What To Expect From The 2008-09 Toronto Maple Leafs

As we gear up for another NHL season, I am starting to speculate as to what we should expect from these Toronto Maple Leafs. Yes, they are missing Mats, and it appears the defensive pylon known as Bryan McCabe will be on his way out as well—but what about the new additions?

The list of names on defense continue to pile up, with the additions of Finger, Frogren, potentially Van Ryn (if the rumours are true), and the recent acquisition of Josef Boumedienne. With four new defencemen added to the five defencemen on last year's roster (Kaberle, Kubina, Colioacovo, White, and Stralman)—not to mention the potential defencemen such as Luke Schenn and Stefan Kronwall—something needs to be done.

From what I have read, Frogren is a solid, stay-at-home defencemen, as is Finger. We all know what Kaberle and Kubina bring to the table, which leaves us with two roster spots remaining to fill out.

As long as Colioacovo is healthy, he will be on this team. He is a top-four defenceman on nearly any team when healthy, and covers all aspects of a successful NHL defenceman.

This leaves us with just one spot.

Ian White may have more NHL experience than Stralman, and he has shown in the past to be a reliable D-man—but last year, for me at least, he took a step back. He was undisciplined, lacked the offensive awareness that is necessary in the new NHL, and, most importantly for this Leafs team, he lacked defensive awareness.

This is why I believe Stralman should be given a chance over White. He is a right-handed Kaberle who just needs some time to flourish.

Now for the offense. Unfortunately, we are stuck with Jason Blake until he retires, so unless he learns that his shot is as weak as an eleven-year-old girl's, get used to another disappointing season from him. I wasn't happy when they signed him, and I'm sure the cancer didn't help his season, but I was never big on him to begin with.

The players that I am most excited to see this season are the youngsters. Nikolai Kulemin might just be the raw talent the Leafs have been waiting for, and when you throw in the likes of Grabovski and Jiri Tlusty, suddenly it appears as though these Leafs may have some potential after all.

Granted, none of these young men have proven themselves in the NHL, but they each have respectable track records, and are all high-ceiling prospects—so it is a possibility.

Last year, Paul Maurice split up Steen and Stajan in an attempt to create more defensive awareness amongst the other Leaf forwards. I think that this was a mistake, and look for them to be reunited under Ron Wilson.

These forward lines are very difficult to put together, considering the lack of scoring touch on this team, which lacks true first-line forwards. But at the same time, they no longer have a bunch of overpaid, second-rate players who didn't work hard enough for their spots on the roster (e.g. Darcy Tucker).

I understand that Tucker was a beloved Leaf with the heart of a lion, but the reason he gained our love is because of how he used to play—as a grinder, not as a goal scorer.

All in all, I think that these Leafs have as good of a chance as last season to sneak in to the playoffs. With Toskala between the pipes, Ron Wilson's commitment to defence, and the pressure on these players to fight for a roster spot, the Leafs' internal dynamics may create a perfect storm.

It is quite possible that they will, as expected, finish 14th in the conference—but I have such high hopes for the youth of this franchise that I refuse to believe they can't pull it together.

My lineup for the upcoming season:

Ponikarovsky - Antropov - Blake
Hagman - Steen - Stajan
Grabovski - Tlusty - Kulemin
Devereux - Mayers - Moore

(I'm not sure where Mark Bell and Ryan Hollweg fit in, though bound for the fourth line in exchange for one of those three)

Kaberle - Kubina
Colioacovo - Finger
Stralman - Frogren
(White, Boumedienne)

I'd like to see Robbie Earl and Jeremy Williams get a shot at a roster spot, but this will be tough with the guaranteed spot to Kulemin, and the fact Hagman has been told to expect first- or second-line minutes.