The more I think about it, the happier I am with the Toronto Maple Leafs start to the season.
A little adversity to overcome is a good thing, and half of the Toronto Maple Leafs first ten games were a five-game Western Road Trip. They played 2 sets of back-to-backs in the first ten games as well.
They played Erik Kallgren three times already.
Auston Matthews has lost his minutes.
And Matt Murray and Jake Muzzin went down. Sure, both players were known to be injury risks, but I don’t think one-game into the season was a reasonable bet for both to go down.
Anyways, I think being a game above water after all that the team’s record is actually pretty impressive.
Here is a list of things they need to do:
Toronto Maple Leafs Do Do List
- Give Kyle Dubas a contract extension
- Trade Alex Kerfoot
- Trade for an actual NHL back-up goalie
- Give Nick Robertson an extended run to find his feet
- Make Denis Malgin a regular feature of the lineup
- Work some younger players (prospects) into the lineup more regularly (I liked that they called up Pontus Holmberg).
- Use Timothy Liljegren at the top of the lineup (once he’s up to game speed).
- Permanently use Matthews and Marner on separate lines
- Give contract extensions to both Sheldon Keefe and Brendan Shanahan
- Announce that Matt Murray is done for the season
- Announce that Jake Muzzin is done for the season
- Acquire Erik Karlsson
It’s obvious that Kyle Dubas is the best young executive in sports, and that the Leafs should lock him up long term. Shanahan’s vision has been impeccable and he is clearly the best thing to ever happen to this team.
Both execs deserve more rope to oversee their vision to completion, and Sheldon Keefe does not deserve to be looking over his shoulder all year.
Alex Kerfoot is only good on the second line, because his presence lower in the lineup pushes everyone down and is disruptive. He needs to go because Robertson is ready.
A back-up goalie is the most important short-term move they need to make. If Erik Kallgren gets another game, that would be unfortunate.
And last but not least, announce that both big ticket injuries are done and use the cap space (along with salary retention) to get the Sharks to trade Erik Karlson to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Sure, it’s a risk, but at this point, why not?