What Do the Toronto Maple Leafs Need for Christmas
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…
Eduardo Razo
It’s Christmas time and what better gift for the Toronto Maple Leafs than a healthy Auston Matthews. In his second season, the injury bug has bitten the 20-year-old. Wheather it’s a concussion, back, or wrist problem, Toronto needs a healthy Matthews to go anywhere this season.
A clean bill a health for their star center should sit atop Toronto’s Christmas list.
Next item on their list is consistency, especially for their young forwards in William Nylander and Mitch Marner. Although they’ve shown signs of life, both have endured a rough sophomore season in Toronto. It may be mostly bad luck, as both have crazy-low shooting percentages, but if that’s the case, they need to start getting lucky, because the Leafs really need their production.
If Santa Claus is listening, can he hand these two young forwards consistency for the remainder of the season? When it comes to transactions, it’s time to give Nazem Kadri a winger that can help him create offense with Matthews out. For the most part, Leo Komarov has played on Kadri’s wing, and he’s awful, at least offensively.
In 36 games, both have played together for nearly 400 minutes, and their numbers are horrendous. Their CF% is at 45% (they do take tough minutes, especially at home) and averaging a SF/60 (Shots-For per 60) of 26.56 which is terrible when you take a look at their 32.18 SA/60 (shots-against per 60).
Give Kadri a winger that can complement and get him back on track offensively.
Finally, let’s address their defensive needs. They won’t acquire a stud defenseman, but they should look into a top-four defenseman. Whether it be a Chris Tanev or a Tyson Barrie, these two aren’t number one defenseman but fit into a top-four role. These are the four things I’d be asking Santa if I were Toronto.
Tim Chiasson
The Toronto Maple Leafs need Santa Clause to take the bullet proof vest away from Mike Babcock for Christmas.
Babcock is on a God-like pedestal in Toronto thanks to fans and media. That is a complete joke. This guy is a great coach, don’t get me wrong, but he isn’t super-human. He’s making some bonehead decisions behind the bench – and don’t pretend like you don’t know what they are.
Leo Komarov playing significant 5v5 minutes while being terrible. William Nylander being punished for not succeeding while being set up to fail. Matt Martin playing. Roman Polak playing. It’s 2017 (almost 2018) folks, it’s a different game than what your parents watched, despite what you want to believe.
Skilled players win hockey games. It’s a proven fact. You don’t even need stats to prove it – though they are available at places like http://Corsica.Hockey if you have the patience to look beyond plus-minus and goals against average. Mike Babcock needs a reality check and a punch in the ego. The Toronto Maple Leafs goal struggles in December have more to do with the coach than the players and if you can’t see that then you need to take the Babgoggles off.
With the current team, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a chance to shock people in the playoffs, but not if their untouchable coach continues to make mistake after mistake without accountability.
Accountability is for everyone, including Sidney Crosby’s Team Canada coach.
Josh Tessler
Dear Santa Claus,
December has truly been a rough one for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Normally, I’d complain about our defense. But, the tides have turned. Now, I’ll complain about our offensive woes.
Auston Matthews has been hurt and has been out of the Leaf lineup for consecutive games. Not only is Matthews’ injury plaguing us, but William Nylander and Mitch Marner are having a sophomore slump.
If Marner and Nylander can’t get over the hump, you can’t call us elite and nor should you the way that the Leafs have been playing. For Christmas I have three wishes.
1. A healthy Matthews.
When Matthews is healthy and on the ice the Toronto Maple Leafs are a different team. Matthews is truly their leader. Even though Leo Komarov provides excellent veteran leadership, he isn’t a playmaker. The Leafs respond to Matthews’ excellent play-making abilities and Matthews simply makes them better. Please provide whatever medicine Matthews requires to be healthy.
2. Staying on the topic of Matthews. It’s time to put a “C” on his jersey.
Since he is the leader of the Leafs team, it is time for Mike Babcock to make him captain. I’ve joked in the past that putting the “C” on Morgan Rielly’s sweater would be highly entertaining as that would make him Captain Morgan. [Ed. Note: Rielly also appears to be the Leafs leader, so this would make sense for other reasons] But, Matthews truly deserves it. He’s the best player, he should be the captain.
3. Lastly, please have a conversation with Eugene Melynk, the Ottawa Senators’ owner.
Melynk needs to understand the value of the Leafs’ 2018 seventh round pick and how it would be worthwhile to buyout Erik Karlsson and trade him to Toronto for the 7th rounder. But, you and I both know that won’t happen. So with my final wish, I would like the Leafs to make a sane trade. With the Leafs’ current offensive drought, it couldn’t hurt to acquire a solid offensive veteran.
A trade for a solid offensive veteran will help solidify a playoff spot for the Leafs. Thank you for reading my letter and Happy Holidays!
Mike Stephens
Honestly, the one thing I’d get the Toronto Maple Leafs for Christmas is a break.
Their schedule has been insane, (37 games so far,) they’ve been playing some banged up players, had some injuries (Matthews, Zaitsev) and their fatigue is showing. They all need to go home, have some of their mothers cooking, and do absolutely nothing for the rest of the holiday season. That way, when they travel to Arizona, we can see the return of “God Mode” Auston Matthews. That, or tell Roman Polak that the holiday break extends until June & hope he believes it.
Merry Christmas everyone!
James Tanner
The Toronto Maple Leafs are doing well, and there is reason to believe that they can get better. What I want to get them for Christmas is the realization that they are never going to have a better chance to win the Stanley Cup than this season.
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Yes, the future is bright, and it’s entirely possible the Leafs build themselves a multi-championship dynasty. But regardless, the Leafs are in a situation where they have three first-line players who make virtually nothing relative to what players of their production levels usually cost.
They simultaneously have a group of players in their primes that includes an above-average starting goalie (Andersen,) a near elite defensive forward (Komarov,) a near elite goal scoring winger (JVR), two top pairing defenseman (Gardiner and Rielly) and a first line centre (Kadri). To have this many prime, complimentary players is a rarity in itself.
When you add in the amount of cap space and tradable assets they have, it’s easy to see how this is a perfect situation for the team to go all-in for a playoff run. This doesn’t mean going berserk and completely mortgaging the future, but it does mean that they should be aggressive in their attempts to improve.
First round picks, Connor Brown and Timothy Liljegren need to be considered tradable in order for the Leafs to add the top four defenseman and the fourth line centre that will give them the league’s best roster.
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So for Christmas, I hope the Leafs realize the one in a million situation they are currently in, and have the guts to pursue a Stanley Cup this season.