A Christmas Gift for Every Member of the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are celebrating the holidays like everyone else. To help make this time special, we have gotten every player a personalized gift.

It’s the holiday season and joy is being spread. That is why we here at editorinleaf.com have spared no expense and prepared a gift for every member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. We want them all to close out 2019 with something that they really need.

Last year at this time we sent some scented candles and for some reason, the players didn’t love them as much as we had hoped. We also sent a set of Boston Bruins voodoo dolls, which clearly didn’t work. We’ve decided to go a different direction this year. Instead, this time we have personalized each gift to suit individual players.

Jason Spezza

The gift of having lunch with Mike Commodore

Jason Spezza will be given the gift that many wish they could receive, the gift of enjoying some quality time with former NHLer, Mike Commodore.

Commodore has been hand-picked thanks to something both athletes have in common, a hatred for Mike Babcock. On the opening night of the Leafs season, their former coach benched the team’s newly acquired center. Spezza was sat despite having purchased a large block of tickets for his family and friends to attend the game and watch him play. It was also the first time in his career that he missed the season opener.

Babcock never provided an adequate explanation for placing Spezza in the press box. This wasn’t an isolated incident for the coach. Mike Modano was kept out of the 2010-11 Detroit Red Wings lineup, robbing him of reaching 1500 career NHL games. He ended with 1499.

Commodore has his own dissatisfaction with Babs. Just like he did to Spezza and Modano, Babcock made Commodore a healthy scratch. He did so for a large portion of the 2011-12 season.

Spezza can enjoy a nice lunch and listen to the outspoken retired player riff on Babcock. They can share some deli (a favourite of Spezza’s) and few laughs at Bab’s expense.

Michael Hutchinson

The gift of a set of used pads

The gift that Michael Hutchinson really needs is wins. It’s something that has eluded the Barrie, Ontario native this season until just his past start. We’d love to get him more than one dub, but Hutchinson has proved that he can’t buy those this season. He’s 1-5-1 in seven games started. Barring that incredibly rare gift for Hutch, we would be happy to get him a set of used goaltender pads.

Perhaps the problem for the backup goalie is that his pads are too new and he has an aversion to getting them scuffed up. If Hutchinson has been doing his best to preserve the look of his current pads then we have the solution, get him ones that have already been beaten up by puck marks. That way he can stop trying to avoid getting hit by the puck.

Trevor Moore

The gift of a warm winter coat and steel shoulder pads

We were going to get Trevor Moore his very own red shirt, but then we discovered that he already had one. Instead, we decided to get Moore a better set of shoulder pads. The ones he’s using have allowed him to hurt and reinjure his shoulder.

That is why we had custom steel shoulder pads made for Moore. They’re not just to be used during hockey games. This shoulder protection can be worn anywhere: at the bank, at his swimming lessons, even when sneaking in a mid-afternoon nap.

We also got Moore an extra warm winter coat. He’s born in Thousand Oaks, California and even though he’s been in Toronto for parts of four seasons sharing time between the Marlies and Maple Leafs, it’s hard to get used to the deep cold in the city.

Frederik Gauthier

The gift of a framed oversized picture of Frederik Gauthier

Most people don’t normally receive a large framed picture of themself for a present, but that’s what we got for Frederik Gauthier. With it, we included a note with instructions. The framed photo is actually intended to be regifted.

Gauthier is meant forward his present to the coach, Sheldon Keefe. Since Keefe took over for Babcock, the Goat has had a hard time staying in the lineup. Based on Keefe’s possession-based style of play, Gauthier hasn’t always been considered the best man to spend time on the Leafs fourth line.

Perhaps if Keefe had a large photo of the Goat in his office, there’d be a better chance of him being remembered and not relegated to the press box. Gauthier wants to be in the lineup and playing and hopefully, this helps.

Dmytro Timashov

The gift of a subscription to Rosetta Stone

Not many people know that Timashov is a polyglot. He actually happens to speak five languages: Swedish, Russian, English, Ukrainian, and French. He learned most of these languages thanks to his hockey travels.

While there has been a polyglot culture in the Chicago Blackhawks dressing room, there is one player who stands out elsewhere in the NHL for his linguistic abilities. It’s the six-foot nine-inch Bruins defenseman. Zdeno Chára speaks seven languages: Slovak, Czech, Polish, Swedish, Russian, German, and English.

