Auston Matthews has made his first demand of the offseason for a tougher Maple Leafs roster

He told the team that he needs more size and protection up front. But he's not the only one as Darren Dreger reported on May 13th that the majority of the team also wants to see improvements. It's not just the captain's demands now and John Chayka has to deliver.

After the Toronto Maple Leafs' miserable season, many questions pointed to how the roster would improve. Needing to replace the dynamic two-way play of Mitch Marner, the team also has to make serious progress on their blueline, and perhaps give some added protection around their captain.

That protection is going to be a priority for Matthews considering that he likely won't want to stick around on a team that has no medium of security around him. But he isn't the only one who wants Toronto to get bigger and nastier up front either.

Darren Dreger reported on TSN's That's Hockey on May 13 that the Maple Leafs were told not only by Matthews but by a fair number of players on the roster that the addition of size and grit up front was a top priority:

They don't necessarily need all gritty guys, but they certainly need some guys who can play aggressively while also adding a lot of offensive and defensive help. Think a Tom Wilson-esque player; someone who doesn't care for anyone but his teammates, will take advantage wherever he can, but also score you 30 goals and give you 200+ hits a season.

Wilson isn't the only one, as Boone Jenner recently just switched agencies to get a better deal in free agency and could be the perfect solution for that up front grit; and you get a guy with some offence too. You think Pat Maroon would come out retirement?

But the fact that the rest of the roster also identifies that there are holes in the offence is a good sign. It takes some real self-awareness to realize you may not be the solution and for players like William Nylander, John Tavares, and Easton Cowan - protection is also a top priority for a variety of reasons.

Nylander needs a 'dog' up front who can cover for his defensive shortcomings and open up space to let him work his magic. Tavares needs some help covering the 2C but could also use some security on his flank given that he's 35 and not exactly a spring chicken. Cowan meanwhile is a young gun who has a target on his back every time he's on the ice; he needs a bodyguard.

Not to mention that Toronto has a historically bad track record with injuries and the last thing they need is more. Chris Tanev's concussion history is risky at best, Anthony Stolarz has a history of leg injuries and is constantly pushed around; this team is walking on broken limbs right now.

Tanev's injury concerns last year was when he suffered two concussions in a short span. The first one was merely incidental; stuff happens. But the second was Matvei Michkov intentionally targeting Tanev's head and hitting him from behind, and there was really no security.

A player brought in to keep players away would have likely been nearer Tanev or at the very least given Michkov a receipt for his actions. For as much as Toronto stressed passion, they sorely lacked it at the worst times last year.

There's a stark difference between Auston Matthews wanting to protect himself as a star in the NHL. That would be more akin to a massive ego trip as opposed to genuine roster concerns.

But when half your team is telling you the exact same thing, you have to listen. John Chayka needs to bring in some heavy hitters and make sure his team is not only competitive but actively safe.

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