With all the minor moves that the Maple Leafs made and the couple major moves, they just may have a shot at the playoffs. If not this season, then they should next season, when they have a permanent GM in place and possibly will have completed their rebuilding stage. This is what I think the Maple Leafs will look like when the start the season in Detroit on October 9:
LW C RW
Line 1: Steen *Stajan* Blake
Line 2: Antropov Grabovski Ponikarovsky
Line 3: Tlusty *Bell* Williams
Line 4: Mayers Moore Hagman
D 1: Kaberle Kubina
D 2: Stralman Finger
D 3: McCabe Colaiacovo
G 1: Toskala
G 2: Joseph
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Healthy Scratches:
#44 Hollweg
#50 *Boyce*
#22 *Devereaux*
#52 *Earl*
#7 White
#-- *Kulemin*
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Kulemin - May not start the season with the Maple Leafs.
Earl - Ended season with Maple Leafs, may not start season in NHL.
Boyce - Same as Earl, on injured reserve.
Devereaux - Will go in line-up if Mark Bell is not ready to start the season.
Stajan - Will be moved in the line-up if Sundin is not with the Maple Leafs.
Bell - May not start season (jail).
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**All players and lines are as of August 10th, 2008. Lines and players subject to change.
24 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Tyler Hill 11 months ago
I'd rather McCabe be a Scratch than White,Lol
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Alan Bass 11 months ago
i like that. im coming out with my flyers' lineup predictions soon, too
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Derek Harmsworth 11 months ago
This is a good article, but I have to agree with a few of the choices.
I don't think McCabe is going to be on this team come October, one way or another.
And I also think Kulemin will start the year with the Leafs. I don't think he uprooted his family to come over from Russia to sit in the press box.
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Bryan Thiel 11 months ago
Kulemin will play...the Leafs management is too high on him NOT to give him every chance to succeed.
The good news is that McCabe may be finally starting to waver on his "No Trade" stance, which opens up some salary space, and a roster spot on the back end for Frogren or Schenn if he somehow impresses them or we decide to do something stupid and rush him if he's not ready.
I'm personally hoping that Boyd Devereaux gets into some serious game action this season—and yet another person who can't find a regular spot for Ryan Hollweg.
BT
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Nolan Sears 11 months ago
These look okay but I don't see Hagman starting on the fourth line.
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flyers32cote 27downie 11 months ago
same as me hagman is not on the 4th line hell no he is one of there big goal getters
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Clostridium afsfasdsa 11 months ago
How does Bell get the third line over Hagman. Bell sucks. This guy is an overhyped, underachieving, overpaid player, he should be traded. He is at best a injury alternative. Also, why do you think San Jose wanted to trade him so badly to the leafs. He was doing any good over there nor is he here. Ron Wilson wouldn't let this guy play in his top line. I am pretty sure of that.
McCabe is gone by training day. Moore should replace Poni. The speed of Grabvoski and Moore would be a dangerous combination. Pony is too slow to be in the second line. I think Kulemin will play this season. What's with Williams taking the third line. What were you thinkin. He is a forth line or a injury alternative at best. This guy will never reach his prime.
I totally agree with your first line. I don't think Sundin is coming back but with that guy your never know. I think Blake should be traded for some draft picks and once he is traded it will open up some room for younger players. I agree that veterans are great motivators on the otherhand I don't think I could see Blake leading the pact.
Here's my prediction:
Line 1: Stajan, Steen, Blake
Line 2: Antropov, Hagman, Tlusty
Line 3: Kulemin, Grabvoski, Moore
Line 4: Mayers, Poni, Deveraux or Earl
Defence: Basically the same with Frogren replacing McCabe. I am hoping Kubina is traded, think the draft picks the leafs can get but then again, Ron Wilson would want him to stay.
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Warren Twocock 11 months ago
Can't see Hagman as a 4th liner or Kulemin in the pressbox. I also think the Frogren situation will be resolved pre training camp so pencil him in as a top 4 D-Man.
Grabovski is a real mystery, he's got great vision and offensive skill but is poor defensively and has no physical aspect to his game - kind of Wellwoodesque.
The real issues hanging over the Leafs are the movement of McCabe and the status of Sundin.
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Craig Parsons 11 months ago
You will not make the rank of hockey executive any time soon. The fact that you have Hagman as a forth liner, McCabe still with Toronto (do you even read sports news?), and Kulemin as a scratch shows you do not follow the game closely.
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Lukas 11 months ago
ok buds, here's the deal. If you READ the bottom it says that all of lines are as of August 10th, the players may not be with the leafs when the season starts, I don't want to be a hockey executive, I love hockey and the Leafs, I follow hockey very closely, and just because Kulemin is a scratch does not mean that he will be all year. Just because Derren Dreger or Mike Millbury say that Kulemin is great and Hagman is awesome, doesn't mean that they will be. Have you ever hear of working first time/returning players into the lineup? THEY ARE GOING TO WORK FIRST TIME LEAF HAGMAN AND KULEMIN INTO THE LINEUP. you don't need to come on here just so you can complain and say "oh well you don't care about hockey, you will never do anything with hockey". I have a lot of respect for people on here. Not the people that comment just when they have somthing bad to say. People like Alan, and Derek are people I have respect for, they comment to voice their opinion while NOT acting like the person is an idiot.
Thank you Alan and Derek and all the people that do the same.
