Babcock: Leafs still not good enough
On the heels of a wildly successful season wherein the Maple Leafs not only advanced to the playoffs, but gave the first-place Washington Capitals all they could handle in an eventual first-round loss, head coach Mike Babcock acknowledged a roster that finished 30th just last season still needs work.
Babcock says the Leafs had an "unbelievable" year but are still "not good enough" and have lots of areas for improvement.
— CP24 (@CP24) April 25, 2017
"We have to improve our hockey club. We understand that and that's what we will go about doing," Babcock added at Tuesday's press conference. "... In order to be consistent as a team you have to build something that has enough depth that you can do it time in and time out."
As for 2017-18, Babcock warned that repeating this year's success is no guarantee in today's NHL.
Babcock: "We want to make the playoffs (next year) … To just think we’re at the level where it’s automatic. It’s not for us."
— Dave Feschuk (@dfeschuk) April 25, 2017
He maintained the team won't deviate from the plan laid out by president Brendan Shanahan and implemented by general manager Lou Lamoriello, saying all three will work together to improve the team over the summer.
In the immediate future, Babcock will head to France and Germany to take in the World Championship, with an eye on players the team might look to add in free agency or via trade.