In case Chára draws his hockey strengths and abilities from his mastery of several languages, we thought we would give Timashov a chance to keep up. By giving Timashov the gift of Rosetta Stone, we will be giving him the opportunity to match Big Z.

Travis Dermott

The gift of an apartment with a special roommate

Travis Dermott didn’t start the season with the team because he was recovering from a shoulder surgery that took place in the spring. He recently narrowly missed getting re-injured thanks to a Kyle Okposo dirty hit (Judge for yourself whether Okposo should have been suspended for it.) that had fans of the defenseman worried.

When Dermott returned from rehab, he was first paired with Justin Holl. It was a partnership that Dermott loved. The pair share a history. Dermott has explained, “Hollsy and I have been buddies for a while now. I have a good feel of what he’s going to do. I’ve seen him go back for pucks a million times already, so I have a pretty good feel, better than the forechecker, of what he’s going to do. We just keep learning from each other like we have been and I think it can only be a positive.”

They were partnered when Holl played in his very first NHL game on Jan. 21, 2018. The magic of that pairing saw both players each score their first NHL goals. While it appears that Keefe has decided to split them up on the ice, we want to ensure that they can be best buds off it, just like former Leafs and linemates Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak.

In an attempt to replicate the close-knit friendship that became a focus on the NHL’s ‘Road to the Winter Classic’ series, we have found an apartment for Dermott and Holl to share. They can now continue to bond the way they did both with the Marlies and in their early days with the Leafs.

Justin Holl

The gift of a jet pack

For this one, we needed management’s permission to loosen the purse strings since we’re already putting a roof over the defenseman’s head. We got Holl the additional gift of a fully functioning jet pack. Ironically, he might not have even needed it.

Thanks to Holl’s impressive play of late, he is likely to skyrocket up the Leafs lineup and find himself on one of the team’s top pairings. Holl’s ability to play strong puck possession hockey is leaving a mark on his new coach. At times, Holl has even looked like the Leafs best defender.

The jet pack will allow Holl to continue on his unlikely rise.

Pierre Engvall

The gift of a lottery ticket

When unsure of what to give someone, a lottery ticket or a gift card will suffice even if it is impersonal. In Pierre Engvall’s case, we are getting him a lottery ticket because he has a knack for defying the odds.

Engvall played the majority of his career in Sweden, playing for multiple different teams. Though skilled with a big frame, he did not stand out as a blue-chip NHLer when the Leafs selected him based on his play with Frolunda HC Jr in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Engvall went in the seventh round, 188th overall. The majority of players taken in the final round of the draft never get the opportunity to play in the NHL.

Engvall got hot with the Toronto Marlies, starting his AHL campaign with seven goals and nine assists. It was enough for Leafs brass to decide that he was ready for the show. When Moore got injured, Engvall stepped in to replace him. He has now played over a dozen NHL games and hopes to do whatever he can to keep raising that number.

Alexander Kerfoot

The gift of a set of preppy polos and sweaters

Many people might not know that Alexander Kerfoot actually happens to be a graduate of Harvard University. He earned a four-year degree in economics at the Ivy League school while playing for the Crimson Men’s Ice Hockey Team.

Due to Kerfoot’s elite intellect and time at Harvard, we picked out the most stunning preppy polos and several sweaters to drape over his neck and shoulders. Because no one at editorinleafs.com has ever been near an ivy league school, we just assumed that’s how to dress.

It turns out that pink hair may have been a more likely fashion choice, so we’re glad that we included a gift receipt.

Martin Marincin

The gift of premium binoculars, a cozy blanket, and a seat cushion.

Martin Marincin re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason, likely with the expectation that he’d get to play the game he loves. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out that way. Marincin has been a healthy scratch staple. In fact, he has only managed to appear in seven games for the Leafs along with three additional games for the Marlies.

Since it appears inevitable that Marincin will be spending more time in the press box than down at ice level, we wanted to help make the Slovakian cozy.

That’s why we have sent him a package that he can bring with him to his alternative vantage point at the games. With a new pair of premium binoculars, a cozy blanket, and a portable seat cushion, Marincin will be able to watch the Leafs play more comfortably than anyone else in the arena.

Nic Petan

The gift of a frequent flyers card

Nic Petan has spent all season doing his best impression of a pinball. He has been bounced back and forth between the minors and the NHL. On September 30, just before the start of the season, Petan was placed on waivers and reassigned to the AHL. He didn’t have to wait long before being recalled by the Leafs, it happened just three days later.

