Bleacher Report - Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs: A Look Ahead to the 2010 Season

Eric Warren — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:27:52 -0500

With any hope of making the playoffs this year fading faster than a three-goal lead, let's take a look ahead at what could be on the horizon for our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs have some "cornerstones" in place with Phil Kessel locked up for the foreseeable future, along with Nazim Kadri, Viktor Stalberg, Jiri Tlusty, and Nikolai Kulemin. The next couple of years could see remarkable changes in Leaf Land.

Overall, the game is moving both backward and forward at the same time. With the elimination of clutching and grabbing and more open ice, small "power" forwards, will once again be the mainstay of most teams.

With that being said, we should also see the re-emergence of the "stay at home" type of defenseman to a degree. With the speed and quickness of opposing forwards, the Leafs, as it stands right now, are ill equipped.

The Leafs' future on defense doesn't hold as much potential as the forward core. With the emergence of Luke Schenn and Carl Gunnarsson on the horizon, as well as stalwarts like Tomas Kaberle, Ian White, and Mike Van Ryn, the Leafs' defense will have a good solid base.

The biggest question mark for the team going forward is still goal tending. Jonas Gustavsson may well be the long-term solution, but Vesa Toskala cannot guide him there. The Leafs have got to sign a top tier goaltender and there is simply no other way around it.

I have said this before, and I will say it again: A young team building towards the future cannot develop without the ability to have confidence in the fact that they have someone behind them that can bail them out on occasion.

Toskala is most certainly not that person, but Gustavsson may well be two to four years down the road.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have to address a group of 13 or 14 free agents at various stages at the end of this season and while I don't see many of them returning, only time will tell.

In the meantime, keep in mind that the future Toronto Maple Leafs will in no way resemble the same team we are watching this year, so take some solace in that.

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Hey Mr. Wilson, Show Us Less Poise, More Passion

Mike Taylor — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:11:57 -0500

Watching the Leafs fall to the Carolina Hurricanes last night was painful. Gut-wrenching. Agonizing. Excruciating. Okay, I think you get my point.

However, more disturbing than watching Brian Burke’s foot soldiers blow an early three-goal lead and allowing the tying goal with only seconds remaining on the clock, was the indifferent composure displayed by coach Ron Wilson, who continues to show a noticeable lack of emotion behind the bench.

I realize all leaders, be it sports, business, or other lifestyle pursuits, have their own distinct management styles and approaches and that no one method is ever the solution. However, when your team finds itself in last place in the league and shows no signs of improvement, channeling another style may be in order.

While I feel a roster shake-up is needed to make this team more competitive, I also think Wilson needs to step outside his comfort zone and fervently exhibit his pent up irritation (anger, ire, wrath—however you want to label it is fine by me) with how his players are executing night in and night out.

Shaking your head, deploying the evil eye, and sitting a guy down on the bench for the third period are fine and dandy, but these tactics obviously aren’t working with this group of players.

Now I’m not saying Wilson has to transform himself into Bobby Knight; the highly successful former NCAA basketball coach that was well known for his expressive and sometimes controversial outbursts, but a little more passion certainly couldn’t hurt.

If he’s not sure where to start, here are a few suggestions. Throw a water bottle, launch into a mini verbal tirade, or give the ref an earful. There’s certainly much more that could be done on this front, but you have to learn to walk before you can run.

Perhaps, and this is a big perhaps (remember, this is the Leafs we’re talking about here, so all logical thought must be set aside), a little more passion from the coach could elicit an increase in positive performances from the players.

Mr. Wilson might see things differently and could argue that this is not the way he does things, but I honestly can’t envision him getting worked up enough to have a heated debate with anyone on this subject.

That said, I’ve love to be proven wrong on this topic and hope there comes a day when he reaches out and grabs that bottle to throw some cold water on this argument.

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Your Toronto Maple Leafs: A Pictorial.

Eric Warren — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:45:10 -0500

Our Toronto Maple Leafs, Be Proud! Including My Take on the Potentials of Everyone from Colton Orr, to Phil Kessel and everyone In Between! Love 'em or hate 'em, watching the Leafs is the only thing aside from my Wife that can make me laugh, cry, curse, sweat, cheer, and curl up in the fetal position while I suck my thumb. All in the span of about sixty minutes!

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Toronto Maple Leafs Take Bullet to the Head in Shoot Out

Mark Ritter — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:49:31 -0500

Blessed with a 3-0 lead after one period of play, the Toronto Maple Leafs looked poised to avoid having the Carolina Hurricanes leap frog them in the standings for the “coveted” 29th overall spot in the NHL, the position the Leafs occupied before tonight’s “epic” battle against the ‘Canes.

Well, Leaf fans, apparently your beloved Maple Leafs didn’t get the memo from environment Canada about the impending Hurricane, forgot to batten down the hatches and, as a result, got blown away by a potent offensive attack in the form of Hurricanes Brandan Sutter, Tim Gleason, Tuomo Ruutu and others.

The improbable storm that was the Carolina Hurricanes on this evening was yet another reminder of just how far off the Leafs are from being considered a legitimate threat to any NHL opponent.

Brandon Sutter, who played a helluva game tonight, single-handily willed the Hurricanes back into the game with his unrelenting checking and tremendous work in the neutral zone, which helped his teammates gain valuable space on the ice.

On the score sheet, the Hurricanes' Tim Gleason and Tuomo Ruutu were the heroes on the night. Gleason, who had two goals in 16 games heading into tonight’s tilt, scored two goals in the second period, while Ruutu had four assists on the night.

The Leafs' penchant for horrific defense, poor goaltending, terrible turnovers, inability to stop a shot in the shoot-out, and mental lapses that would give a 100-year-old retiree a run for his money, all conspired to hand the Leafs their fifth straight loss, bringing their overall record to 3-11-6 on the season.

In case you didn’t catch on earlier, the loss means the Leafs are now the sole occupants of last place in the NHL standings, a place where many prognosticators are becoming more and more comfortable penciling in the Leafs to finish the season.

For Leafs head coach Ron Wilson, tonight serves as yet another reminder that his squad is glaringly unprepared on a nightly basis and conceivably unable to muster up enough confidence to kick an opponent when it is down.

Simply put, the Leafs gave this game away and, while the Hurricanes deserved some props for their hard work in the second and third periods, there is no excuse for the Leafs' disinterested, undisciplined, effortless play.

Veteran defenseman Francois Beauchemin, who is playing with a broken finger, played as if it was his first NHL game. Throwing pucks into the slot area, forcing pucks up the middle, and causing countless turnovers, simply put, he was brutal.

Luke Schenn, the Leafs' poster boy of the 2008-09 season, continued to play a very tentative game and looked very slow out on the ice. His decision making has been questionable for most of the season, as has his hockey sense, which seems to have regressed horribly.

