What Do the Toronto Maple Leafs Need for Christmas
By James Tanner
D.J Llewellyn
What do the Leafs need for Christmas?
Here’s a list of (mostly) easy needs they can fulfill.
1.Auston Matthews rested and completely healthy.
His impact and importance to this team cannot be understated. While the Toronto Maple Leafs have remained afloat without him, getting him back will be huge, especially down the stretch.
Getting our elite centre back makes us far better and is the best gift we’re going to get.
2.A healthy Zaitsev helps the team in more ways than one.
Firstly, it strengthens our defence on the right side of the ice even though Zaitsev has had a rough go this year. Secondly, it pushes Polak down the lineup. Love him or hate him, Polak just isn’t a top 4 defenceman on any NHL team. Even if Babcock plays him instead of Carrick (sad trombone) when Zaitsev returns, this improves the team.
3.Babcock needs to trust more in our young, offensive stars.
Players like Komarov and Hyman might be defensively responsible, but they should never be playing more than players of Marner and Nylander’s calibre. Babcock said “there will be pain,” so allow it to happen! Let these guys carry a heavier load as the risks from any growing pains are worth it.
4.Hainsey needs some more help on the penalty kill.
He’s done an awesome job, better than anyone could have reasonably expected, but he’s 36. Before Zaitsev went down ( who was also playing too many minutes on the pk) Hainsey was playing those tough minutes far more than any other player in the league, now even more so.
Babcock needs to start playing other defencemen more and in the mean-time buy Hainsey a nice Christmas Dinner.
5.Have a trade for a top 4 RHD in place when the trade freeze ends. Christmas miracles can happen…