Babcock: I'll coach 'as hard as I can, as long as I can'

With speculation about his job security running rampant, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock is confident he'll get his team back on track.

"I'm gonna do it as hard as I can, as long as I can. I've always bet on Mike Babcock, I'll continue to bet on him," the Leafs bench boss told TSN on Monday.

Babcock is on the hot seat with the Maple Leafs mired in a five-game losing streak and outside the playoff picture. The club has looked listless in several recent efforts, and Toronto ranks in the bottom portion of the league in power-play efficiency (16.7%), penalty kill (75%), and expected goals at five-on-five (48.3%).

The 56-year-old is in his fifth season with the Maple Leafs after signing an eight-year contract that made him the highest-paid coach in NHL history, earning $6.25 million per season.

"I'm in a pretty good spot in my life; my kids are grown. If my kids were young, I'd never coach in Toronto," Babcock added.

The 9-9-4 Maple Leafs continue their current western road trip this week, taking on the Vegas Golden Knights, Arizona Coyotes, and Colorado Avalanche.