After fighting back from 3-0 and and 4-2 deficits to tie the game at four goals apiece, the Hurricanes fell behind yet again when Leafs defenseman Ian White snapped one past Hurricanes goaltender Manny Legace, making it 5-4 Maple Leafs.

With only 30 seconds left in the third period, the Leafs looked to have dodged a bullet...and then it happened...the Leafs gave up the tying goal with just three seconds left.

Nothing was solved in overtime, which led to the teams to decide the game in a shoot-out.

Carolina’s Tuomo Ruutu made a fool of rookie goaltender Jonas “The Monster” Gustavsson, scoring a beauty of a goal to start the shoot-out. Next up, Toronto’s Phil Kessel, who tried to go high and missed.

Jussi Jokinen took the next shot for the ‘Canes and, as Rutuu did before him, made Gustavsson look silly with another crafty goal. Next up, the ever-intimidating Lee Stempniak, who, despite his “exceptional” offensive prowess, neglected to take much of a shot, if any at all.

The Hurricanes won 6-5, handing the Maple Leafs another loss.

Looking ahead, the NHL schedule will not get any easier for the Leafs. Saturday night, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals visit the ACC, followed by a matchup against the New York Islanders led by rookie sensation John Tavares.

Let’s face it: If the Leafs can’t keep an injury-plagued Hurricanes squad off the score sheet, they are likely going to get slaughtered by the Capitals, who, through 21 games, are averaging 3.67 goals per game, tops in the NHL.

To say the Leafs “pooped the bed” tonight would be an understatement. Why is it I feel the storm has just begun???

Until next time,

Peace!

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Is Ron Wilson's Line Shuffling Stacking the Deck Against the Maple Leafs?

Louis Pisano — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:10:15 -0500

By Louis "King of Roncesvalles" Pisano

Given that not much seems to be going the Leafs' way, changing up the lines and defensive pairings would usually be an acceptable solution as a coaching decision.

But have the Leafs really had any time this season to form some chemistry with a set lineup over a period of time?

Not that I’ve seen.

The lack of success early in the season led to many line changes as some of the young players, who in the preseason gave Leaf fans hopes for a playoff berth, were watching from the press box and eventually sent down to the Marlies.

Then, with Phil Kessel being cleared to play and inserted into the lineup, the juggling continued while the coaching staff tried to find complementary players for this young sniper.

With that in mind, how difficult is it to change your thoughts on the fly going down the ice on a nightly basis?

For example: when playing with Mikhail Grabovski, who will straddle the line and try to gain the zone carrying the puck, as opposed to playing with Matt Stajan, who you know is going to dump the puck immediately after crossing centre ice.

The same can be said for the defensive pairings for the Leafs, which have changed nightly due to injury or poor play as a unit.

Without that split-second knowledge of who’s with you or who you are with on the rush, mistakes are going to be more frequent.

More often than not, this will result in either being late on the forecheck or an offside without that consistency and knowledge of your linemates.

This applies to the defence as well: not knowing who is taking the man when the puck is dumped in, and in other situations, it creates hesitation, which could lead to turnovers along the boards and in their own zone.

Another side effect of this lack of regularity in respect to set lines is the dreaded neutral zone turnover, which has been detrimental to this Leafs team all season. These turnovers at the opposing team's blue line or while breaking out of their own zone creates those odd man rushes going the other way, leading to quality scoring chances, which teams have been capitalizing on frequently.

This is all a coaching nightmare, but in this case does the responsibility for this lack of cohesiveness fall squarely on the one having the nightmare, namely Ron Wilson?

The Toronto Maple Leafs' staff and players, along with Leafs Nation, are all looking for answers to what ails this team. Perhaps if they just would stick with some lines through thick and thin and let them gain all of that mighty chemistry, this team could begin to see some success.

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Gunning For a Spot: Leafs Carl Gunnarsson Proving He's Ready For The NHL

Jon Neely — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:29:03 -0500

The Leafs have had some serious defensive issues this season. The kind of serious that calls for you to be air-lifted to the hospital with just minutes to live.

Yes, that serious, and the heartbeat continues to weaken as the season roles on.

The Leafs have given up 71 goals against in just 19 games which ranks them 29th in the NHL in that category, the Carolina Hurricanes are 30th with 74. Terrible giveaways, poor checking in their own end, and disastrous coverage has led them to the embarrassing 3-11-5 record, tied for last in the NHL with the equally woeful Hurricanes.

It isn't just one or two players that are contributing to the defensive debacle either; this is an entire group effort, and one that has Coach Ron Wilson spreading the earful's equally throughout the group.

Tomas Kaberle and Ian White have stood out as the best of the Leafs defense, amid the rubble that has become this season. Kaberle has been a stud offensively, leading all defenders in the NHL with 21 points (2G, 19A) and White has played his way to the best plus/minus on the team (+2), but by no means has either player been perfect.

Kaberle continues to have problems physically in his own end when trying to get the puck away from the opposition. Anytime he finds himself with puck and opponent between him and the boards he is regularly pushed aside as he flails his stick in hopes of making a play. Sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the window, usually Kaberle finds himself being peeled off the preverbal window.

It must be said though, that Kaberle probably is the best in the NHL at bringing the puck out of his own zone and maintaining possession before making the pass up ice. But get him down low behind the net and he might as well take a seat with a nearby fan.

White is a different story when it comes to getting down and dirty in the corners and even with his small stature he is more than willing to mix it up with anyone. The problem with him seems to be his disturbing nature of getting caught out of position trying to make a play. He will often get trapped behind the net while his man is all alone out front or is guilty of leaving someone open in front of the net while chasing down someone else's problem.

Both have been bright spots but neither is able to say his defensive play has been good enough to help the Leafs win. No complaints about their offensive output, but if that's all they're willing to contribute, Wilson could sure use someone up front on a line with Kessel.

As for the rest of the crew, well that's where things get really messy.

Luke Schenn had so much promise coming into his sophomore year, but so far he looks as if he should be in a college dorm rather than on the ice. Wilson originally felt that he would continue playing Schenn in key situations so he could work through his struggles, but that idea quickly came to an end on Tuesday night in Ottawa when the young defenseman was benched in the third, playing just over 10 minutes in the game.

Francois Beauchemin has had his great moments this season, but for the majority he is seen with his head down, skating to the bench, while the other team celebrates a goal. His habit of pinching in from the blue line has been costly for the Leafs so far this season and it is something that needs to be addressed before the Leafs set an NHL record for most 2-on-1's against in a season.

And with his poor play so noticeable on some nights, it begs to question why the media always seems to find Beauchemin when they have questions about how to fix the Leafs defense. Here's a hint; start with the guy you're talking to and go from there.

Mike Komisarek came in to this season hoping to prove be himself as one of the premiere stay-at-home defensemen in the NHL, but has come nowhere close. He has gone pointless in the 16 games he's played, adding a minus nine to that stunning array of statistics. He is out due to injury now but hopefully being forced to watch this team play from the press box will inspire him to improve his play upon return.

