Here we go again, another season in Leaf Land, and once again high expectations, make the playoffs. It has been like this every single season for this franchise, make the playoffs. Even when teams were bad it was still expected, and that’s what happens when you play in a passionate hockey market that hasn’t won in a long time. Why not be passionate and have high hopes, we fans only want what is best for our Leafs. Making the playoffs this season will be one tough task. First, the pressures that surround the team, and second, this team is in rebuild mode and will be in a battle for a spot if anything, but clinching a seed we’ll just have to wait and see.
General Manager Brian Burke made plenty of moves to the Leafs roster in his first full off season since joining the club midway through last season. He added grit, muscle, youthful talent and a solid sniper, who along with Luke Schenn, are the perfect building blocks.
Starting on defense, a word that wasn’t understood on this team, and it showed when the Leafs finished last in the league with 293 goals against. This season may be different, because a once thin defense is now over crowded with at least four spots booked, and two open for at least six players to battle it out in training camp. Luke Schenn was a sensation for the Leafs and the lone bright spot in a season full of dark clouds. Schenn cracked the club at 18 years old right out of training camp and did not upset. Sure, there were the few rookie mistakes that were going to happen, but other than that he was as advertised, a solid stay at home defenseman. The progression of Schenn will continue this season and his game will blossom.
The second defenseman that is guaranteed a spot on this club is Tomas Kaberle. He says he doesn’t want to leave Toronto, but management had a few ideas that did not come to fruition, and it turns out the best moves are the ones you don’t make. Kaberle will be sticking around which is a good thing because he is an agile smooth skating defenseman with good vision to get the puck out of the zone. His offensive numbers will get better this season with the addition of Mike Komisarek.
In Komisarek, who is also guaranteed a spot, the Leafs are getting a very physical defenseman, which blocks shots, kills penalties, and likes to win. Playing alongside Kaberle will help both players. Kaberle will have more room to move freely with puck, because Komisarek will knock the opposition out.
The fourth player is another free agent signing Francois Beauchemin. This guy was a steal and it was very surprising to see him on the free agent market for as long he was. What he brings to this club is a Stanley Cup ring with Anaheim, veteran leadership and experience, a smart player with the puck that can skate, and a heavy hitter. It will be nice to see Schenn and Beauchemin play together as pair. It will help Schenn develop and these two will be a very good shut down pair.
Then there are six players left that all have legit chances at cracking this club. One player that we can cross of is Phil Oreskovic, he is good and is a physical player something Burke loves, but he isn’t ready for a full time job just yet. That leaves five players, Ian White, Jonas Frogren, Jeff Finger, Mike Van Ryn and Ganett Exelby. White showed his versatility last season when he played the wing and defensive positions. So that could help the team in injury situations. Frogren was good but was not a consistent fit in the lineup. Finger may get one of the spots due to his large contract and will be tough to trade. Van Ryn should be a player to get one of those spots because he was a very good fit on this team. He would hit the opposition, take them out against the glass, and had good hands. Exelby is a real hard hitter that can knock out players if they are not paying attention to the play. Two payers that should be in the opening day lineup are Mike Van Ryn and Ian White. Then go from there and give each player a chance to play and see who fits. Then try and unload a few of these players for draft picks or youth.
Now onto offense a unit that got a real big boost when the Leafs acquired 36 goal man and 22 year old Phil Kessel. What an upgrade this is for the Leafs, a true first line sniper the Leafs have been missing since the Mats Sundin era. Unfortunately Kessel won’t be in the lineup until mid November due to recovering off-season shoulder surgery.
One line that warrants a look in the NHL full time is a line made up of rookies. Two of them were signed out of college and one from Sweden. Christian Hanson, Tyler Bozak and Victor Stalberg have proved that they are good enough to play full time. The pre-season that these three have had has been excellent. Hanson and Bozak can crash the net, yet skate, can score, yet cycle the puck and also crash the boards. With Stalberg he has wicked speed and in two steps is gone. He is a very good playmaker, who also has a quick snapshot when coming down the wing.
Another youngster that got a good look at was this seasons seventh overall draft choice, Nazem Kadri. He still is a long shot to make the club, but he too has had a good pre-season and may sneak into that opening day roster.
Now onto the regulars from last season, which include three players that stepped up their games. Matt Stajan, Alex Ponikarovsky and Mikhail Grabovski all had good seasons last year. Stajan hit a career high with forty assists, and is the front runner to play alongside Kessel when he returns. Stajan should continue his offensive output and raise his goal total of 15 from last year. Ponikarovsky had a real good season last year with 23 goals and 38 assists, and should hit the 60 point plateau once again. Grabovski really shone in his first full season in the NHL with his speed, control on the puck, and goal scoring. He hit twenty last season, which he should repeat this season. He too is another player that should hit sixty points and would be a great improvement from his 48 last year.
