On October 2, 2019, Tavares was named as the team's 25th team captain prior to the Leafs' 2019–20 season opening game. On November 20, 2019, Shanahan and the Leafs announced the firing of Babcock as head coach, following a six-game losing streak. At the time, the Leafs had a 9–10–4 record and were not in a playoff spot, despite high pre-season expectations. During his tenure as the Leafs' head coach, Babcock had a record of 173-133-45 in 351 games with the team. Babcock was replaced by Calder Cup-winning Toronto Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe. That year, the Maple Leafs were eliminated in the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers on August 9, after losing a five-game series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