The fan's-eye-view can be a painful one.

Jeff Finger and Garnet Exelby are considered to be the sixth and seventh defensemen on the team, and therefore one is usually the odd man out for a game. Finger has one goal and five assists through his 10 games played, but hasn't seemed to gel with anyone in particular and is moved from partner to partner during games.

Exelby has been an utter waste of bench-space for the Leafs this season. Okay that was harsh but I'm not far off; he is a minus seven through ten games, and not a single point to show for it. His physical presence on the ice is a positive but he seems to want to throw a big hit more than make a solid play with the puck.

Clearly a tough situation for the Leafs on the blue line, and now that I’ve completely destroyed your faith in the team's defense core, how could there possibly be any way to save said group?

His name is Carl Gunnarsson, and he's here right the ship in Leaf Land.

The seventh-round pick in 2007 (194th overall) from Orebro, Sweden was very impressive during preseason action with the team and was arguably their best defender during that time.

We can end the argument now though, because when it comes to defense, the 23-year-old is the real deal and has been the best on the team since he showed up. The record says he is 6'2", 196 pounds, but looks twice that size when he plays. He is a beast in the corner, seemingly able to get the puck off anyone and then able to maintain possession and get it out of the zone.

And he can skate like the wind when he's got the puck.

(If you look close enough, he also has a diminutive resemblance to Frankenstien when he has his helmet on—or at least I think so.)

Sure, he's had his fair share of bonehead moments in the two games he's played and has been victimized once or twice for goals against, but on a Leafs squad that's done more bad than good this year, his rookie mistakes are barely noticeable in comparison.

He recorded his first NHL assist in Tuesday's tilt against the Senators on a Phil Kessel goal and played over 18 minutes in both games (21:18 against Calgary on Saturday).

It is becoming very apparent to Wilson and Co. that this is the kind of a player they can lean on when a game is on the line.

He played 12 games with the Toronto Marlies prior to being called up and was solid; recording two assists as the team's best defender. It's not only that he can chip in offensively and quarterback a power play when needed, but his vision on the ice is second to none and has been extremely evident so far.

I'm not calling him the next Niklas Lidstrom or Zdeno Chara, but this kid's potential is unlimited right now, and if he continues to outplay his fellow defenders he'll be permanently acquiring one of their spots on the ice upon the return of Komisarek.

And don't think for a second Wilson wouldn't do it.

In a season that has been grim from the start, with only a few bright spots to speak of, the play of Gunnarsson through two games has been a major positive for a team looking for answers. Calling him up from the minors could prove to be one of the best decisions they've made all season.

We'll thank Komisarek later.

Those serious issues the defense has been dealing with could soon change for the good if Gunnarsson continues to mold himself into a valued NHL blue liner.

Leaf fans take notice; this kid has some serious talent and deserves his spot in the NHL.

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Maple Leafs Face Bad Bounces and Questions To Be Answered

Louis Pisano — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:12:26 -0500

By Louis “King of Roncesvalles” Pisano

Again the Maple Leafs gave up the first goal of the game, this time against Ottawa last night, marking the 17th time in 19 games.

Still a ways to go to break Atlanta’s record of 57 of 82, but certainly on their way toward it—definitely one record we don’t want to own in Toronto.

Why is it that the Leafs can’t seem to stay focused for a whole 60 minutes?

Do they have ADD?

How many times can the expression “bad bounces” be used in conjunction with the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Almost every game, seemingly, as the first goal was due to a bad bounce and a flutter ball over the glove of Vesa Toskala.

The battle of Ontario is certainly alive and well, as there were a number of fisticuffs in last night’s game—four, to be exact—and Colton Orr sure let Matt Carkner know what’s what with a straight right that landed right on the money and rocked him.

But this ruckus didn’t add up to anything in the points column for the buds, though they certainly left an impression on the Senators and perhaps the league, reassuring them that the Leafs are no pushovers.

So this now brings us to the next game against the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday, one of only three teams the Leafs have beaten this year.

Does this mean we can chalk up another win against this bumbling Hurricanes team? Perhaps; perhaps not!

Carolina took Montreal to overtime and eventually a shootout last night despite losing again, but the 'Canes secured a point, tying them with the Leafs for last overall in the league, four points behind the Ducks.

Carolina has been playing better as of late, getting points in its last three games, winning and losing two, while the Leafs seem to be returning to the form they started the season with and have lost four in a row.

The Leafs' effort is there at times and then seems to fade at points in the game. The first period against the Flames, they were horrid, and the second and third they were all over Calgary.

Can they and will they bring it for the full game against Carolina? This remains to be seen, obviously. They haven’ been rewarded for efforts in the past, so motivation could be low. Time for another game of dodgeball?

If being in last place isn’t motivation enough to play with everything you got then I don’t know what is.

The question of who can centre Phil Kessel hasn’t been answered, though most believe no one on the team fits that role, period. At least at this moment. Kessel recorded his first point in a Leafs uniform in his second game against this Carolina team, and Toronto will have to lean on him for scoring, as he has been the only consistent offensive threat for the forwards.

Are we ever going to bang in some of these juicy rebounds that are bouncing around in the crease seemingly every game?

Which player is going to step up and get to these tough areas?

After we pounded the Red Wings, I—like many in Leafs Nation—felt perhaps we were turning a corner, but it seems we smacked face-first into another wall.

Many people have answers to what is ailing the Leafs, but they seem to be falling on deaf ears.

Could Ron Wilson’s system just not be applicable to this team’s makeup, and should he perhaps begin preaching a new strategy?

The Leafs are flip-flopping their feelings, seemingly, of who should be the regular starter between the pipes, and that may be a sore spot for some.

All of these things add up to a lack of consistency that has to be there for a team that wants to succeed.

I have no doubt in my mind that these guys all want to win—hell, I haven’t slept well after ringing it off the a post or missing the top corner in a men’s league game, so I know our boys aren’t sleeping well at night.

Hopefully the Leafs stick it to this Hurricanes team and kick them when they are down while hopefully getting some answers. The Canes are backed into the same corner as they are, and when all is said and done, I’d bet they come out victorious in tomorrow’s tilt down in Raleigh.

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Who'll Line Up Beside the Toronto Maple Leafs' Kessel in Future?

Bryan Thiel — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:10:34 -0500

When the season started off with a slump for the Toronto Maple Leafs, LeafsNation fell into a panic.

All of a sudden they were last in the league, the only team without a regulation win, and without a first round draft pick this year or next.

What they were left with was a question mark, a question mark named Phil Kessel.

For the first time in a long time, the Leafs had an acquisition that no one knew what the Leafs were getting. Kessel was coming off of shoulder surgery, so there was the lingering question as to whether or not he’d be back at full-strength this year, or would it take a season?

There were also questions about his age, just not the age-related questions fans were used to asking.