Jason Blake finally had a season that was worth his contract with 25 goals and 38 assists. Hopefully he can at least duplicate the 25 goals. Lee Stempniak really needs to bring his game to another level, because the contract he has and the stats he has posted what a waste of money. He scored all of 14 goals last season, compared to two seasons ago when hit 27. Anything better than last season would be an improvement for Stempniak. Niklas Hagman had a good first year with the Leafs scoring 22 goals in 65 games. He could’ve played the whole season if it hadn’t been for a cheap shot he received to the head to knock him out a few games. If he gets a whole season in, Hagman should score 26-29 goals. John Mitchell really surprised a lot of people and has become a fan favourite because of his work ethic, drive, and determination. His 12 goals and 17 assists was a very strong rookie campaign. This season he may even hit twenty, because Head Coach Ron Wilson started to reward Mitchell with more ice time due to his strong play. Jamal Mayers is just a good player to have on any team because of his strong attitude, and he too has strong drive to win games and do the little things. That was why Wayne Primeau was brought in; he has a strong work ethic and a passion for the game. The only negative on him is his skating, he is very slow, and that will hurt this team at times. One of Brian Burke’s favourite signings was a four year deal he gave to Colton Orr. This player is misinterpreted, and is labeled a fighter only. Orr can skate, get in on the rush, block shots, knows how to position himself defensively, and plays physical.
Two players that should be traded right now for draft picks are Jiri Tlusty and Nikolai Kulemin. Tlusty has been rated as a solid prospect, but has been anything but that. He scored 25+ goals with the AHL Marlboros, but that has not translated into success at the NHL level. It doesn’t look like that will happen. As for Kulemin he had flashes of strong play here and there, but half the time he looks out of it, went into prolonged scoring slumps, he doesn’t back check, and is a one dimensional player.
Goaltending, a position that was a real weak point on the Leafs and was a main reason as to why they gave up so many goals. Starting goalie Vesa Toskala was injured for the whole season, and had groin surgery and his was shut down. Now he looks better than ever, more agile, better puck handling and he looks so much more comfortable playing goal. There is a chance for him to win thirty games this season if he stays healthy. If not, then the Leafs have Joey MacDonald and prized free agent goaltender Jonas Gustavsson. MacDonald so far has had a real good pre-season and will battle Gustavsson for the back-up role. Again, if Toskala doesn’t perform, both MacDonald and Gustavsson have been starting goaltenders at one point in their careers.
OVERALL--> THE LEAFS HAVE A MUCH IMPROVED DEFENSE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE A HEALTHY VESA TOSKALA AS WELL. THE OFFENSE HAS SOMEWHAT IMPROVED, AND WILL REALLY BE GOOD IF THE YOUNG LINE OF HANSON, BOZAK AND STALBERG HAVE GOOD ROOKIE SEASON’S.
POSITIVE--> THE REBUILD IS IN FULL EFFECT WITH SOME GOOD YOUNG TALENT ON THE WAY. LUKE SCHENN SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER GOOD SEASON ON A MUCH IMPROVED DEFENSIVE UNIT. GOALTENDING LOOKS GOOD IF HEALTHY. THE ADDITION OF PHIL KESSEL.
NEGATIVE--> OBVIOUSLY THE TORONTO MEDIA; THEY ARE LIKE VULTURES LOOKING FOR SOMETHING BAD TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME. DEFENSE AND GOALTENDING WERE REAL BAD LAST SEASON, AND ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THEY HAVE REALLY IMPROVED WITH ALL THOSE CHANGES.
X-FACTOR--> THE LEAFS REALLY DIDN’T HAVE ONE LAST SEASON, AND IT LOOKS AS IF THERE ISN’T ONE NOW. AS USUAL GOALTENDING WINS GAMES, SO VESA TOSKALA, JOEY MACDONALD AND JONAS GUSTAVSSON.
SLEEPER PICK--> JOHN MITCHELL SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER GOOD SEASON AND BUILD ON HIS SOLID ROOKIE YEAR. A 40+ POINT SEASON SHOULD BE ATTAINED FOR MITCHELL THIS YEAR.
PREDICTION--> THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS WILL BE IN A BATTLE DOWN THE STRETCH FOR A PLAYOFF SPOT. THIS TEAM SHOULD FINISH IN SPOTS 8-10.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in this or any other article written by 12nadnuk are of his thinking and what he thinks is correct or close to it in the sporting world. If there are any problems by anyone, 12nadnuk is open for rebuttal and what not, and honest criticism. There is also a comments section, so feel free to post what is on your mind about the article. Thank you for reading.
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