3 Items on the Toronto Maple Leafs Wishlist for 2022

The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping that 2022 is their year.

The New Year is around the corner and you know what that means: New Years resolutions. The Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t any different than your average joe who’s hoping for a big 2022.

For the past 54 years, it hasn’t been “their year” for the Toronto Maple Leafs, however they’re hoping for a different scenario this season. Although the pandemic was been in full-swing the past few weeks with cases rising higher than ever, we’re all hoping that’s behind us and things can somewhat get back to normal next year.

It probably won’t be right away but by the time the Stanley Cup gets handed out in 2022, things should be a lot more normalized.

We all know the Leafs haven’t won anything since 1967, but in all seriousness this could be their year. There’s no reason to believe otherwise, as this team is very good.

You don’t have to be the best team in the world to win a championship, but instead need to be lucky and get hot at the right time of the season. Toronto is built to win now and this could be the year it finally happens.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping for a big 2022, but here are their three biggest wishes on their wish list:

No. 1: Win a Playoff Round

You can’t win the Stanley Cup unless you win your first playoff round, so priority number one for the Toronto Maple Leafs is getting out of the first round.

It’s been 18 years since the Leafs have won a playoff round. That is completely unacceptable for a franchise that considers themselves the biggest hockey market in the world. It’s so embarrassing that every time I read that stat, I try not to believe it.

Auston Matthews needs to put the team on his back, if that’s what it takes, and will this team to at least one playoff victory. It’s been way too long since they’ve done so, so this team needs that momentum of finally winning a round, so we don’t have to talk about it anymore.

Winning a round is so important for the psyche of this team because if they don’t do it this year, when will they ever do it?

Also, if they don’t win a playoff round, Kyle Dubas is probably getting fired and the entire team is going in a different direction, so their goal is should be to win one round to keep their jobs and build some momentum.

No. 2: Sign Jack Campbell to Extension

If the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t re-sign Jack Campbell, it’ll be one of the biggest mistakes in team history.

When the Leafs originally traded for Campbell, nobody expected much. Soup had been in the league for close to a decade, had barely played in the NHL and was a bonified back-up. The idea was for him to come in and play 30-40% of the games and be a steady number-two for Freddie Andersen.

Then, Andersen got hurt and Campbell kept winning games. I mean, this guy couldn’t lose. He set the record for most wins to start a season last year and hasn’t slowed down since. His numbers are some of the best in the NHL over the past two campaigns and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

His $1.6M contract has made him an unbelievable asset, but the team can’t get rid of him if he demands too much money. Even if he asks for $4M, he’s going to give you $8M stats, so he’s a necessary component to winning.

Not too mention that the team, and the fanbase, absolutely loves him. Signing Campbell needs to happen, as the team cannot get into a bidding war if he hits free agency.