Random NHL thoughts: Jets, Maple Leafs problems started in offseason

Looking at the Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs and more NHL thoughts ahead of the holiday break this week.

Some quick NHL thoughts as the league prepares to head into the holiday break this week.

1. There might not be two bigger disappointments in the NHL this season than the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Entering play on Monday both teams were in the bottom-10 of the league standings (by points percentage) and showing no signs of getting closer to a playoff position. If anything, they are getting worse.

The only thing the Maple Leafs are getting closer to is a coaching change (and they already made one change to their staff on Monday by firing assistant coach Marc Savard), while the Jets do not seem in a hurry to do anything about their season slipping away. Not being in a hurry to do anything is pretty much the story of how they operate under general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.

While both teams are struggling on the ice right now, their issues actually began in the offseason.

Let’s talk about that, and more….