Leafs urged to make a move as they aren’t built for big-boy hockey!

Since the start of the season, it has been said that the Toronto Maple Leafs could be ready to make it all the way to the Stanley Cup, especially when coveted free agent John Tavares signed with the team over the summer and he, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly have been on fire. However, they cannot do it and after the Colorado Avalanche's brutal 6-3 win on Monday, something was made very clear to fans and pundits, and to Sportsnet's Luke Fox: the Leafs aren’t built for big-boy hockey... 

"The Leafs were outhit by Colorado 25-13 Monday, and we’re certain that stat would be even more lopsided if the Avs didn’t have the puck all night.Can Toronto flip a switch and play the heavy brand of hockey believed necessary to survive the post-season?" wonders Fox in his latest article, Five reasons Maple Leafs should be concerned following loss to Avalanche. 

Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said that if the team is going to acquire players it probably won’t be a rental, however, the GM should probably revised his statement. His team clearly needs to get bigger and heavier ahead of the trade deadline and could greatly benefit from the addition of a heavy forward who can produce and be aggressive. 

While some fans might worry about the Leafs bringing in a reckless player, some will say that it is easier to tame a tiger than to paint stripes on a kitty. And that's exactly what NHL insider Nick Kypreos thought when he mentioned the name of Carolina Hurricanes' Michael Ferland when suggesting him as a main trade bait to Toronto. 

"He's mean, he is a mean guy," co-host Colby Armstrong couldn't hold back on HC at noon on Tuesday when looking at Ferland's fight against Austin Watson of the Nashville Predators this weekend. 

"All he needs to do is what he did Sunday and maybe bring it every five, six, seven games," went on Kypreos about having a Ferland type player on the Leafs' roster. "Just stretch it out so no one forgets that you have that in your golf bag. You've got that club! You've got that club."

While it might be time for the Maple Leafs to investigate and invest in that type of player for the playoff run, for now, Toronto seems to think it's doing just fine in that department. 

“I think we can play heavy. Heavy is a mindset. I don’t think you necessarily have to have massive guys. You can still play heavy. We have a lot of guys who can. I think everybody can do that — play on the cycle and do things you need to do to win,” argues Zach Hyman. 

“You just have to have the mindset that you’re not going to be pushed off the puck. Be strong on it. Brace yourself. Spin off guys. Just be tenacious. It’s a tenacious mindset. I dunno. It’s a nature-versus-nurture type of thing. I just grew up that way. My parents told me to go give 100 per cent when I was out there. For me, that’s going into the corners. A mindset.”

The mindset could however become a physical presence, reminding every rival not to mess with the Leafs, if ever Michael Ferland - or another heavy forward - was to come and join Toronto ahead of the trade deadline. 

Ferland is currently in the last year of his contract, and while he may not get the Tom Wilson's raise the forward got with the Washington Capitals, he could finally put his hands on a big contract. The Leafs might want to reconsider the no-rental option... 

The 26-year-old is on the path of a career year with 13 goals and 12 assists in 38 games - a trip to the playoffs might be a way to celebrate this new personal record.