Mapping Out Success: The Key Players Driving Toronto Forward

The Leafs have to play a particular way to win. I know our automatic impulse is to outscore everyone every game, but hear me out. Consistency has got to be the name of the game. Lately, the Leafs have been struggling to play a full 60 minutes. Remember, defense wins games. Sure, offense is important too, but solid defense has to be the foundation of any successful hockey team.

The Leafs have been better lately, coming closer to playing the full 60 minutes. Their core guys are firing on all cylinders! Matthews has been skating like the wind and has his shot back. And let’s not forget about Nylander—he’s absolutely on fire, matching Matthews goal for goal. T Speaking of offensive firepower, Matthew Knies has officially arrived! Wow. Knies is a brilliant young forward with some wheels, smooth stick handling, and a terrific shot. Knies is valuable to the team’s success. And we can’t discuss the core without mentioning Mitch Marner—he’s having a career year! Marner might be one of the best playmaking forwards in the league. Some people are even saying that he deserves a shot at MVP.

The Leafs could use some help with the secondary scoring. The bottom six need to get more involved. Mann has been doing his job lately, and Robertson did get a goal against Tampa. They must continue to hustle and work. The Leafs must continue with the hard work and continue working together. If the core can continue with their play, the Leafs can be one of the best teams in the league. The defense led by Tanev must continue to play more responsibly on their end. Think more responsibly by staying out of the box. 

Conclusion

Having Stolartz return will be a massive part of the team’s success. I have been telling everyone who will listen that he is the the best bargain free agent signing of the offseason. I’m not saying Woll has been terrible, but Stolartz has been outstanding between the pipes. I love how he covers the angles. He is a great standup netminder. He stabilizes the goaltending this season. Here’s hoping the team continues to rack up those wins for the rest of the season!

Randy

Trade Rumors Heat Up as Isles Face Tough Decisions

The Isles are gearing up to make some big decisions, and it’s happening very soon. There is all sorts of speculation about Nelson possibly being on the chopping block. So, what’s the deal with Palms?

Nelson is being speculated to be a UFA soon. The thought is that he is ready to move on. The team is not performing up to expectations. Everyone can see that, including Roy and Lou. To make problems worse, Brock is getting frustrated with his low production.

Brock Nelson’s stats are 11 goals and 12 assists through 41 games. At the writing of this blog, Those numbers work out to 46 points for the full season. Granted, those numbers are not great, but to be fair, he is not the only one struggling out there. While Brock’s been having a rough season overall, I’ve noticed he’s starting to pick up his game a bit and getting more involved. He may not be matching his performance from last year; I think the main issue is that he just doesn’t seem to be skating as much or feeling the same motivation he used to have.

Another player generating some buzz is Kyle Palmieri. As of now, he’s racked up 12 goals and 15 assists, which puts him on pace for a solid 54-point season. Palmieri is a valuable asset who could get two assets in return in the offseason. You would only trade him if you’re entirely out of the race. If the Isles are out of the running, it would be in their best interest to get what they can now.

If they end up getting traded, where might they land? Let’s check in with our buddies over at IslesTalk on YouTube. Don’t miss their awesome show, and make sure to follow them on Twitter @IslesTalk!

It will be interesting. The Isles’ problem isn’t with how many points they’re behind; it is how many teams are involved in the hunt. Jumping over five teams definitely complicates things! I’ve got a feeling it could go either way. I never like to bet against the Isles; I know better. See, really, I am a chicken at heart.

Randy.