Report: Maple Leafs GM threatened trades, firings if team didn't turn things around

Back in mid-January, the Toronto Maple Leafs were losers of four games in a row, seemingly much to the displeasure of general manager Dave Nonis.

According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, Nonis is reported to have entered the locker room to address the team personally after a loss, suggesting a coaching change or player transactions would be imminent should the team not turn things around. 

Tensions were extremely high following a couple embarrassing losses and, according to one confidant, coach Randy Carlyle even feared that his job might be in danger. A few of his players had good reason to wonder if they might be shipped out of town, too.

As Johnson notes, this type of address "is not an everyday occurrence around NHL teams," but it seems to have paid off for Nonis.

Since that point, Toronto has won nine of 11 games, including a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday to kick off the month of February. 

The Maple Leafs, however, are still giving up a league-worst 36.1 shots at game, but have benefited greatly from above-average goaltending (.917 team save percentage) and a string of success from the line of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak, as well as Nazem Kadri.

The Maple Leafs' next game is Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.

Chris Johnston's full column can be read here.