Toronto Maple Leafs: First Half in Review

Well, it’s that time again.

With the All-Star break finished and the league preparing for its unofficial second half, now is the perfect time to look back on the season so far.

Because my territory is the Leafs, I’ll write about them.

The first article I ever wrote on Bleacher Report was about the Maple Leafs' goaltending troubles. But that was in October, when both Andrew Raycroft and Vesa Toskala were struggling. Since then, Toskala has truly emerged as the Leafs number one goalie, has played very well for the blue and white, and remains their best chance at making the playoffs.

Don’t believe me? Let’s compare.

Andrew Raycroft

GP: 16

W: 2

L:14

SO: 1

GAA: 3.94

Sv%: .874

Vesa Toskala

GP: 37

W: 17

L: 18

SO: 2

GAA: 2.65

Sv%: .907

Toskala’s numbers are significantly better than Raycroft’s. So there, I was right. Ha.

But of course, Toronto wouldn’t be Toronto without a whipping boy. Last year, it was Nik (or I guess Nikolai back then) Antropov, who, despite having a tremendous amount of potential as a power forward, only managed 18 goals. This year, he’s cleaned up his act, playing much better and has already reached last season’s output.

But it was pretty easy to single out a new whipping boy. Defenseman Bryan McCabe probably got booed more than the rest of the league, with good reason I might add. (Maybe Raycroft got more, it’s a toss-up.)

McCabe first became the goat of the NHL when he scored the winning goal...for the wrong team (Buffalo Sabres). To make matters worse, in another game he turned the puck over in overtime to Mike Komisarek, who scored on none other than Andrew Raycroft, winning the game for arch rivals, the Montreal Canadiens.

It didn’t stop there either, but there’s no need to go into any more detail. I think you get the picture. However, McCabe has since returned to form. Then, just when he started playing arguably his best hockey all season (maybe all career) he suffered an injury, which he continues to nurse to this day.

It is very evident how much the Leafs miss his services. Now the whipping boy changes on a game-to-game basis.

And how could one forget Leafs enforcer Wade Belak’s first goal in four years? You can’t, it was that shocking.

The biggest news for the Maple Leafs, and probably the entire NHL, came just recently. I am speaking of course of the termination of Leafs General Manager John Ferguson Jr., and the hiring of Cliff Fletcher. This is supposed to open many doors, including the possible trading of captain Mats Sundin, but I just don’t know...

After all, what can you expect when it looks as though Fletcher's just smiling for the camera and saying what Richard Peddie wants?

At the end of the day, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first half was far from a success. They need to either improve or trade away assets like Sundin and start rebuilding. But now I’m just stating the obvious.

What to expect from the second half: 

Keep an eye out for a movement of Mats Sundin. There isn’t a team out there who wouldn’t want him.

However, should the Leafs get back on track when Bryan McCabe, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Alex Steen, and Carlo Coliacavo return, Mats won’t be going anywhere. Rather, Fletcher will likely be a buyer at the trade deadline, picking up a rental player or two to make one last push.