Unlike previous pickups Brian Leetch, Phil Housley, or Ron Francis, Kessel came in closer to his draft year than his Hockey Hall of Fame induction year, which offered a ray of hope that hadn’t been seen in these parts for a long time.

There were also the concerns about how a quiet, tame guy like Kessel would handle the voracious fans and media of Toronto—a city so starved for quality hockey that it would throw Kerry Fraser a "Get Well Soon" party if the official was balding (but only if it meant a few wins for the Leafs).

Just a few weeks into the Phil Kessel era and the changes have been swift.

Kessel has come in and used his speed to create chances, shot the puck from just about anywhere, and scored goals. He’s added an additional threat to a power play that needed it like Jared from Subway needs SlimFast and he’s become that player for the Leafs; the kind of player that the opposition needs to take notice of if they want to stop the Leafs.

Teams and fans alike have taken notice as well. Then again, when Kessel was the only Leaf to score in over 100 minutes (A span of three games) of hockey action on Saturday night (A streak Francois Beauchemin broke), it’s hard not to notice him.

As if the fact that Toronto cashed in their future on the Madison-native wasn’t enough to give him full-share of the Toronto spotlight, the fact that he’s played more games than just one Leafs’ regular, Jamal Mayers, and is on pace for a higher point total than anyone not named Tomas Kaberle, has certainly done the trick.

But for all of the on-ice attributes that Kessel has brought to the team, the question still remains: Who’s going to play with him?

He’s spent time with John Mitchell and the two have combined for four goals and one assist when they’ve been on the ice together. Along with that, the highest-profile player he’s skated alongside is Jason Blake. The two shooters have totaled three goals and two assists.

So far, Blake has worked out well as a linemate, but do the two pass the puck enough for each other's liking? So far, Blake has 62 shots on the season—in less than half the games Blake has played, Kessel has 41. They also combined for over 500 shots last year.

While Blake is on pace for a career-high in assists (43), each may need their own play-making center to help them out.

For Kessel, his most successful linemate and centerman has been Matt Stajan. When Stajan and Kessel have been on the ice at the same time, the pair have a combined four goals and four assists—the highest scoring forward tandem of Kessel and another Leaf.

For Stajan, this must be a dream come true. After spending years going in and out of the dog house, shuffling up and down between first line and fourth line duty, Stajan has found a role he’s thriving in alongside Kessel. If he wants to stay in the set-up man’s role, Stajan will have to continue to perform,which could be a very realistic goal.

But there’s always the question of what next? Following this year, Matt Stajan is an unrestricted free agent. Depending on the thoughts up top,Toronto could hold on to the lifetime Leaf pass this year’s trade deadline and then concern themselves with whether or not to re-sign him.

However, Stajan is the kind of player that if the Leafs aren’t in the playoff picture, he could have some teams waiting at his door. If that happens and Stajan finds himself on a playoff-bound somewhere else, the Leafs need someone else to step up.

One of the obvious choices to play with Kessel in the future is first round draft pick Nazem Kadri. Currently, the London Knight is sitting at a point-per-game average in the Ontario Hockey League, but is displaying more goal-scoring panache than anything.

However, Kadri’s career numbers seem to indicate that he’ll slide back into a playmaker role, as he’s nabbed 116 assists in his OHL career. The playmaking ability of Kadri is the kind of talent that’s proven to be dominant alongside Kessel before, as so much has been made of the impacts that Marc Savard had on Kessel last year.

Along with Kadri, there’s another player who may work out alongside Kessel who’s already on the active roster.

Although he’s only got one point alongside Kessel this season, Alex Ponikarovsky (Combined for two points when they’re on the ice together) is the perfect big body presence to stick alongside a sniper and a play-maker. Like Matt Stajan though, Ponikarovsky is a free-agent at season’s end and the likelihood of him sticking around will depend a lot on this season.

If Poni sticks around, it’s the old adage of something Old (Poni), something new (Kadri), something borrowed (Kessel—from the Bruins), and something Blue. If we have to go through what the ‘blue’ is, then you obviously haven’t been paying attention.

But if Ponikarovsky leaves, who would be an ideal big body to go alongside the potential duo of Kadri and Kessel? Why not a member of the Super Soph line: Viktork Stalberg or Christian Hanson.

Both Hanson and Stalberg have the ideal size for the position at 6’3/210lbs and 6’4/228lbs respectively. They are also young (23 years old) and like Kadri, have the opportunity to grow alongside Kessel and develop a rapport. At the AHL level, they’re producing as well as Hanson is one of the top-producing rookies in the AHL this year, while Stalberg is a point-per-game player since being sent down.

Hanson would also bring a strong defensive mindset and two-way responsibility that would be great to have on the wing of this potential line.

For the Leafs, Phil Kessel is going to be just a part of the future. They’ve still got pieces to add while finding places to put them and these are just a few possibilities.

Having this one piece in place however, is starting to look like a rosy start for the Leafs.

Bryan Thiel is an NHL Community Leader and Senior Writer for Bleacher Report. If you want to get in contact with Bryan you can do so through his profile, or email him at bryanthiel74@hotmail.com. You can also check out his previous work in his archives, and on Hockey54—The Face of the Game.

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Center of Attention: Leafs Need New Middle-Man for Phil Kessel

Jon Neely — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:45:27 -0500

When Phil Kessel became a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs many wondered who on the team would be able to adequately center a line with him.

It has become very apparent in the seven games he has played, that player isn't on the Leafs.

Kessel has been stellar since stepping on the ice for the Leafs, with five goals and eight points through his first seven, but other than collecting the easy assists that come with playing on a line with him, his center man have been essentially useless.

Matt Stajan has been the center on his line for the majority of the time, but at this point it should be questioned whether he can even play in the NHL, let alone on the first line. His play has left Leaf fans scratching their heads for years, but this year it has gotten to a point where it can't continue.

His play on defense is the best part of his game, because when he has the puck in the offensive zone, nothing seems to work. His play along the boards is terrible as he can never really maintain possession for very long, usually ending the shift laying on the ice as the opposition skates down the ice.

His faceoff ability is suspect, his physicality is non-existent, and he has never really been able to show much of a consistent offensive game.

No, Stajan is not Kessel-line material.

John Mitchell has not only been useless on a line with Kessel, he's been useless on the team in general. He has played all 19 games this season and has two goals to show for it; that's one more than fourth-line grinder Wayne Primeau has.

He has looked out of place for most of the season and regularly tries things on the ice that even the most talented players would think twice about. He may think he's been blessed with super-star skills, but Mitchell has yet to show the skill that would warrant him deserving or able, to play on a line with Kessel.

Mitchell is lucky there isn't a fifth-line; he is definitely not the answer at center for the Leafs.

As for Mikhail Grabovski playing in the middle on a line with Kessel, it’s not something that has been tried very much, nor should it, since the only thing Grabovski has ever passed is gas.

He isn't one to feed the puck to too many people and is not the right fit at center with Kessel either.