In total, Petan has already been moved in nine different transactions this season. He is currently with the Marlies, but there’s no doubt that more traveling is in his future. That’s why we got Petan his very own frequent flyers card.

We were actually surprised to learn that Petan wasn’t already collecting points for all his moves. He came to Toronto on a trade from the Winnipeg Jets for Par Lindholm. With all the points he will certainly accrue, he can fly back to Winnipeg and visit friends or go to Delta, British Columbia to see his family.

Ilya Mikheyev

The gift of an original Andy Warhol

Ilya Mikheyev has been a fabulous addition to the Maple Leafs. He puts his speed and skill on display every night and has been producing well for the team. When Mikheyev retires back to his place, he likes to enjoy bowls of soup made by his girlfriend, Kristina.

Reminding him of his home in Omsk, Russia, Kristina will slowly stew marinated beef to make her own borscht. Mikheyev has said that he has a daily bowl of soup, which earned him the nickname “Souperman”. We considered getting him his own brand of borscht, but the fanbase and team themselves have already been designing custom labels just for him.

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We then realized that Mikheyev is an educated man with refined taste. The winger earned two degrees while he played pro hockey in his home country. Mikheyev has an undergraduate degree in sports tourism and a master’s degree in sports science. We felt that a man of his intellect would enjoy more than just soup itself, but an homage to it. That is why we got him Andy Warhol’s most famous painting from 1962, Campbell’s Soup Cans. We managed to convince the MoMA in New York to loan the painting to Mikheyev.

Andreas Johnsson

The gift of a dream line

We contemplated giving Andreas Johnsson the gift of a new nickname. He adopted the name Mango. It could be a good nickname if it had a better meaning. Johnsson has explained that Mango was what he was called in high school and it meant “man” then “go”. He could do better.

We decided to look more closely at how he, like some of his teammates, comes from a hockey family. For his gift, we believed that it would be a dream come true to play a high-level game with family.

Johnsson’s father, Jonas, played 18 seasons in the Swedish Elite League. He was even the Frölunda HC team captain for five seasons. He never played in the NHL despite being drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Blues in 2002.

Andreas’s brother, Jonathan, is the current leading scorer of the Allsvenskan league in Sweden. The 26-year-old is playing for MODO Hockey and has accumulated 17 goals and 31 assists in 31 games this season.

We give the gift of playing all three Johnssons together on a line for the first time ever.

Jake Muzzin and Cody Ceci

The gift of an ice pack

Jake Muzzin was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Kings and Cody Ceci in a deal with the Ottawa Senators. Both these defensemen have something in common, they’re great at getting hit by the puck.

Muzzin and Ceci have had their defensive challenges this season, but one thing that they can both boast about is their ability to shot block. Each of them is on the top 30 leaderboard in this category for the season. Muzzin has blocked 63 and Ceci, one less. For them, we have reusable ice packs. Because our generosity knows no bounds, we have given them one each; no need for them to share.

Interestingly, the player that went to the Senators in the swap for Ceci, Nikita Zaitsev, has been even better than the pair of Leafs. Prior to his lower-body injury designating him for the injured reserve, Zaitsev had the seventh-most blocked shots in the NHL with 74. He now sits at ninth.

Kasperi Kapanen

The gift of a Men in Black memory eraser

While we could have gifted Kasperi Kapanen with a haircut, we were concerned that there were fans out there that enjoyed his flow. Instead, we thought we would get him something practical, the memory eraser from Men in Black.

Hockey fans and pundits love to reminisce about the Oct. 5 gaff Kapanen made when he threw his broken stick at Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Jeff Petry.

It still gets brought up (like right now) because it was a needless act that resulted in a penalty shot to tie the game, which the Buds eventually lost in overtime. With the MIB doodad, Kapanen can simply erase the memory of anyone who continues to discuss the play.

Zach Hyman

Eight Hannukah gifts

Zach Hyman will be celebrating the holiday season, but instead of decorating a Christmas tree, he lights a menorah. Hyman is one of the few Jewish hockey players to play in the NHL. To help make his celebrations a little sweeter, we prepared eight gifts for the winger, one for each night of Hannukah.

Our first couple of gifts are traditional foods that get prepared for Hannukah. We got him a dozen sufganiyot, a donut that gets filled with jam, custard, or chocolate and topped with powdered sugar. We’ve also made him several plates of latkas. This is as much of a staple for the holiday as matza ball soup is to Passover. Naturally, we have prepared a side of apple sauce and sour cream to accompany the fried potato pancakes.

