Top Reasons the Toronto Maple Leafs Won't Be Playoff Contenders in 2015-16

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be hard-pressed to be a playoff contender in 2015-16. While the team is likely to make a number of offseason player moves, many of these may not make them a better club in the immediate future.

This team needs a significant roster overhaul.

The team remains in the midst of hiring a new general manager. The search for a head coach is over, though, as NHL.com is reporting that Mike Babcock has been hired as the team's new coach.

This move should influence the direction the team will take with personnel in a very positive way. Babcock brings a wealth of coaching experience to the position. He will not accept mediocrity in the long term.

Despite this latest development, let's take a look at the top reasons why the Leafs are highly unlikely to be playoff contenders in 2015-16.

The Leafs Lack a True No. 1 Defender

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Not all of the elite NHL teams have a dominant defender, but most do. Victor Hedman has emerged as one with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Duncan Keith is a No. 1 defenceman with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Montreal Canadiens have P.K. Subban, Drew Doughty rules for the Los Angeles Kings and the list goes on.

Dion Phaneuf is the Leafs' best defender, but in reality, he would be a No. 2 on most good teams. He is quite possibly a second-pairing defender on teams like the Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks.

If the rest of the defence was ready for NHL prime time, then this would not be a huge issue. But the corps is not ready for this, and the team sorely needs a No. 1 defender who can regularly log 25-plus minutes and score 40-plus points.

Morgan Rielly is a likely candidate to do that, but that may not be for at least two more seasons. Expecting this from him next year is nonsensical.

The Maple Leafs Lack Quality Depth at Centre Ice

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

A quality defence and a strong group of centres are necessary for winning teams. The Leafs need upgrades in both areas. The centre-ice position is a real area of concern, although the upcoming NHL draft may address this.

If the Leafs can draft a quality centre with the No. 4 pick, this could mean they add someone for next season in the No. 2 or No. 3 role. Tyler Bozak is miscast as a No. 1 centre, and Nazem Kadri has not offered enough consistent play to be the No. 1 centre.

In Kadri's case, he should be given at least 20-25 games to prove himself. If given quality wingers, it would be unsurprising to see him earn 60-plus points over an entire season.

While Frederik Gauthier and Peter Holland show good potential along with good size, neither player projects as a No. 1 centre.

The club needs to add at least two more centres for the top three lines while allowing younger players to develop as forwards at the pro level. In some cases, this may mean playing them on the wing to learn the pro game.

Losing Culture Takes Time to Change

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

The Leafs have lost a lot of hockey games in the past decade. The majority of players have not won consistently at the NHL level. The team is much more adept at losing than winning hockey games.

Winning is a difficult thing to teach. It must be earned and learned. A winning attitude and raised expectations always help, but until wins start piling up, it's difficult to change the collective mindset.

This can happen quickly, but that is rare. Players have to learn to do this together by establishing trust in teammates.

Expecting this to happen overnight is unrealistic, though Babcock's hiring will help in giving the team some much-needed structure and defensive awareness.

The Roster Must Get Bigger and More Skilled

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

The Leafs do not have the personnel to play a quick, skilled game, nor are they able to cycle the puck when the rush dies.

They have some players who can do this, but there is not enough skill or size on the entire roster to do either of these things well. The top teams such as the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning have the personnel to do both of these things when required.

At times, the Leafs demonstrate their ability to produce off the rush, but this is not a team attribute. The team lacks puck-moving defencemen, so even getting out of the defensive zone remains a challenge at most times.

While not every player can be big, fast and skilled, at least a few players with those traits need to be added at all positions before the Leafs can even think of contending. Also-ran status should be the only expectation for the time being.