Simply put, the Leafs do not have a center that is good enough to play with Kessel. Too many times is Stajan unable to feed him the puck, Mitchell unable to keep up, or Grabovski wildly spinning around in the corner with the puck in his own little world.

If the Leafs want to maximize the skills and abilities that Kessel has, they are going to have to either trade or sign a free agent in the offseason who can play the position they are in desperate need of.

So who out there would look good in blue and white? Well, if they go through free agency, there are some options that may suit the Leafs.

Patrick Marleau is a free agent at the end of this season and the 30-year-old is on pace to have his best season ever with 13 goals and 25 points already. He has also played under Leafs Coach Ron Wilson in San Jose, which may be a reason for Marleau to want to come to Toronto.

But even with Toskala's contract coming to an end (and seriously, if you think the Leafs are re-singing him you're crazy), which will free up $4 million of cap space, the $6.3 million Marleau is making this year might be too steep for the Leafs.

Olli Jokinen will also be on the market, barring a re-singing with Calgary, but there is no way Burke would pay the over-rated center the same $5.5 million contract he has now and he isn't the type of player who would fit into the setup role too easily anyways.

Matt Cullen would be an interesting fit with the Leafs but he isn't a solidified first-line center, and the Leafs might be looking to go a bit younger than the 33-year-old.

Even Sam Gagner, Joe Pavelski, Peter Mueller or Devin Setoguchi, who are all Restricted Free Agents come seasons end, could be worth an offer sheet from the Leafs.

The one player that makes the most sense though, and gets has Leaf Nation giddy with excitement at just the thought, would be for Brian Burke to work his magic and have Marc Savard sign in Toronto in the offseason.

Not only would the soon-to-be free agent fit right in with the style that Burke wants his team to portray, but Savard is the more familiar with Kessel than any player in the league.

The two played together in Boston and made a habit of putting up points. The two are a match made in heaven and Savard would finally get the respect he deserves in the media bonanza that is Toronto.

I'm not saying that Burke has already got a spot in the dressing room ready for Savard, or that it is even in his future plans, all I am saying is that this Leafs team cannot be successful with their current situation up the middle.

No one on the team is good enough to play with Kessel, and with Savard most likely looking for a contract in the $5.5 million range (he's making $5 million this season), he might be a guy the Leafs want to pursue come the offseason.

Picturing a first line for the Leafs that includes Kessel and Savard would have fans in Toronto planning the parade right from the start, and fans in Boston wondering if having two Leaf first-round picks is better than the Leafs having their former two best players.

A trade is also a very possible alternative, and with rumours flying already about Tomas Kaberle being shipped out for some offensive talent it's clear things are in the works, though trading Kaberle now might not be the best idea, since he's turned out to be the leader of the team, and a worthy choice for team captain.

In a season that is going downhill fast it is all too clear that Kessel needs someone better to play with who can keep up and be in the right spot at the right time to feed him the puck.

Whether it's free agency or through a trade, the pressure should be on Burke to get this team one step closer to where he wants them to be.

No more mediocrity up the middle, with Kessel doing everything on his own right now, the Leafs need someone else to help.

Let’s hope Burke realizes it before it's too late.

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What Controversy?: Neither Leafs Goalie Showing They Deserve Starting Role

Jon Neely — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:18:43 -0500

When a team has a goaltending controversy, they find themselves in a situation where their backup is playing well enough to steal the job from the current starting goalie.

This was thought to be the case in Toronto early on in the season, when, through the first two weeks, Vesa Toskala looked like he was in the wrong league. He was absolutely pitiful and to this day has still not won a single game of the seven he has played.

Jonas Gustavsson was the stud that came over from Sweden during the offseason and signed with the Leafs, which immediately caused rumblings that Toskala's job was the Monster's for the taking.

It wasn't long that those rumblings became truth and it looked as if the Leafs would turn to their rookie net minder to save the season. After recovering from injury, Gustavsson came in and put up solid numbers that saw the Leafs go on a run of points in eight straight games.

A collective sigh of relief was heard throughout Leaf Nation, as the fans finally felt comfortable with their goalie, who looked to be improving as each game passed, and had the rest of the team's confidence soaring.

Not for long.

Soon enough, the Leafs had a game against the Minnesota Wild on November 10 in Toronto. Going into the second period tied 1-1; the Leafs looked as if they were poised to get at least one point out of the game for a ninth straight time.

But in less than 15 minutes, the game went from tied to a 4-1 lead for the Wild with two of the goals 26 seconds apart. The game was essentially over after that. With Niklas Backstrom shutting it down in the net at the other end of the ice, there was no way the Leafs were going to battle back; the hole they had dug was far too deep.

It wasn't a terrible display of goaltending from Gustavsson, who stopped 26 shots in the loss, but that second period letdown was the ultimate killer for a team that was on such a high.

A solid performance ruined in less than a period. All because the goalie couldn't come up with the key save when the team needed it most.

Then came Nov. 13 against the Blackhawks. Toskala was given the start and played very well, but again the Leafs found themselves in a hole that they just couldn't get out of.

Just 3:22 into the game, Luke Schenn came around the net with the puck, only to have Patrick Kane sneak in from behind, steal the puck and roof it on Toskala. In no way Toskala's fault, who had enough reason to crack the sophomore defender on the back of the knees for his mistake, but the Leafs were once again down.

Ten minutes later it was 2-0.

Then came a controversial play that the Leafs won't soon forget. Niklas Hagman had three slaps at the puck in close with Cristobal Huet down with only his glove out against the post to stop the puck. The first two attempts were kept out by Huet's left hand, but the third whack of the puck saw it disappear inside the glove, behind the post.

Leafs celebrated momentarily thinking they had cut the lead in half, but the refs were not convinced and went upstairs to get a second look.

To no one's surprise, the Leafs, once again, were given a bad break as the goal was disallowed after those reviewing it deemed the play inconclusive, and therefore not enough evidence to overturn the play on the ice.

No goal.

"I know they say inconclusive, but I don't know if it can get more conclusive than that from our point of view," said coach Ron Wilson after the game, a sentiment shared by many.

Needless to say, Huet came up with a clutch save (with a little help from above) and later on in the game stymied Matt Stajan with that same glove who was staring at a wide open net.

Phil Kessel made the game close, 3-2 in the dying minutes, but the Leafs had fallen too far behind and it was too little, too late. A solid game when you don't look at the final score, but in this business, just as legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi once said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."

Another game where the Leafs gave up the early lead, another loss because they couldn't catch up in the end. Another shameful exit from the ice as the opposing net minder is praised for outstanding play.

Saturday night at home against Calgary was no different than the previous two—other than the fact that it was much, much worse.

The Leafs were down 2-0 to the Flames less than two minutes into the game. Gustavsson had gotten the start, and though the shots that went in were almost picture perfect, they are the kinds that need to be stopped.

