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Toronto Maple Leafs vs Jets Is the Most Important Series of Season

By Michael Da Ponte

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 18: Kyle Connor #81 of the Winnipeg Jets battles for the puck against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on January 18. 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Jets 3-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 18: Kyle Connor #81 of the Winnipeg Jets battles for the puck against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on January 18. 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Jets 3-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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At the end of this week the Toronto Maple Leafs will be past the halfway point of the regular season and should have a good idea of where their strengths and weaknesses are.

It has been rumoured for weeks now that the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the market for a top 6 winger, most likely to play on the left wing with Nylander and Tavares. The question is though, what type of winger should they be looking to add?

Do they want a scoring winger, such as Taylor Hall, to provide an extra scoring punch? Or should they look for a gritty forward with size? Names like Nick Foligno, Sam Bennet and Jake Virtanen have been mentioned in trade talks and all three would add a little bite to the roster. After this week I think that question will be answered.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a three game series with the Winnipeg Jets this week, who sit seven points behind the Leafs with two games in hand. ( as per NHL.com ).

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Winnipeg Jets

This series could either create an even larger gap between Toronto and the rest of the North Division or make the race for top spot in the division very interesting. I do not think the  Leafs will run over the Jets the way that they handled the Edmonton Oilers last week.

I also do not see them coming out with no points, as they did with Vancouver. I’m expecting three hard fought, close games that will test the Maple Leafs physically and mentally. The most important thing that can come of this series though is giving Kyle Dubas an idea of exactly what the Leafs will need to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Winnipeg, in my opinion, is the biggest challenge to the Maple Leafs in a seven game series, they have scoring depth, size up front, great goaltending and a strong leadership group. Winnipeg also has plenty of playoff experience, winning multiple rounds over the last few seasons. After this three game series I think we will see what area the Maple Leafs are lacking and I expect Dubas to make a move next week to bring in a top six winger. Toronto has a fairly light two week schedule after this week and I believe that is the perfect time to bring in a new player, let him sit out for the 14 day quarantine, and bring him in with plenty of time to learn Sheldon Keefe’s system before the playoffs begin.

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Whether it is a big winger with some grit and scoring touch, or a speedy winger with playmaking ability, one thing is for certain, the Toronto Maple Leafs will add a top six forward before the April 12th trade deadline. This is the season to be going all in, and if that means losing a prospect, a roster player, a first round pick, or all three, Kyle Dubas needs to pull the trigger on a trade to turn the Toronto Maple Leafs from a Stanley Cup contender to a Stanley Cup favourite.

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