Leafs optimistic despite last-place finish

TORONTO -- When the Maple Leafs cleaned out their lockers last April the tension was palpable, the wounds of a frustrating 2014-15 season still very fresh for players, coaches and management.

"We wanted to do a complete about-face, a 180," team president Brendan Shanahan said.

Sunday's rosy locker cleanout completed that turnaround in attitude for the Leafs.

Despite a last-place finish, the scene around the Air Canada Centre, following the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, was optimistic and hopeful. There was a real sense the organization was finally moving in the right direction after years of turmoil.

"I think this year, more than ever, we really have an idea of where we're going," 22-year-old defenceman Morgan Rielly said. "And that really goes a long way in terms of motivating players to want to work hard and try to come back here in the best shape as possible and have a good year next year.

"Because I think that when we know we're going, we have the ship turned in the right direction, I think that can go a long way."

The hopeful tune stems from an infusion of young talent, head coach Mike Babcock's impact and an organization, from top to bottom, seemingly committed to a patient long-term build.

It was a vastly different scene one year earlier when the firings of general manager Dave Nonis, the coaching staff and a round of scouts, along with uncertain futures of the team's core players, dominated the end-of-season media availability.

Tension was thick that day with questions looming around every corner of the club.

The Leafs hadn't lured Babcock from Detroit, hadn't convinced Lou Lamoriello to become their general manager, hadn't traded Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf, hadn't established that a pool of youthful prospects lay beneath the surface ready to contribute.

"From where we were to where we are it's a million miles," Babcock said, "but the journey has just begun."

Shanahan said he was most pleased by the "buy-in" the organization got from players as it related to Babcock and Lamoriello. Though they finished 30th overall it was apparent from day one that the new head coach was affecting the strategic footprint of the team and the individual performances of various players, notably 25-year-old Nazem Kadri, 26-year-old James van Riemsdyk and Rielly.

"It would be an understatement for me to express how important Mike is," Lamoriello said.

Babcock had the Leafs defending better, possessing the puck more and remaining competitive right up until the end of the season, in spite of drastic roster shuffling and an infusion of inexperienced players.

Players believe responsibility was established under the new coach and GM following a year in which Randy Carlyle was fired amid accountability questions and an on-ice product that wavered uncertainly.

Players were surprised initially by the pace of Babcock's practices, meetings, and up-beat attitude.

"I think at first guys were a little shaky with his approach, but as the season went on everyone was buying in," said 33-year-old P.A. Parenteau, who revived his career with 20 goals in Toronto. "It's not for everybody. (But) if you buy in, if he likes you, if you work hard for him, you're going to get rewarded."

Beyond Babcock's obvious effect were the impressions of young players at all levels of the organization, a number of whom joined the Leafs after the Feb. 29 trade deadline and offered hints of their potential.

Ten players made their NHL debuts after the deadline, including 19-year-old William Nylander, electric at times with six goals and 13 points in 22 games. The Toronto Marlies, meanwhile, finished as the AHL's top team.

"I've never seen so many prospects in one organization that can play in the NHL right away. That's a sign of good things to come," Parenteau said.

Nylander and others like 22-year-olds Zach Hyman and Nikita Soshnikov are expected to join the club full-time next season. Toronto's prospect pool should get even bigger this summer, too. The club has the top odds (20 per cent) of landing the No. 1 overall picks at the June draft. It boasts 11 other draft selections, including an additional first round pick pried from Pittsburgh in the trade which sent Kessel to the Penguins.

The Leafs added plenty of picks at the trade deadline, while freeing up salary cap space with the dealing of Phaneuf.

"We're miles ahead of where we were, both in our cap situation and our development of players and the amount of players we have," Babcock said.

"I like the position we're in better than a lot of teams in the National Hockey League, a lot," he added.

An impending free agent, Parenteau suggested that the Leafs could contend for a playoff spot next year with the right off-season moves, though neither Babcock, Shanahan nor Lamoriello, would commit to any kind of timeline to contention.

All agreed, simply, that the Leafs operation was moving in the right direction, one that hinged on patience and adherence to long-term sustainability.

"We all know where we all want to go," Shanahan said. "The fans that I've spoken to, most of them have been involved with this for decades, and I think they're almost fearful of someone influencing the process in a way that speeds it up and hurts it ... What I'm getting from them is, do it right, however long it takes. Don't fall short."

"Is it going to happen as quick as we all want? Probably not. Never usually does in life," Babcock added. "But it's going to happen."