Can the Maple Leafs play their way out of ongoing struggles?

It’s getting late early for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who sit tied for last place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 8-9-2 alongside the Buffalo Sabres.

In the middle of a five game skid, general manager Brad Treliving held his quarter-season media availability, and he strongly backed head coach Craig Berube while putting the onus on the players to raise their level and get back to winning games.

On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed Treliving’s comments Tuesday and what the Leafs can do to get things turned around.

Tyler Yaremchuk: The Toronto Maple Leafs really don’t have much of an excuse to be sitting here and having to learn the lessons that they’re currently using… Brad Treliving spoke to the media today amidst the Leafs’ 8-9-2 start to the season that has them tied with the Buffalo Sabres in points percentage right now… He’s got all the faith in the world in the coaching staff, doesn’t seem to be any sort of shade directed at Craig Berube here… You look at the blue line, Hutts, is that good enough for the Leafs? Is this a group that can play their way out of it?

Carter Hutton: My concern is not if it’s good enough, it’s is it quick enough? In a day and age now where you’re seeing these young defensemen, especially their backend. I get the additions that they made. They go out and trade for Brandon Carlo… You add Nicolas Roy, you add a few bigger bodies. You think about the Atlantic and you think about the grind that you’re going to have to go through to get through, but all of a sudden you don’t really seem to have a team that has enough ability with those… They don’t have that young defenseman… where like, who is the guy that’s getting the puck out, making those plays?

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…