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5 Ways to Make the Toronto Maple Leafs a Better Hockey Team

By James Tanner

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 12: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates with teammates Nazem Kadri #43 and Morgan Rielly #44 after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on February 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 12: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates with teammates Nazem Kadri #43 and Morgan Rielly #44 after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on February 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 16: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Ceci (83) moves into the attack during a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 16, 2019, at Capital One Arena, in Washington D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 16: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Ceci (83) moves into the attack during a NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 16, 2019, at Capital One Arena, in Washington D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

#5 A New Top Pairing

Cody Ceci is not a top pairing defenseman.  Using him as one is insanity.

There isn’t a single analyst working the NHL – sycophants not included – that can give you a reasonable explanation for Cody Ceci not only playing with Morgan Rielly, but being hard-matched against some of the NHL’s best players.

Gap control. Decision making. Breakout passing.  You name it, and Cody Ceci doesn’t do it at a level warranting his position on the team.

I will give him this: he is an excellent penalty killer.

But his game does not complement Rielly’s.  He has done nothing to earn his job.  Babcock said he was a top-four player the day he was acquired, despite the fact he had some of the worst statistics in the NHL.

And so, Babcock just gave him a role on the Leafs, and it made no sense and it still doesn’t.

Justin Holl has earned a promotion to the top line.

Travis Dermott would be a great partner for Morgan Rielly.

Rasmus Sandin is a better player than Cody Ceci.

Jordan Schmaltz can move the puck and might do an OK job there.

Tyson Barrie and Morgan Rielly would be a dream combo, would the coach decide to on a strategy that actually fit his roster.

Anyways, the best thing Cody Ceci can be used for is to clear the cap space to get Hyman back in the lineup.  He needs to taken off his current role, as it isn’t fair to the team, the player or the fans to continue to run him out there like this.

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