What Do the Toronto Maple Leafs Need for Christmas
By James Tanner
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!