The Athletic Hockey Show (Nov 12, 2025): “Maple Leafs are on the Wrong Side of the Puck”

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the ongoing struggles of the Toronto Maple Leafs, dissecting what’s going wrong for one of hockey’s most scrutinized teams. Hosts Sean Gentili, Sean McIndoe (DGB), and Frank Corrado break down defensive breakdowns, lackluster goaltending, the failed transition to a tougher identity, and fractured organizational accountability. The show also zooms out to address trouble in Nashville, and checks in with Blackhawks beat writer Scott Powers on Chicago’s progress. The tone is candid, analytical, and often self-aware and tongue-in-cheek, reflecting both the hosts’ acerbic Toronto sense of humor and their deep hockey expertise.

Main Themes & Purpose

• Diagnosing the Maple Leafs' spiraling performance and identity crisis
• Assessing where blame lies (coaching, management, players, or systemic issues)
• Comparing current struggles with previous years and eras
• Taking stock of the Nashville Predators’ dysfunction and future
• Checking in on the Chicago Blackhawks and Connor Bedard’s development

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Maple Leafs Meltdown: Defensive Woes, Goaltending, and Identity (02:23–29:09)

• Lack of Defensive Structure
  The Leafs were supposed to turn a new leaf (pun intended) under Coach Craig Berube, focusing on playing “on the right side of the puck.” But players look lost, particularly defending off the rush.

  • Sean Gentili (06:41):
    “The biggest defensive issue…is how porous they are off the rush…We're talking about the bare minimum that they're not even doing right now.”

• Goaltending Regression
  Last year, Toronto could mask some issues thanks to “Vezina-level goaltending" — this year, Anthony Stolarz has struggled, especially since calling out his teammates.

  • Frank Corrado (09:21):
    “They were getting Vezina-level goaltending and that bails you out an awful lot...Now it’s not happening. The power play can't do anything and the goaltending is not good.”
  • Sean Gentili (11:42):
    “Now you've added more pressure in a very pressure packed situation. You're the goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs. It's enough pressure. But now you add that things aren't going well for the team in front of you and you're playing more than you ever have.”

• Failed Identity Shift ("We're not mean, we're not heavy")
  Hopes that Berube would make the Leafs “big, heavy, and mean” have fizzled. Numbers might say they're bigger, but the team still isn't hard to play against.

  • Frank Corrado (13:56):
    “The scale and the measuring sticks might say they're big and heavy, but this is not a big heavy team and it's sure not a mean team...This team doesn’t feel different from the Sheldon Keefe era. It feels worse, maybe.”

• Historical Context and Shift from "Skill Era"
  The Leafs once tried to out-skate everyone but pivoted toward grit after repeated playoff failures, trading off regular season dominance for a hope of playoff resilience. Now, they seem to have lost both strengths.

  • Sean Gentili (15:32):
    "The Maple Leafs used to be a team...when they were at their best, they're hard to play against. Was that when Matthews’ line was on the ice, they had 70% of the possession and the chances... It almost feels like Toronto tried to address these playoff demons by getting these slower, tougher, bigger guys and they moved far away from that."
  • Frank Corrado (17:03):
    “I get the transformation because the skill era did not work in the playoffs...But the problem is right now it feels like it's two or three or four steps back in the regular season.”

• Who’s to Blame? It’s Everyone ("The Pie Chart")
  There's no longer a single scapegoat; the failure is organizational and holistic.

  • Sean McIndoe (18:37):
    “Who is the new sin eater for the Toronto Maple Leafs?...Are people projecting anger onto Brandon Carlo because he was the big trade addition?”
  • Sean Gentili (22:38):
    “It's not the old, 'Hey, Justin Holl had a couple, you know, plays that cost us a game.' It's not that. This feels different than the old school one guy is the whipping boy. This is the pie chart of percentage.”
  • Frank Corrado (23:17):
    “The anger, the frustration in Toronto...it's a machine gun. It's not a sniper rifle. It's...everybody's getting it.”

• Accountability for Management and Coach
  The front office and coach are especially under fire. Moves by GM Brad Treliving,[Berube’s] system, and trade efforts have all disappointed.

  • Frank Corrado (23:58):
    “A lot of people are looking at Craig Berube going, this is year two. Is this working?...And then there’s also a lot of people...who loved it when Craig Berube came in...So far, I mean, he looks furious on the bench but...who's gotten benched, who's gotten sent to the press box, who's gotten called out? You don't really see it.”
  • Sean Gentili (27:31):
    “For Tree Living, though, like just, I know we got to go to break, but he can always redeem himself with a couple smart trades, right?...There's always that possibility.”

