"One of the areas that has been lacking is physicality and toughness. The games against the Boston Bruins a couple of weeks ago proved the Maple Leafs don't have the players to stand up and engage bullies. The only player who stepped up to send Nikita Zadorov a message was Max Domi. Domi, of course, lost like about six inches on Zadorov but that didn't stop him from chucking knuckles with the bruising blueliner."
"That situation means the Maple Leafs should look into bringing in someone who can police the ice. That role had been held by Ryan Reaves. However, the team felt that Reaves' one-dimensional play wasn't worth a roster spot. Deploying Reaves for seven minutes a night just to bounce around a couple of guys here and there wasn't worth the trouble. Boy, the Leafs could have used Reaves against Zadorov."
Trade discussions have accelerated around the Thanksgiving period, increasing speculation about roster changes. The Toronto Maple Leafs lack physicality and toughness, exposed in recent games against the Boston Bruins when only Max Domi stood up to Nikita Zadorov. The team previously used Ryan Reaves as an enforcer but moved on because his limited, one-dimensional role and sparse minutes were not seen as worth a roster spot. The Leafs could benefit from a player who combines physical edge with defensive reliability and offensive upside. Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman is identified as a possible trade candidate who fits that profile.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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