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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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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 15: Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares #91 looks on against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 15: Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares #91 looks on against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#4 Get Healthy

It’s easy to get frustrated with the Toronto Maple Leafs when they can barely scrape by the lowly Flyers when they just played the night before.

It’s easy to get frustrated when the team isn’t it’s high-flying self, or when they blow leads, fail to start on time etc.

But one thing we need to remember is that this team hasn’t played a full game with their full roster since the 2017-18 season.

For most of their games this year, they’ve been missing Travis Dermott, John Tavares and Zach Hyman.

That’s two-thirds of their top line, and the only defenseman they have that is a) familiar with the system because he hasn’t been recently acquired b) capable of playing both sides of the ice c) good at defense d) worthy of a top-four role.

But missing Tavares is a huge blow.  He’s one of the best all-round players in the NHL, and he forces coaches to either put their best defenders on against him or Auston Matthews.

His presence makes the Toronto Maple Leafs the deepest team in hockey at the most important position – centre ice.

Dermott is back, and both Tavares and Hyman are going to be playing soon.  Once the Leafs are healthy, look out.

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