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So fifteen games into the season and Toronto is at the bottom list of the NHL in the standings. But lookout they're making a comeback!
Be patient now there still working things out, but if you look at the teams improved play(barring the sluggish re-lapse of last night) the Leafs are on the upswing!
Since their first win of the season they've put up decent numbers with a 3-1-3-1 record in their last eight games. Now your thinking well sure that's great nothing fantastic there and they still aren't above .500. Just wait a minute and look at the broad picture for a second.
The Leafs started the season with a terrible record after losing a heart breaker against Montreal in their first game. After which the team seemed to have lost heart as well as looking like they had no line chemistry. That's really nothing to be surprised about considering how young the team is as well as how many new players the team acquired during the off-season.
The team needed those first eight games to find their groove now it's time for them to show everyone what they can do.At this point in the season there are no more excuses what happens from here on end is what the team really looks like.
Probably what has been a huge bonus has been the arrival of a healthy Phil Kessel into the Leafs lineup. In four games he has registered four points. Now normally that wouldn't be such a huge phenomena considering the caliber of player that Kessel is. However, considering that he missed the first month of the year and has been put into top line role off the get go with top line minutes that is something impressive. The Leafs offence has already felt the effects of having such a potent weapon injected into the lineup.
The Monster has been playing admirably and is looking like he belongs here in the NHL. The Leafs are hoping that this trend continues and that the defence around him can improve in their play as well.
It appears as though the Leafs defence (along with the rest of the team) is finally gelling together. The Leafs are sorely missing Van Ryn's defensive skill set at the moment, as well as his puck possession skills.
The Leafs goals against will need to go down, especially in penalty kill situations if they are to dig themselves out of this hole they dug.
Despite all of the things they are needing to do all of them are very reachable for the team to reach the biggest struggle for the team to improve on will be penalty kill. As soon as they can take care of that and improve their stats in that category they will become a winning team.
Player to watch: Phil Kessel
Hidden Gem: John Mitchell
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