A 3-1 lead for the Flames going into the second period, Gustavsson pulled after allowing three goals on just five shots, and Leafs coaching staff looking to the heavens wondering what they have to do to get a solid start in net.

For the second straight game the Leafs made a valiant comeback effort, severely outplaying the Flames, outshooting them 20-4 in the second period, and cutting the lead to 3-2 going into the final period.

You know the story from there. Mikka Kiprusoff stole the show, Iginla added another goal to push the lead to 4-2, and the game was over after an empty-netter nailed the coffin shut.

Toskala came in and stopped 15 of 17 shots, almost doing enough to win, but not able to recover from the early lead Calgary gained, while watching the opposition steal the show in a 5-2 loss; their third in a row.

As Flames defender Robyn Regehr said after the game about Kiprusoff, "Thank goodness he was there. I thought for most of the first period and all of the second period, they were the better team."

Leafs goalie does almost enough to win, while their counterpart across the rink steals the game. The same old story for the Leafs, and one that has to stop if they plan on having this season even come close to resembling a success.

Right now in Toronto, that goalie controversy that was so widely talked about earlier in the season can be put on hold until one of them starts making those key saves in a game. The team is sick of losing games they should have won, and it has to start in net.

One big save could be the difference for the team right now, who find themselves with fewer W's than a Skittles factory so far this season. The word "almost" is being used far too much, and it's up to either Toskala or Gustavsson to change that.

I guess that means there is a goaltending controversy in Toronto right now.

Just not the kind that has either goalie winning very many games.

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Why the Maple Leafs Should Go After “Straight-Jacketed” Nikita Filatov

Mike Taylor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:40:41 -0500

As someone who isn’t shy about making bold hockey moves, Brian Burke should be programming Columbus Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson’s phone number into his speed dial setting today.

Why now you ask?

Well, with the Jacket’s head coach Ken Hitchcock at odds with GM Howson on the playing time and development of blue-chip prospect Nikita Filatov–and news reports claiming Filatov could be headed back to Russia–Burke could have a shot (albeit a long one) at landing the supremely talented left-winger.

For anyone who has been paying attention, Hitchcock has basically nailed Filatov’s rear end to the bench (or the press box) for pretty much the entire year so far.

On top of that, Filatov hasn’t been played in the right situations or been given any offensive opportunities (can you say 4^th line) when he does get sent over the boards.

Although the winger has tried to be strong on the puck and pay attention to his defensive responsibilities, he is clearly getting discouraged by the lack of support being shown from the coaching staff.

And while it’s still early in the season, not to mention Filatov’s NHL career, I honestly don’t envision Hitchcock ever taking full advantage of Filatov’s immense talent.

This is where the Leafs come in. As a team in rebuilding mode, landing a sniper and future superstar like Filatov would be huge.

Can you imagine the Leafs first line next year with Phil Kessel, Filatov, and Nazem Kadri…now that’s a first line.

While the Leafs don’t have a lot to offer in way of a trade, they do have the one commodity that the Jackets desperately need – defensemen.

As a team that prides itself on playing defense first, the Jackets are surprisingly thin on the blue line. In Toronto, the Leafs, although the play and stats so far may have many thinking otherwise, are rich on the back end.

I’m sure if names like Kaberle (who is not only attractive from playing perspective, but also on the cap front) or Schenn were floated, Howson would certainly be all ears on a potential deal for his disgruntled forward.

The Leafs need some pizzazz and Filatov is the ticket. So what are you waiting for Burke, pick up the phone!

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Maple Leafs- Ottawa and Carolina, Possible Four Points?

Louis Pisano — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:29:29 -0500

By Louis “King of Roncesvalles” Pisano

The Leafs have played some great hockey as of late, but are just coming up short in the points category. They have out-played, out-shot and out-worked their opponents yet to no avail.

Tonight’s game in Ottawa against the Senators, in what has become quite a rivalry and battle for bragging rights in the province, will be a true tell of how Vesa Toskala reacts to Gustavsson challenging him for the starting job in net

Toskala will need that focus he seems to have on his face.

He has been playing well after being seemingly edged out for the starting job, but after the Monster let in three quick ones in the first period against Calgary, Toskala came in and allowed only two in the next two periods.

But again, he couldn’t hold the gate when the Leafs were surging in the second and third facing few shots as most of the play was at the other end of the ice in the 5-2 loss.

Ottawa has a number of snipers the Leafs will have to deal with: Alfredsson, Spezza, Michalek, young Nick Foligno, and Johnathan Cheechoo, who has shown flashes of past brilliance as of late. And of course, the always dangerous Alex Kovalev.

Ottawa has been playing fairly well defensively which seems to be the route they are taking this year.

Aside from allowing five goals against the Flyers, they have held teams to three goals or less in five of the last six games, and in 11 of 17 games played this year.

The Leafs have allowed the important first goal against in a well documented 16 of 18 games this year. So, if they have any hope of moving up in the standings, they have to topple this trend.

Toronto must first and foremost get a strong game out of Toskala, then have sound defensive-zone responsibility protecting against those dangerous players who only need one good look to make it count.

Now in the attacking zone, if they pressure Ottawa’s defense, force turnovers, win battles on the boards and overall be more physical than their opponent, they should have a good number of scoring chances.

Yes, this applies nightly and could be said of any team.

But most importantly, they must score on the chances they generate. They have had chances but seem to be either clutching their sticks too tightly when around the net or just as they say, getting bad bounces.

Let’s get some of the big bodies to the net and put the damn thing in.

The Leafs need a Dave Andreychuk, a Kenny Linesman, a Tomas Holmstrom type of players, who is rare, obviously. But, at least someone that will try to post up in the crease and attempt to bang it home.

This, will in-turn create space in the slot and on the perimeter for Phil Kessel, who’s been hot, and hopefully others to pick a few corners.

The Leafs have shown that they are close to turning a corner and have to just take that next step, digging a little deeper, and these next two games could be the start of a turnaround for the buds.

Hopefully, building on a win, or even just one point in tonight's game against Ottawa will equate to some payment for their hard work. This will then create a confident team ready to pounce on the feeble Hurricanes on Thursday in Carolina.

GO Buds!

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Mats Sundin: A Tribute to Our Beloved Maple Leafs Captain

Majed Rahman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:50:29 -0500

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke asked us to be patient and Ron Wilson swears it's just a matter of time until Kessel comes back and the offense starts clicking. This was the saying from the Leaf's brass during our nine-game losing streak.

Well Kessel's back and the Leafs...well, still remain as the Leafs of old. Through 18 games, we have managed 11 points. Kessel has been impressive since coming back from the shoulder injury, but one man cannot score all the goals for the Leafs.

The Leafs are well known for doing this:setting up a good player to become a scapegoat for the problems that are created by the management. Kessell's linemates? Stajan, Blake, Ponikorvsky, Garbovsky, are not really players that strike fear into your opposition.