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Eoin Kenny 11 months ago
Yo Craig, not to be too much of a pr*ck about it, but . . . if you want the quality of advice offered by hockey executives, why not ask Richard Pettie or Larry Tannenbaum or any of the hockey-hating suits at the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund what they think? After all, they are responsible for the Leafs being what they are today -- arrogant, overpriced, undermotivated, poorly supervised millionaires putting on a b-quality show for a-list prices for, oh, I dunno, the past FORTY-FUGGIN'-TWO YEARS.
Me? I'll go with Lukas, who's a fan and actually understands the game -- and more importantly -- loves what the Leafs could, might, may someday represent to their legion of long-suffering fans -- unlike the aforementioned "execs." They're too busy countin' the cash to care what you or I or Lukas think.
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Lukas 11 months ago
AND Craig, go look on the wall of you profile, there is someone who agrees with me.
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dane freeman 11 months ago
nice atricle.
although mccabe will be gone...there is no ifs ands or buts about it. NYI, ATL or LA. the froggen deal will still likely get done....he wants to play for the leafs as his idol salming did and the leafs want him there to help groom his international d-parter stralman.
also Cliff has already started (both last season and theis offseason) that kuelmin will not only be starting the season with the big club but given top 6 minutes. its also been widely speculated that he would be starting the year with steen, grabovski or both due to their playmaking ability+speed.
that being said a lineup looking something like this is likely more probably to start the year (yours was as of aug. 10th however)
kulmelin antropov steen
hagman stajan blake
ponikarovsky grabovski tlusty
bell moore mayers
hollweg devereaux
i realize most of these guy will play in the minors
earl boyce newbury they will however be the first callups and see at least
ondrus mitchell williams SOME time with the big club in 08/09.
kaberle kubina
colaiacovo finger
frogen stralman
white kronwall the battle for the 7th d-spot will be probably the only significant one in
shenn camp.......it sounds like they woulndt mind rushing shenn...
i for one dont see the point.
toskala id be shocked if pogge didnt see some time late in the season.
joseph
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Anthony Kern 11 months ago
I have to agree with these lines. If the Frogen situation is started out I definitely agree that he'll be paired with stralman. I also think that kulemin and hagman will be interchangeable as a first or second line winger.
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dane freeman 11 months ago
wow sorry about it all comming together in the end of my reply.....guess o wrote too far over to the right.
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Craig Parsons 11 months ago
THEY ARE GOING TO WORK FIRST TIME LEAF HAGMAN AND KULEMIN INTO THE LINEUP - lol - you prove my point. Hagman will be on first or second line - as was promised when he signed and Klumin will be in the line-up from day one.
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Lukas 11 months ago
working into the lineup starts on the 3rd-4th line, so no i didn't prove your point, Kulemin may not start in the lineup, besides im not saying that these are the lines, so leave and worry about your own stuff.
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dane freeman 11 months ago
i agree with the craig guy that kulemilin and hagman will no doubt make up the LW's on the top two lines......however damn he's gettin' ben out of shape. to craig.....like i stated earlier the leafs have made it very clear kulmelin is one of their top 6...they wouldnt make a kid that young a healthy scratch to start that makes no sense and he wont be playing with the marlies this year so yes kulmelin will def. start......but i agree that craig guy is getting way too worried about it.
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dane freeman 11 months ago
sorry the kelmelin statement was for lukas (the writer) not craig.
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Jason G. 11 months ago
this team looks so bad. ad if we lose McCade. we could hopfully finish in the bottom 3 we need another 2 good drafts. ill wait it out. as long as they build the team right. " from the ground up "
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Jason G. 11 months ago
this team looks so bad. ad if we lose McCade. we could hopfully finish in the bottom 3 we need another 2 good drafts. ill wait it out. as long as they build the team right. " from the ground up "
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Craig Parsons 11 months ago
I am just having fun - I am not worried at all! The point to these blogs is to exchange back and forth. I did not realize that I stumbled into the girls forum! Geezzz - Get a backbone.
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hockey man 11 months ago
Good effort on your lineup. I would project Hagman (breakout with 27 goals last year) on the first line ... which sounds like he was promised. Kuleman, who has excellent talent (check out Utube) and played in Russia's top league last year (guys in the 25-30 age range) and either won or came close to rookie of the year. Malkin is on record saying Kuleman is loaded with talent. Kuleman will be either on the 1st or 2nd line ... no question about it. Antropov is a natural playmaker so he will most likely end up centering the 1st line, that is if Sundin does not return. Blake has talent and I hope he can have a bounce back year. Here is my guess at the forward lineup:
Hagman, Antropov, Blake
Tlusty, Grabovski, Kuleman (I see Willson wanting these young talented players together)
Steen, Stajan, Earl
Mayers, Moore, Bell
Not a big fan of pony so I left him out ... Earl has the speed, and is fun to watch. I know others will think Steen and Stajan should be higher up .... I just think there are more talented young guns that need the ice time, like Tlusty and Kuleman. Just my opinion. Maybe it is time to give Steen first line time as he has offensive upside .. Willson will figure that out. I also think Willson will give Bell one more shot ... if not we have others that can take the 4th line spot. Hollweg is not that great of a player but he does bring an element the Leafs lacked .... emotion and willingness to stand up for teamates. Mayers will also bring this to the lineup. I still think the Leafs need a top 5 pick next year, and it has to be a forward.
DC
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Leafsman Tor 9 months ago
I think the 08/09 season will be a year for Bell to make a comeback. He obviously realizes that he's being closely watch to see if they want him around any longer...but i'm sure they havnt forgotten the 30 goal seasons he was having back in chicago. This year for Toronto is one of optomism as they dont really have any big namers this year. Bell should be alright as long as he's willing to go hard to bring himself back up where he used to be and have some fun while doing it.
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