When humanity is threatened only the super powered might of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be counted on to save the day. The Leafs have undergone a major overhaul this year. Of all the changes, none has been more impactful than the addition of a squadron based tactical deployment that head coach Mike Babcock and GM Kyle Dubas designed to keep the peace on the mean Toronto streets. Today we follow Otter squad: the centers.

A blizzard has caught Winnipeg in frozen blanket of impenetrable beauty. In a secluded cabin on the roof of a hedge clipper repair shop Patrick Liane looks out the window and shudders. The Winnipeg Jets hero is hiding. From the cold, from his fears, you name it, Patrick is hiding from it. The problems all started when he shaved his beard, bad luck had taken root on his shoulder ever since. Thus the secret fort, except it’s not as secret as he hopes. Patrick is being watched, not with malice but with sympathy.

“Patrick.” A voice whispers from the shadows.

“Who’s there?” Patrick asks, stretching his neck out and scouring the room for the intruder.

“I was watching you. You look lonely.” Nazem Kadri steps walks out from the shadows behind the lamp. The Toronto Maple Leaf has the power to move through the shadow realm making it hard to keep him out of places.

“Why were you watching me?” Patrick asks.

“We were looking for you.” Naz says. “Everyone is. What are you doing hiding out here?”

Patrick doesn’t say anything. Nazem walks over to the little wood burning stove and puts the kettle on. As the water boils Naz prepares two mugs of instant coffee. Looking around the room Naz is surprised by the emptiness of the place. A lamp, a cot, a chair, a stove and a table with two chairs is all there is for furnishings, two small shelves hold various useful things.

“Seriously though, what do you do out here man?” Naz finally breaks the silence

“Mostly think, I guess.” Patrick says in a quiet voice.

“Well I know just the guy to help you out with that.” Naz says. He reaches into the shadows behind the stove and pulls out John Tavares, who had been waiting patiently in the shadow realm.

“Hi.” John reaches out to shake Patricks hand. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

Patrick shrugs and nods. The kettle starts to whistle and Naz makes the coffees. He hands one steaming mug to John and keeps the other, then moves to stare out the window at the cold Manitoba night, offering  at least the appearance of privacy.

“You must be under a lot of pressure.” John says. “I know how that feels. When I first got to New York…”

“It’s not pressure that I am hiding from.” Patrick interrupts.
“So what then?”John demands.

In answer Patrick points to the cot. “Under there.”

John and Nazem peer under the bed. A beady yellow pair of eyes blinks at them.

“What the heck?” Naz says.

The Leafs edge closer to the cot until the eyes reveal a disproportionately massive set of jaws which snaps at them with huge, pointed teeth. The Leafs jump back.

“See.” Patrick says. “I can’t get rid of it.

“No problem.” Naz says. “You ready?” He asks John, who nods.

Naz sticks his head into the shadow under one of the shelves. He holds up a hand and counts down with his fingers. On one he reaches both hands into the shadows and comes out with a wriggling, gnashing gremlin. Naz has a firm grip around the creepy critters neck, keeping it from maiming him or escaping. John holds a hand out and drops the temperature around the gremlin to absolute zero. Naz drops the frozen thing and it shatters.

“You good now?” John asks.

Patrick shrugs. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”