The empty promises of making the playoffs will always be there and Leafs fans will continue to get suckered into paying hundreds of dollars for a team that is better suited for the minors.

This is what Mats Sundin endured during his tenure in Toronto.

Many people constantly bashed Mats for being soft, questioning his leadership skills, and even saying he is undeserving of being the captain of the Maple Leafs. Mats constantly put out 75-plus points every season despite playing with players like Gary Roberts, Tucker, Corson, Hoglund, Domi, Antropov, Ponikorvsky, Rachel and post prime players like Alex Mogilny, Lindros, Niewendiek, Nolan, Allison (players who either spend their entire time on the injured reserve or were about to retire). Not players you can really build teams around.

Yet, he carried his team;always. Never demanded a trade or for a proper winger—he played it quiet and allowed the GM and coach to do their jobs. Every single great center of our time had an amazing winger or two to playoff,whether it be Joe Sakic who had Hejduk and Forsberg, or Yzerman who always had Shanahan, Thornton had Chechoo, or someone else worth noting.

Mats, well, he did it by himself and now I hope Leafs fans truly realize how great of a player and leader he really was.

He took this team to the playoffs for pretty much every year that he has been with the team (except for his last couple of years) and its not like his numbers took a dip. He still put up the great numbers. Mats will always be remembered as being a great player and his identity is a champion without a ring.

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Ritters Rant: Olympic Goalies, Kessel, Crosby, Peverley, Danton, and More

Mark Ritter — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:28:18 -0500

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price made 53 saves last night en route to a 2-0 loss to the Nashville Predators. As tough as it is to see a goalie lose after making 53 saves, you need to keep in mind that Price has victimized his teammates more often than not, and only has one regulation win thus far. The number one job is still Jaroslav Halak’s.

There will be a lot of differences between the Olympic entries, some teams will have great defense, others, great offense. One position that will be solid for every team will be goaltending.

Canada can take its pick of Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, and Marc-Andre Fleury. U.S.A. hockey has Ryan Miller, Craig Anderson, and Tim Thomas.

Russia Has Evgeni Nabokov, Nikolai Khabibulin, and Ilya Bryzgalov. Finland has Miikka Kiprusoff, and Niklas Backstrom, and Sweden has Henrik Lundqvist.

That’s a rather impressive list of back-stoppers, highlighting the point that there will be no easy nights for the forwards at the 2010 Olympic’s in Vancouver.

Sticking with the Olympics, If he wasn’t part of the conversation before, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos has to be on team Canada’s radar. With 13 goals in 17 games, Stamkos is in a five-way tie for second overall amongst all NHL shooters.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel has four goals and seven points in his first seven games. With the majority of his teammates having played 17 or more games, only Alexei Ponikarovsky (7) and Niklas Hagman (6), have more goals than Kessel...Houston, we have a goal scoring problem!

Carl Gunnarson made his NHL debut with the Leafs last night. With three shots on the night, the obvious observation is that Gunarsson likes to shoot the puck, the other observation is that Gunnarsson probably took another four or five shots that missed the net entirely, thus his accuracy needs to be worked on.

There have been a ton of surprises early on in the NHL season, none more surprising than Atlanta Thrashers forward Rich Peverley, who, after 16 games with the Thrash this season has eight goals, 21 points, and a plus/minus rating of plus-five.

Peverley is a "sleeper", and should be on your acquisition list if you are part of a fantasy pool. Keep in mind, Peverley had 13 goals, 35 points, and a mind boggling plus/minus rating of plus-18 in just 35 games with the Thrash last season. Where did this guy come from?

Looks like Maple Leafs defenseman Francois Beauchemin broke his finger last night. Funny, for the most part, Beauchemin has had his finger up his butt this season, so I am a little surprised that he broke his finger in the first place!

Beauchemin is a minus-nine on the season, and grossly overpaid—broke his finger..pffttt!—break a leg why don't ya!?

Watched the Mike Danton interview on Sportsnet last week, after all he’s been through you can’t help but pull for the guy. Here’s the skinny on Danton’s NHL career; 87 games played, seven goals scored, five assists, and 182 penalty minutes.

Danton’s ruff and tumble play could be a valuable addition to a few NHL clubs, but does any team need the headache of having this "sideshow" on their roster? Fact is, there are 100 guys that can bring what Danton brings without the headaches...

There’s no getting away from it, the Philadelphia Flyers dynamic defensive duo of Chris Pronger and Matt Carle is the best in the NHL. Pronger and Carle have a combined plus/minus rating of plus-30, have registered 29 points, and both players are averaging nearly 25 minutes in ice time per game. Redonkulous!

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle is ranked second overall in assists amongst all NHL players with 19. To put that stat into context, that means Kaberle has more assists than Joe Thornton (18), Sidney Crosby (10), and Pavol Datsyuk (12), three of the best set-up men in all of hockey.

Speaking of Crosby, there has been a lot of talk of his recent scoring drought, and his the apparent slide in his play. Crosby has 10 goals, 20 points, and 73 shots on net (fourth overall); clearly, Crosby’s numbers could be better, but he’s still a magician with the puck, and he makes every player around him better.

Trouble is, the players that Crosby is surrounded by have been playing like a bunch of third liners. Bill Guerin has four goals in twenty games, Chris Kunitz has three goals in nineteen games, and Ruslan Fedotenko has four goals in twenty games.

Fact is, Crosby’s linemates have let him and the team down, with Crosby dishing you the puck you should have 12-15 goals in 20 games, it shouldn’t take three players to pull it off.

Until next time,

Peace!

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Toronto Maple Leafs: Francois Beauchemin's Broken Finger Shouldn't Affect Him

Louis Pisano — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:37:20 -0500

By Louis “King of Roncesvalles” Pisano

Leafs' defenseman and assistant captain Francios Beauchemin broke his left middle finger in the game against the Calgary Flames tonight at the ACC in Toronto.

X-rays confirmed the break, but being that it is the tip of the finger he shouldn’t miss any time on the blue-line for Toronto.

Though he won’t miss any time apparently, a broken finger isn’t something comfortable to shove in a glove and play a physical style of hockey with.

The great play and booming shot of young defenseman Carl Gunnarsson, which he showcased in his first game in the NHL tonight, albeit in a loss, might be in line for a little more ice-time with this injury.

Perhaps the Leafs may decide to let the finger heal and bring up another defenseman from the Marlies.

Bringing up Phil Oreskovic, who saw time in the pre-season and last season with the club, would be a good choice. Or they could opt for Jonas Frogren who was up with the big club most of last season.

Both can play the physical role that would be left open by the absence of Beauchemin.

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Luke Less Than "Schenn-Sational": Sophomore Jinx, or Under Achiever?

Eric Warren — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:31:18 -0500

Luke Schenn must be banging his head against a wall right about now. If he isn't, he should be.

Shenn was drafted last year by the Leafs, fifth overall , and was touted in many hockey circles as a " Blue Chip-Blue Liner ".