2. Nashville Predators’ Downward Spiral (31:47–45:27)

• Dire State Analysis
  The Predators are losing consistently, have poor goaltending, and spent big on aging stars (Stamkos, Marchessault) without improving. Calls for a full rebuild mount.

  • Sean McIndoe (35:04):
    "They're in Sweden now, too...the wheels...are about to fall off."
  • Sean Gentili (32:53):
    "I never want to say 10 out of 10 because there's a lot of good people involved in these situations...But you know, the moves that they've made in Nashville have clearly not made the team better. Their goaltender is not getting any younger and he gets bombarded..."

• Market Differences: Rebuilds in Non-Traditional Markets
  It's harder to sell a rebuild in markets like Nashville, unlike Toronto or Montreal where loyal fans fill the arena regardless.

  • Sean Gentili (35:21):
    "It's also tough in that market...to sell a rebuild because it's not like a guaranteed [attendance]."
  • Frank Corrado (36:37):
    “In Toronto...the building is still full and the money’s still pouring in...That can be an issue in especially Canadian markets...But is it easier to do that in a place like Nashville where you say, 'Hey, guys, we’re going to take this step back' and maybe the local fan base is more willing to go, 'OK, you know what, we'll watch the Titans for a little while.'”

• Front Office Under Scrutiny
  Barry Trotz, beloved as a figure, gets criticism for a lack of direction as GM. Moves for Stamkos, Marchessault have flopped. Is a teardown inevitable?

  • Frank Corrado (38:36):
    “At some point this is a mess and this is headed towards dead last overall. And maybe that's the plan, but not a controlled demolition like we've seen in Chicago and San Jose...This is a big giant flashing neon sign in Nashville saying, it’s not working, it will not work. You have to fix it.”

3. Chicago Blackhawks: Growth & Bedard’s Next Step (48:23–61:09)

Special guest: Scott Powers, Blackhawks beat writer.

• New Hope in Chicago ("Climbed out of DGB’s Bottom Five")
  The Blackhawks have shown significant improvement—at least by their recent standards.

  • Scott Powers (48:59):
    "...It's their best start since the 2016-17 season. So that's...something. So, yeah, a little bit more relevant than we've had in Chicago for some time."

• Connor Bedard’s Progress: Speed, Maturity, and National Team Buzz
  Bedard has improved his skating and responsibility, drawing attention for a possible Team Canada Olympic role—although competition with Macklin Celebrini is creating intrigue.

  • Scott Powers (53:55):
    “I think Team Canada is important to all these kids... Bedard is comfortable in who he is...very competitive within himself and he wants to produce but also very supportive of those other young kids.”
  • Scott Powers (56:32):
    “One [reason for the jump] is the skating. He certainly looked faster coming into camp...Some of this maturity, like you see him being stronger...He’s played enough NHL hockey now to kind of understand what he can get away with.”

• Stanley Cup Playoff Hopes? Not Without More Depth
  The hosts ask whether meaningful hockey late in the season is on the table. Despite Bedard's growth, the answer is “not yet.”

  • Scott Powers (58:54):
    “I don't think so. I don't think it's there yet. I think this team isn't deep enough...even now they're playing 11 forwards and seven defensemen every night to cover a little bit up...I think they're a really solid team and they're interesting...a year from now it’s probably a little bit more realistic.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

“The biggest defensive issue…is how porous they are off the rush.” – Sean Gentili (06:41)

“They were getting Vezina-level goaltending and that bails you out an awful lot...Now it’s not happening.” – Frank Corrado (09:21)

“The anger, the frustration in Toronto...it's a machine gun. It's not a sniper rifle. It's...everybody's getting it.” – Frank Corrado (23:17)

“This is a big giant flashing neon sign in Nashville saying, It’s not working, it will not work. You have to fix it.” – Frank Corrado (38:36)

“I think Team Canada is important to all these kids...Bedard is comfortable in who he is...very competitive within himself and he wants to produce but also very supportive of those other young kids.” – Scott Powers (53:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Leafs Analysis (Defensive failure, Identity, Blame breakdown): 02:23–29:09
• Nashville Predators Meltdown: 31:47–45:27
• Chicago Blackhawks & Connor Bedard Check-In (with Scott Powers): 48:23–61:09

Final Thoughts

This episode is a comprehensive and blunt autopsy of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ early-season collapse, with thoughtful parallels drawn to other NHL teams navigating similar turbulence. The hosts bring humor, candor, and deep insight, weaving in enough context for less-devoted followers to appreciate the stakes. With the Leafs’ problems sounding “like a full systems failure,” fans are left with little optimism and even less patience—but as always, they're not alone in their suffering.

“Leafs fans want to revel in their own suffering and opposing fanbases want to do the exact same.”
– Sean McIndoe (29:09)