Auston Matthews, William Nylander tell new leadership exactly what Maple Leafs need
Auston Matthews, William Nylander tell new leadership exactly what Maple Leafs need originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Auston Matthews and William Nylander are two core members of the Toronto Maple Leafs .
They want things to be better next season than they were this season, but they also know that'll take some work.
First, the Leafs have to fill in their front office, and then those new leaders will have some work to do.
Matthews and Nylander have apparently given their input already on what needs to happen.
TSN's Darren Dreger said on a recent podcast appearance that Matthews and Nylander both shared their thoughts on what should come next for the roster.
“What I was told by people I trust there, is that both of those guys, Nylander and Matthews, told both management and coaching that look, we believe in this team, but we think we have to add some players,” Dreger said. "We need a couple of dogs up front with some bite, who can eliminate the softness we have in certain areas up front, and we need two mobile defensemen.”
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The idea of "dogs up front" definitely comes to mind as the Maple Leafs watch the playoffs from home.
Almost every postseason game features the kind of pushing, shoving and tone setting that this Toronto team simply didn't have.
Improving the defensive group will be tougher, because Toronto has actually invested a lot into their current unit and simply not gotten the production they need from that group. But it makes sense to seek improvements somewhere, even if it's easier said than done.
At least it's a good sign that Matthews and Nylander are looking for those improvements rather than asking out of town.
