TORONTO (Nov. 27) — It’s often been said that teams in the National Hockey League determine what they have, and what they need, by the American Thanksgiving. Or… by tomorrow. At which time the Toronto Maple Leafs could sit atop the Atlantic Division by five points. A regulation victory tonight, at Florida, would bolt the Leafs further into the clear than in recent memory. For years, Toronto has jockeyed with the Panthers, Tampa Bay and Boston in the Atlantic. The Leafs have never finished ahead of the pack. Neither is it late enough into the schedule to offer a prediction for the Blue and White. But, the club is looking strong, right now, under coach Craig Berube.

For fans of the Maple Leafs, this again offers two sides of a coin. If the team continues to perform with structure and elite goaltending, expectation will increase before the playoffs. It always does around here… accompanied, for obvious reasons, by crippling trepidation. Should the club, however, fall into a lengthy and unanticipated slide, absolutely nothing can be accomplished by management. What you see from the Leafs is what you will get — at any juncture of the season or playoffs. For no amendment can be made involving the only skaters that truly matter: the Core–4 of William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and John Tavares. All of whom are entrenched in contracts they manage; not the team. With full no–movement clauses. It’s an old story in these parts.

Matthews will once more be sidelined for tonight’s game against the defending champions; he hasn’t played since Nov. 3 and the Leafs have been on fire without him. Again. Until told otherwise, I’ll continue with the speculation from a source: that the captain sustained a groin pull spreading to his lower–abdomen. For whatever reason, this was a common malady in the late–90’s NHL, yet not so much anymore. The recurrence quotient is high. As such, the Leafs are being extraordinarily cautious with their apparent meal ticket. In the absence of No. 34, No. 16 has carried the team. As he often does during the 82–game slog. Which, naturally, has led to speculation from the always–appreciative hockey media in Toronto as to when the Leafs will finally extend Marner. Any person asking such a question, last May, after Mitch allowed David Pastrnak to blow by him in overtime of Game 7 would have encountered guffaws. Today, it sounds like a pretty good idea. Which it very well could be. Just not in cahoots with the duo (Nylander and Matthews) already signed. And, this is where the Leafs need to stand some ground.

MITCH MARNER (RIGHT) SCORED TWICE FOR THE LEAFS IN THEIR VICTORY, SUNDAY, OVER UTAH. DAN HAMILTON PHOTO

All of Leafs Nation is wondering if management will approach Marner about waving his no–movement pact before the March NHL trade deadline. But, why does it have to be Mitch? There is no law against asking either Nylander or Morgan Rielly to waive their privileges for an appealing trade. Or, God forbid, Matthews, which will never happen because the Leafs have positioned themselves as evolving around the prolific, regular–season shooter. Despite his career–long regression when the stakes increase. If I were running the Leafs (as written here, repeatedly), I would have made the best deal possible for Matthews after the second–round embarrassment, in 2023, against Florida. A five–game ouster in which he did not score a goal. Instead, the risk–averse contingent operating the club felt it more important, one year later, to humiliate Tavares by stripping him of the captaincy; handing it to Matthews along with a four–year, $53 million contract that will swallow $13.25 million of cap space beginning next season. With all of those jerseys available for sale, you think anyone in the ivory tower would even contemplate what is best for the club, strategically? If, for argument’s sake, Keith Pelley had the nuts to approach Matthews, an invisible force would discombobulate him before the offending words could be spoken. After all, this is Toronto.

But, there doesn’t need to be a continuation of the status quo in Leafs Land. In order to make a fundamental alteration to the club, and without argument, one of the elite draft picks has to leave. We’ve known that for ages, even if too stubborn to confess. Under no schematic circumstance can the Leafs move forward with the troika that has let them down, year after year, in the Stanley Cup hunt. Someone has to move on. The assumption, around here, is that Marner will be that player. Everyone understands he can walk for nothing as a free agent next July. But, folks, he isn’t the guy the Leafs should lose. If you’re proceeding on playoff production, you don’t re–sign any of the Core–4. Yet, management opened the vault for Nylander and Matthews. Which means Marner has to vacate.

Or, does it?

Whether or not he frustrates you in the spring, there is no skater more irreplaceable than Mitch. You’re seeing it again in the past few weeks… but, on this occasion, unaccompanied by Matthews. It’s been a challenge, at times, but I have often referred to Marner as the most–indispensable Maple Leaf. The club is 20–17–5, all time, in games without Mitch. Compared to 42–20–2 when Matthews is absent. So, where is it written that Marner has to depart?

The answer is: nowhere but in the still–fertile imagination of the Maple Leafs’ hierarchy, which contends (publicly) that Matthews will somehow become the man at playoff time. Or, that Nylander, with his talent, good looks and quirky humor, cannot conceivably wear another uniform. Maybe it’s as simple as extending Marner and allowing Tavares to walk. Thereby opening up $11 million of cap space. Yet, does anyone truly believe that Nylander, Matthews and Marner — as a group — can offload their post–season frailty? That’s been the delusion around here forever. Or, so it seems. One of the Big 3 draft choices absolutely must be in a different jersey next season.

If it’s the usual path of least resistance — Marner — the club will rue the decision. Indefinitely. And, harshly.

FROM THE JERSEY VAULT — Part 2

More items in my collection of vintage NHL uniforms:

 
The original Minnesota North Stars (in 1967–68) wore the above jersey on the road. It remained Minnesota’s predominantly white model through 1974–75. The following season (1975–76), the North Stars modified their design. For three years, the club wore the jersey, below, on the road. The franchise relocated to Dallas in 1993.

 
 
On Jan. 1, 2008, the Pittsburgh Penguins donned this throwback jersey (rough imitation of the home uniform from 1968–69) for the inaugural Bridgestone Winter Classic. The Pens defeated the Buffalo Sabres on a shootout goal by Sidney Crosby. A crowd of 71,217 braved steady snow at Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the NFL Buffalo Bills.

 
In the early years of the franchise, Los Angeles Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke forbade his staff to describe the team colors as purple and gold. He insisted the darker shade (above and below) be known as “Forum Blue” in honor of the arena he built in suburban Inglewood. The NHL will never–again see such an intricate crest.

 
SOME JERSEY COMBOS:

 
Six days after the Leafs GM Punch Imlach traded Frank Mahovlich to Detroit (on Mar. 9, 1968), the Red Wings played at Maple Leaf Gardens. At top–left are the jerseys worn that night. The first home game for the Philadelphia Flyers was played on Oct. 19, 1967. Pittsburgh and Philly wore these uniforms (top–right).

 
Minnesota North Stars at Oakland Seals, 1967–68 (top–left); Kansas City Scouts at Buffalo Sabres, 1974–75.

 
Boston Bruins at California Golden Seals, 1970–71 (top–left); Pittsburgh Penguins at Atlanta Flames, 1972–73.

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