The Maple Leafs GM Needs to Act While Division Title is Still Possible.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Anaheim Mighty Ducks 9-2 yesterday night.
The Toronto Maple Leafs may have dressed a very light lineup (no Jarncrock, Rielly, or Tavares), but it made no difference because they had their most lopsided game of the season.
Auston Matthews scored his second straight hatrick, bringing his total to 34 goals in his last 31 games, and Tyler Bertuzzi finally scored. Matthews scored five points for the first time in his career. Timothy Liljegren tallied three assists.
Even Martin Jones was fine as the Leafs strolled to a comfortable victory.
Toronto Maple Leafs Destroy the Ducks
The two points brought the Leafs within ten of Florida and nine of Boston.
The Leafs have two games in hand on each club, so they might be as few as six points behind. That sounds scary, but it’s only three victories.
So far this season, there has been no hope of the Leafs catching Boston (or Florida) because, while they are winning games, they rely heavily on their players and have struggled to establish consistency on the blue line or in goal.
The foundation of a competent club exists, but management has failed horribly to supplement the core, and Treliving has yet to bring in any reinforcements despite emergency situations on the blue line in net.
The truth is, you still believe he will. So, assuming the Leafs can stay within striking distance until extra help arrives, the division title is still possible….just unlikely.
The Leafs will play an afternoon game tomorrow on Holiday Monday, followed by a game against the Coyotes on Wednesday before heading to Vegas and Colorado. It’s a difficult timetable, but perhaps there will be reinforcements.
Rielly has already served three games, so he only has one or two more (depending on the outcome of his appeal), and trades are likely to occur at any time.
The trade deadline is March 8th, little under three weeks away. However, the Leafs cannot wait that long. In three weeks, the division might be completely out of reach, and it’s a miracle it’s still accessible today. (stats from naturalstattrick.com).
With a few good signings, particularly a goalie and a top pairing defenseman, the Leafs may rapidly move from pretender to contender. This squad already has the makings of an exceptional club, and with any NHL-level goalkeeper, it will improve dramatically.
However, the addition of an impact goalie to the Toronto Maple Leafs transforms the league’s entire structure.
