence?

Babcock was fired on Nov. 20. Mike Yeo was fired by the St. Louis Blues in the wee hours of Nov. 20 last year. That team then went from last place to Stanley Cup champion.

What the fans are saying

“Overpaid, overrated and long overdue to be fired,” one fan tweeted.

Another wrote, “thank you for all you have done but it was time.”

Several users tweeted, “Hey @DetroitRedWings Fire Blash and bring Babcock back to Detroit!!” Detroit Sports Nation published more along those lines.

What’s next?

Wyshynski again: “In 2012-13, (new coach Sheldon Keefe) was hired by current Leafs GM Kyle Dubas to coach the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Dubas hired him again in 2015 to coach the Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. The 39-year-old led them to at least the second round of the playoffs in each of his seasons there, and won the Calder Cup championship in 2018. So this is Kyle Dubas’s guy.”

As for Babcock’s future, Kaplan writes: “Babcock can be choosy about what situation is best for him. He’s being paid $6.25 million (per year) not to coach, so there’s no urgency other than pride — or restlessness.”

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Abhya Adlakha is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @AbhyaAdlakha

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