We wanted to give Hyman something that he could use at the rink. That’s why we decided to give him more powerplay time. This is not his specialty and he has instead spent more time killing penalties when on special teams. On this holiday season, we will give Hyman the chance to add a new dynamic to what has thus far been a disappointing powerplay.

Not only is Hyman a talented hockey player, but he’s also an accomplished children’s book author. Hyman has written three highly successful storybooks. His third present is a new book deal, allowing him to continue sharing his creativity with the world.

Hyman has proved that he is multitalented and has many interests. The Maple Leafs player founded a company called Eleven Gaming, written E11. Our next two gifts are directly intended to help the company. We are giving his team a Fortnite victory and more E11 content.

Hyman was raised in the City of Toronto. He also grew up a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, with his favourite player being Mats Sundin. Hyman’s next present is to be included on the very prestigious list of most famous Leafs fans. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be recognized for his passion and loyalty to the blue and white.

We only have two gifts left. We wanted to be sure that we keep the personalized gifts fulfilling Hyman’s desires. That’s why we made two separate charitable donations. The charities we chose are ones that Hyman himself has been involved with, Right to Play and First Book Canada.

William Nylander

The gift of a public apology

When William Nylander was negotiating his current contract, he was heavily criticized by both the media and fans. A pair of the lamest names he was called were “selfish” and “Me-Lander” because he held out until Kyle Dubas and the Maple Leafs made him an offer he would accept.

They eventually settled on a six-year $6.9 million extension, that is looking extremely team-friendly already. Though both parties began far apart in their negotiating and Nylander missed 26 games, it is unfair to characterize him in a negative manner. Nylander was simply looking for a figure, which he felt was fair and wouldn’t settle for much less.

After Nylander’s teammate, Mitch Marner, went through contract disputes with the team and was also slandered for it, it became evident that fans were indiscriminate with their insults.

As a result, we have gotten Nylander a public apology for all the bad names that were flung in his direction.

Mitch Marner

The gift of an exotic pet and a TFSA

Marner has been a delight to watch on the ice. His creativity and playmaking abilities are among the best in the league. Fans might not know that Marner is and has always been an animal lover. That’s why we got him an exotic animal that he would love to take for walks around Promenade Mall in his hometown of Thornhill, Ontario. We got Marner a pet giraffe.

Unfortunately, Marner’s family home burned down, making keeping such a large animal difficult.  Instead, we are allowing the giraffe named Marleau to live in its natural habitat where Marner can visit her in the offseason.

Since Marleau won’t be around every day, we thought we’d also get the Leafs star a tax free savings account. It’s something he can really use since he signed a six-year extension worth $65.3 million. It pays him $10.893 million per year.

Morgan Rielly

The gift of his face on a bottle of rum and a calling card

Morgan Rielly is the longest-serving Maple Leafs player currently on the active roster. There have been many who believed that Rielly’s leadership and on-ice play made him deserving of being named the captain. Instead, the captaincy was given to John Tavares.

Though he won’t wear a “C” on his jersey, we thought we’d let him see his name associated with the role. That’s why we got Rielly the perfect endorsement deal. Look for his face on bottles of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum. Now Rielly can be Captain Morgan somewhere, though it requires him to dress like a buccaneer.

We have also given Rielly a long-distance calling card. We expect him to use it to connect with his former roommate, Jake Gardiner. Just because Gardiner now plays for the Carolina Hurricanes doesn’t mean the two can’t still say goodnight to one another before bed each evening.

Tyson Barrie

The gift of a couple of trips

We got Leafs defenseman Tyson Barrie a round trip all-expenses-paid week to Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, British Columbia. We chose the location because we assume that he hasn’t been there since his father was a part-owner and it would be nostalgic.

We’re sending Barrie on one more trip, back to Colorado. To be clear, we don’t want him to leave, but with his contract expiring at the end of the season, it would be best for him. Barrie hasn’t been the same player in Toronto that he was with the Avalanche. Unfortunately for him, his time with the Leafs has likely cost him some money on his next deal.

Though Barrie has subtly indicated that he was stifled by Babcock and things have already improved with Keefe, it still may be best. We’re willing to send Barrie back to the Avs so he can return to the player he was once was and regain his value. This way he can sign the mega-deal he was expecting prior to first suiting up for the Leafs.