The head coach of the Maple Leafs, Sheldon Keefe, just announced that he would be leaving soon because of…

Although Sheldon Keefe insisted that his team had performed admirably defensively during the previous ten games, he acknowledged that there are still problems in the organization that cause the Toronto Maple Leafs to blow leads and lose games.

On Wednesday, Keefe stated, “That has shown our inconsistency in those crucial times.” I don’t believe it’s a reflection of our team’s current state.”

Right now, the Maple Leafs have lost their last four games. Toronto has had strong starts in their last three games, but they have ultimately lost leads and given up the game-winning goals in the last moments of regulation.

And while the Maple Leafs did have a run of games where they finished strong, such as their road trip to California earlier this month, the challenge of winning in regulation time is nothing new.

“Just a problem around here these days, I don’t think it’s necessary. It lasts the entire season,” Keefe said.”That is the reason we could not achieve the desired level of regularity in our wins in regulation.”

After games on Tuesday, the Leafs’ 13 victories in regulation place them 25th out of 32 teams.

After a small number of players skated on the ice with Keefe and the rest of the coaching staff at Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on Wednesday, the Maple Leafs decided to adjust their original plan to take Thursday off before playing the Calgary Flames. The only player to saw action in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers was Simon Benoit. However, earlier in the day, Keefe had a meeting with the players and “bluntly” discussed his team’s current state of play in the closing minutes of games.

“We have to defend during those crucial moments, and when you’re tired, the opposing team is pressing,” Keefe remarked. “You need to stay focused and guard your net because we’re exhausted and unable to get the puck out.”

The fifth-year NHL head coach’s probably most shocking statement is that, as the season is halfway through, there are some trust difficulties regarding who should be on the ice for the big moments.

“As we approach the halfway point of the season—42 games in—I still have a lot of questions about who will start and who will finish the job,” the player said.