The shocking solution to the Maple Leafs’ struggles, according to a former player

Toronto’s struggles continue to mount. The Maple Leafs dropped their fourth straight game on Thursday night, falling to the Los Angeles Kings in overtime. Toronto was lucky to even force the extra period, but the Kings finished them off just 35 seconds in, leaving fans frustrated and raising concerns about the team’s confidence in the dressing room.

It’s been a rough start for a team long considered a serious Stanley Cup contender. The Leafs have earned just 18 points in 18 games and sit near the bottom of the league in goals allowed. To make matters worse, captain Auston Matthews went down in Tuesday’s loss to the Boston Bruins, adding injury woes to the mix.

So how can this team, still reeling from Mitch Marner’s departure, get back on track? Former Leafs star defenseman Tomas Kaberle may have an unusual solution.

Speaking on The Leafs Nation podcast earlier this week, Kaberle suggested the players simply need to step away from the Toronto circus.

"They almost just need to go on the road, go out one night, and just get drunk," Kaberle said.

According to him, sometimes a team needs to reset on its own terms. Less media scrutiny, a chance to regroup, and a little dose of reality could be exactly what the Leafs need to refocus.

“Sometimes it’s not up to the coach, it’s the players playing the game. They played really well under him last year. So don’t worry about the media, less media is better for the team. Keep this stuff inside the team, get drunk, everyone can move on, and you can play better hockey," added Kaberle.

Whether the Leafs take this advice literally or figuratively, one thing is clear: they need an injection of energy and focus if they want to reverse their early-season slump.