With the upcoming Toronto Maple Leafs and NHL season now upon us, the pundits and experts are out taking their best shots at making some educated predictions as to where the teams will finish in the standings. Most publications, TV stations and media outlets all concur on one particular fact: the Toronto Maple Leafs will not be a playoff bound team in 2010/11.
Here is the projected opening night lineup:
Kris Versteeg | Tyler Bozak | Phil Kessel |
Nik Kulemin | Mikael Grabovski | Clarke MacArthur |
Freddy Sjostrom | Tim Brent | Colby Armstrong |
Mike Brown | Mike Zigomanis | Colton Orr |
Dion Phaneuf | Francois Beauchemin |
Tomas Kaberle | Luke Schenn |
Carl Gunnarsson | Mike Komisarek |
*JS Giguere | Jonas Gustavsson |
*starter
Making the playoffs is normally thought of as a successful season and the dividing line between playoff and non-playoff teams is often a very fine one. I thought I would take a look at a few key factors in a playoff and non-playoff season for our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. Now, this is based on Ron Wilson being the coach and the team utilizing his particular style and brand of hockey which is a more up-tempo, high pressure fore-check in all three zones. Whether this is the appropriate strategy given the current makeup of the Maple Leafs remains to be seen and is an issue to be discussed on another day.
The Leafs will have to improve approximately twenty points in the Eastern Conference standings all things considered equal and with a few breaks here and there it can be possible. Here are a few things to keep an eye as the season progresses and that fine dividing line we spoke about earlier between a successful or disappointing NHL season.
THE LEAFS WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IF: | THE LEAFS WILL MISS THE PLAYOFFS IF: |
-A few forwards show great internal year over year improvement and development, specifically Kulemin, Grabovski and Bozak | -The much needed secondary scoring is not found and teams focus all attention and energy on the Leafs top line |
-Phil Kessel remains healthy and productive | -Phil Kessel gets injured |
-Tyler Bozak can maintain and productive point pace throughout 82 games | -Tyler Bozak doesn’t possess the skill or ability to anchor the top line for an entire season |
-The goaltending improves and we get a complete season of steady and solid play between the pipes | -We get Vesa Toskala type goaltending again, for any stretch of the season |
-Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin play the way they are capable of playing | -Our relatively deep defense core doesn’t shore up enough to lower scoring chances against |
-Luke Schenn continues his development, forcing Ron Wilson to play him 20+ minutes a night | -Luke Schenn’s development stagnates, at all |
-Our special teams play is markedly improved | -Power play and penalty killing rank in the bottom third of the league again |
-Dion Phaneuf is rejuvenated and gives the Leafs a physical and offensive spark from the backend | -Dion Phaneuf’s declining numbers continue |
-Our bottom six forwards continue their strong play, bringing a defensive and physical edge | -Our newly formed checking line (Sjostrom-Brent-Armstrong) doesn’t provide a reliable, consistent and sustainable defensive presence |
-We go .500 or better in shootouts and OT games | -We continue to struggle gaining the extra point in OT/shootouts |
The Maple Leafs will be improved and I doubt few could argue that much considering the Leafs might have won a few more games if Vesa Toskala simply left his stick and glove lying on the ice in front of his net as opposed to actually attempting to play goal. He was one of the worst goalies statistically speaking of the last 10-15 years and for a team that was dead last on the penalty kill it’s not hard to see why the team improved so much when JS Giguere came aboard via trade. The Leafs had absolutely no confidence in Vesa Toskala last season and it showed when they completely melted down late in games on numerous occasions and almost looked shaken when having to kill a penalty off.
I think one fact the ‘experts’ or pundits are overlooking is the internal improvement from a number of Maple Leafs, most notably Nik Kulemin and Luke Schenn. Kulemin has the opportunity to blossom into an impact two- way forward capable of scoring upwards of 30 goals if he gets a few bounces, he possesses a lethal shot with a quick release and is starting to utilize his impressive size and strength to his advantage.
Luke Schenn was the 5th overall selection in the draft for a reason. For such a young defenseman with limited experience Schenn is calm and cool with the puck possessing solid instincts to go along with a huge frame capable of absolutely dominating opposing forwards physically. Most defenseman aren’t fully developed until around age 25-27 give or take a year and Schenn is well on his way to becoming an Adam Foote type shutdown defender teams crave and simply do not grow on trees.
Patience is needed with young defenseman more than any other position and I applaud Brian Burke for not using Schenn as a trade chip to acquire a borderline top six forward to appease the fan base starving for another solid scoring threat. I guarantee teams would be lining up around the block to get a piece of a defenseman clearly ready to take a big step forward. After a relatively slow start last season Schenn quickly rebounded and was among our best players down the stretch, and still posted 5 goals and 12 assists and was a positive plus 2 on a poor defensive squad. I think this is the year Schenn takes his place among the games better young defensive defenseman.
So do the Leafs have what it takes to survive an 82 game season and put up enough points to seriously contend for a long overdue playoff spot?