5 Presents the Toronto Maple Leafs Should Save for the 2021 Season
Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
A simple theme that could label the year of 2020 can be that of “Postponement” and “Delay” – following suit the Toronto Maple Leafs might as well postpone their gifts for us fans until the time is right.
With only having played a total of 5 games since the initial NHL shutdown, the Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans have had plenty of time to hype themselves up for the upcoming 2021 season.
The Leafs players are going to Celebrate their Christmas without having played any games since August. Due to their season being delayed, it’s only fair they delay their surprises for us too.
Who’ll bear the presents from the Toronto Maple Leafs though? Auston Matthews? Mikko Lehtonen? Mitch Marner? Sheldon Keefe?
Let’s get into what these gifts may just be.
Present #1: Robertson Scores 20 and Wins Calder
Nick Robertson was held back from competing for the US at the World Juniors, and for good reason. He wants to make this team and be a staple on one of the most lethal teams in the NHL.
We all got a brief preview of what an 18-Year-Old Robertson fresh off a 55 goal season in the OHL looks like. This time it’ll be a bigger, stronger, and faster 19-Year-Old Robertson fresh off of an extended offseason and full-time training in Toronto.
We know he’ll fight like hell for pucks, be aggressive on the forecheck, and wire pucks like lasers, but if he can do this consistently for a shortened 56 game season and find his scoring touch in the NHL then there’s a good chance that he’ll produce.
If given playing time on the powerplay and with the right players, I believe Robertson has the potential to pot home 20+ goals in this shortened season and even furthermore challengee Alexis Lafreniere for that Calder Trophy.
Present #2: Morgan Rielly Gets back to Being Morgan Rielly
Just 2 Seasons ago, Toronto Maple Leafs Defenseman Morgan Rielly had 20 goals and 72 points in a full 82 game season. That season he was also fourth in Byng Trophy voting, fifth in Norris Trophy voting, and was ever so close to being an NHL all-star (all stats hockeyreference.com). However last season, Rielly was held to only 27 points in 47 games and was riddled with problems.
To accompany injuries that lingered all season, Rielly offered up his #1 powerplay spot to teammate Tyson Barrie in hopes to get a struggling Barrie off the ground. This resulted in Rielly missing key opportunities to pad his numbers.
Rielly missed a quarter of the 2019-20 season and struggled both visually and statically. He seemed to have lost a stride in his skating and was just straight-up embarrassed at other times (thanks Connor McDavid).
With an extended offseason, Morgan Rielly has had the opportunity to rehab any injuries that were bothering him last season, and just work on all areas of his game. Rielly being by far the Leaf’s #1 Defensemen and is a vital key to their success.
It would be a delightful gift for all Leaf fans far and wide if Rielly returned to the 2018-19 version of himself.
Present #3: Mikko Lehtonen Picks Up Right Where he Finished off in Russia
If you haven’t heard of Finnish defenseman Mikko Lehtonen yet, then odds are you’re probably living under a rock.. but that’s alright, I’ll fill you in.
In the 2018-19 season, Mikko Lehtonen recorded 17 goals and 49 points in 60 games with Jokerit Helsinki of the KHL. Not only that, but he was also given these awards:
- KHL All-Star
- KHL Defenseman of the Month (January)
- KHL Defenseman of the Month (December)
- KHL Defenseman of the Month (November)
- KHL Most Assists by Defenseman (32)
- KHL Most Goals by Defenseman (17)
- KHL Most Points by Defenseman (49)
- KHL Defenceman of the Year
This season after signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Lehtonen went back to Helsinki (on loan) and picked up right where he left off. In 17 games, Lehtonen put up 8 goals and 17 points. Lehtonen was a human highlight reel.
He can do this all game long.
— KHL (@khl_eng) October 6, 2020
🚨🚨 & 🍎🍎 for Mikko Lehtonen 🇫🇮 tonight. pic.twitter.com/lpz06kgUsm
There’s no question that transitioning to the North American game can be difficult for any player, but there are instances (i.e. Panarin) where players come over with minimal difficulties and produce at extraordinary levels. This is just exactly what the Leafs want.
Lehtonen can play long minutes in all situations and when training camp comes, soon we’ll be able to see just where he fits in on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster. Hopefully at minimum Lehtonen will play in a top-six role for the Leafs.
Present #4: Toronto Maple Leafs Win Canadian Division and Give us Rivalries Like the Old Days
With a now confirmed “Northern Division” in the NHL this season where all Canadian teams will compete there is a plethora of opportunity for the Leafs. They are not only the favourite to win the division but also for the first time in years, with at least 9 games against each Canadian team, the Leafs can finally rebuild the rivalries with their fellow Canadian comrades.
The Leafs among Canadian teams is without a doubt the favourite to win the Northern Division. Yeah, you can argue how the Flames with the additions of Markstrom and Tanev and the Canadiens with Toffoli and Anderson both will be even better than they were last season, and yeah you can always make an argument for Connor Mcdavid and the Oilers, but, I think it’s pretty hard to argue that there is any other team that has prepared for this season better than the Leafs.
The Leafs picked up depth at all positions in anticipation of the time-crunched season in addition a taxi squad. I’m not always a fan of some of the Dubas decisions, but for the majority of the moves this offseason, I’d have to give Dubas an A for his work especially given the hand he was dealt with the flat cap.
Now personally, as a 19-Year-Old Leafs Fan, besides the Bruins and then a very brief couple of hairy games against the Canucks a number of years ago, I have yet to see any true rivalries that really get me excited to see games.
Sure there’s the “Battle of Ontario” and “Battle of Niagra”, but really there hasn’t been any real fire to these games in my memory and I’m sure I’m not the only young Leaf fan that thinks so. I would love to see even just one of these 9 game season series result in a couple of truly barbaric games.
Imagine the Leafs and Canadiens in an absolute deranged playoff series. The two most storied franchises of the NHL going at it in the playoffs after 9 games against each other in the regular season. That would be a spectacle. Hell, forget the Leafs, imagine a battle of Alberta playoff series. The possibilities are endless!
Present #5: The Toronto Maple Leafs Win the Stanley Cup
Game Seven. Stanley Cup Finals. dying seconds. Rielly to Marner. Marner down low to Thornton. Jumbo Joe circles around the net and kicks in out to Matthews for the one-timer. It’s over. One tiny deflection in front from Tavares and your Toronto Maple Leafs have won the Stanley Cup.
What could be a better late Christmas present from the Leafs besides a Stanley Cup? Nothing. This is by far the deepest shot on this list, but hey anything can happen.
For the first time in 54 years, the first time in my lifetime, and many others, the Leafs can give the greatest present and joy to Canadians far and wide. Even if they just win a playoff round or two, that would be sufficient as one of the greatest late Christmas presents in some time.
Next. A Dominant Morgan Rielly the Key to Success. dark
Even with no hockey from the Leafs around the holidays, at least we’re getting close to camp and to games – we’re coming down the homestretch. At the very least the Leafs will give us hockey to watch and a reason to scream at the TV. Now after the year of 2020, that’s a pretty good Christmas present if you ask me.