Toronto Maple Leafs: The Editor in Leaf Fan Mailbag

We had some fun this week with Toronto Maple Leafs fans, as we launch our first ever Editor in Leaf Mailbag.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have only played five games in nine months, so we felt it was a good time to ask you what’s on your mind, with your favourite team.

If you’re not already following our Twitter page, I recommend you do so now, so you can have your questions answered. During the regular season, we may not do this as much, but it’s something we’d like to try a few times a month.

The format is that James and I will both answer the questions, giving you a good cross section of thoughts from two people who could not be more different.

Toronto Maple Leafs Mailbag

Let’s get started with some questions.

@ShaunJulius: “Will we see an elevated level of leadership out of Tavares next season or is at risk of losing the room?

Stephen Nixon: Although the Leafs have failed as a team over the past few years, it has nothing to do with Tavares’ leadership. He may be soft-spoken in the media, but the players respect him. Tavares has been the captain of almost every team he’s ever played for so he knows how to control a room and I can’t see how every player in the room wouldn’t value his opinion or want to fight with him.

James Tanner:  Having never met John Tavares or been into the Leafs dressing room, I do not have any insight here to offer, other than I would think it would take a pretty massive scandal that included a betrayal of trust and some kind of personal let-down in order for Tavares to lose anyone’s respect. He seems like a cool guy and he’s got a history of success and professionalism – which to me makes him seem like the ideal captain.

@The_Broken_Twig: “Do you think the Leafs should let Zach Hyman walk if he asks for $5M +? If no, what moves will they have to make to fit him in?

Stephen Nixon: Hyman is an incredibly valuable player and brings an element that not many other players bring. I think $5M would have to be the maximum for him because anymore than that would kill the entire team structure. So what moves would the team have to make?

I’ve been saying this for a while and although it’s controversial, I think the team should walk away from Marner and save the $10.893M. I know he’s amazing offensively and is a good penalty-killer, but defense and goaltending win championships. Hyman’s game is also one that works great in the playoffs, whereas Marner is more of a regular season player. It’s a hot take but trading Marner would free up a lot of money to invest in other positions and help sign Hyman.

James Tanner: I will respectfully disagree with my esteemed colleague above regarding Marner, who is coming off a “down year” in which he was on pace for 93 points. The money you’d free up would not get you a player as good as Marner and your team would get worse. This is a fact.  He is elite in a league where only elite players matter.  Hyman isn’t, and I think he’s paid OK right now, but I have zero interest in re-signing him, since he is approaching 30 years old.  I would not give Hyman a contract extension of more than one  or two years at his current rate.

@TheBlankett: “Was the toughness for the playoffs really addressed with the new signings, or is it a façade of washed up grit-and-grind guys?

Stephen Nixon: Wayne Simmonds and Zach Bogosian will definitely help address the toughness, but I think every player can do a better job at getting tougher. Toughness in today’s NHL is about grinding on every shift and being harder to play against, rather than fighting and hitting. So, although I do think Simmonds and Bogosian will help, it won’t be the difference. The entire team needs to buy into a “tougher” system in order to have playoff success.

James Tanner: To me, “toughness” is such a lame thing to constantly be harping about.  The Leafs lost by one goal to the Blue Jackets last season, in a 5 games series that included the most egregious example of a team being “goalied” in NHL history.   The Leafs players who play enough to matter are all the same as they were last year, except for the addition of T.J Brodie.  So if Brodie is tougher than Barrie, then I guess they got tougher, but I don’t really care and I don’t really think it matters at all.  

Thanks for participating and please send future questions to Jim, Steve or the EIL Twitter account.