When I first saw him play during the pre season last year, I said to myself, "Self, this kid looks like he's going to be pretty good."

I have got to stop talking to that guy!

All joking aside, after about the halfway point of last season, Luke Schenn all but disappeared. Once the euphoria died down, and the season wore on, he became just another struggling Toronto Maple Leaf player.

Schenn, has two points in 17 games so far this year, and just 20 shots. He also sports a +/- of minus-five. Which puts him tied for fourth worst on the team. He is still four spots ahead of Mike Komiserik, though, who is a minus-9.

Schenn is going to be one of the premier players in this league in years to come, there is little doubt in my mind of that, but he has got to shake this "sophomore jinx" that he has fallen into.

It isn't good to see that kind of under achieving on a regular basis, but he isn't the first player to go through it, there have been a great many of them that have gone on to be great players.

Ron Wilson has been quick to leap to Schenn's defense in the past, but I think it may be time for young Mr. Schenn to spend some time in the press box for a couple of games, and see if that helps wake him up a little!

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Leafs in for a Fight against Western Conference Powerhouses

Louis Pisano — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:45:17 -0500

Will that defeated, forlorn look on Vesa Toskala’s face, be the one we see again tonight, as the Leafs take on the Chicago Blackhawks?

With back-to-back games against two tough Western Conference opponents beginning tonight, the Leafs have their work cut out for them.

It begins tonight in Chicago, as the Leafs take on the Blackhawks, before moving back to Toronto on Saturday night where they will play the Calgary Flames. The Leafs have decided to play goalkeeper Vesa Toskala on the road tonight while saving Jonas Gustavsson for the game at home.

Does this give us an inkling of who will take the reins for the team as the No. 1 goalie?

Most everyone, media, fans, and Leafs brass alike, have already made up their minds as to how good the Monster is. Even I have to admit, he has made some outstanding saves this year.

However, it sure seems the bus isn’t moving fast enough to throw Toskala under it and allow him to become an afterthought and scapegoat, although some may think he deserves it with his soft showing not only this year, but throughout his career in Toronto.

Gustavsson, on the other hand, has endeared himself to Leafs Nation with his calm demeanour, big presence between the pipes, and his spectacular leg stretching saves that would leave most of us in hospital.

Are we just searching for someone to blame for the Leafs' demise? Is blaming Toskala the easy way out?

Gustavsson has played well in nine games, eight starts, with record of 3-3-3, a 2.77 GAA, and a .912 save percentage. Not too shabby when you take into account all the problems on both offense and defense.

Alexei Ponikarovsky is leading the team in the plus-minus department at plus six, though he has been almost transparent in some games.

Ian White is the defensive leader at a plus-two and has been slippery with the puck.

Tomas Kaberle leads the team in points with 20, eight points ahead of the next leading scorer, Mikhail Grabovski. It is never a good sign when a team's leading scorer is a defenseman.

Contrary to most thoughts on tonight’s game, I believe that the Leafs will be up for the rivalry against their old Norris Division foes.

However, I expect the Blackhawks will push a physical style of play that has driven their recent success. This will force the Leafs to answer or be run over. Tonight's game should give Leafs Nation a good indication of how tough our really team is.

On the other side of the coin, are the Leafs looking past the Blackhawks and trying to save their bodies and all out effort for the game against the Flames on Saturday? With the Flames having to play a good fore checking, physical team in the Buffalo Sabres tonight, they may be tired and a little banged up for tomorrow's tilt with the Leafs at the ACC.

If the Leafs fall behind in the first period by a couple of goals, which has been the case in almost every game, we may see them pack it in the second and third periods and try to save their energy for their Saturday night home game.

Sad as it may be, this could very well be the case.

Hopefully Ron Wilson has something up his sleeve to keep this team motivated other than dodge ball, as they have been playing well and have gotten points in seven of their last eight.

I believe the next couple games should give us a clear view of what our team is made of and what we can expect in the future from them. Hopefully the toughness and grit that has been the trademark of Leafs Nation leader Brian Burke will come to the forefront over the weekend.

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Tomas Kaberle, Jason Blake, Ian White, Phil Kessel: Maple Leafs New Captain?

Eric Warren — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:23:18 -0500

One of the questions that come to mind when thinking Toronto Maple Leafs is,who will be their next Captain ?

Likely candidates could include, Kaberle , Blake , White and Kessel . There are however a couple of others that deserve consideration as well.

Niklas Hagman , despite his slow start, is a good player and generally works hard when he's on the ice. When he's playing well, he has the capability to raise the play of his line mates as well.

Alexei Ponikarovski , although leading the team in goals scored with seven, and in +/- with a plus six, is not the most vocal of players, and while Sundin wasn't always the most vocal of players, he was always able to lead by example.

Mike Komiserik , although he was awarded an "A" at the beginning of the season, has done nothing to keep it. In my opinion, to date all he has done is shown how not to lead.

Tomas Kaberle would seem to be the "heir apparent." Personally, I have never been a huge fan of his. Don't get me wrong, he see's the ice well from his own end, has a very good shot and is a better than average passer. However, I have always felt he was too soft.

Jason Blake in my opinion, could be an effective captain. Putting aside the fact that the Leafs over paid him, in his time as a Leaf, I have seen him fight through serious disease and illness . Not to mention the constant scrutiny he faces because of a–percieved–lack of production.

Ian White is probably the favorite Toronto Maple Leaf player right now. He is currently tied for third on the team in points with 10, and is a +2, good enough for second behind Ponikarovsky. He has a great point shot, good vision and is usually very dependable in his own zone.

Phil Kessel is, unfortunately for him, is ' The Great New Hope ' of the Toronto Maple Leafs . He his lightning fast, and un-doubtedly skilled, and in the future as he matures, may be a great captain. If I were him, though I may be tempted just by the 'status' of being a team captain, I would focus on becoming a better player for the next couple of years first.

I'm not saying that Kessel isn't a good player now, he is, but he has tremendous potential. More than any offensive Leaf in recent years. If I were Ron Wilson , I wouldn't want to risk stifling that with the addition of needless responsibility.

Having said all of that, one could ask, "do they really need a captain anyway?"

I believe that the answer has to be, yes.

I think, that there needs to be a captain, there needs to be, "That Guy" in the dressing room who provides a center for the players, that the players will listen to, and that can take responsibility for and motivate his teammates.

Last year, I agreed with the idea that Wilson was waiting to see if anyone was going to earn the job. I think now though, he has waited too long.

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Maple Leafs and Blackhawks in Classic Norris Division Battle Tonight

Mark Ritter — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:54:19 -0500

Written by: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

For those of you that remember, a Toronto Maple Leafs/Chicago Blackhawks matchup used to be a regular occurrence, a tremendous “Norris Division” battle that brought fans to their feet. Sadly, much like the Norris Division itself, a tilt between the Leafs and Hawks have, for the most part, become a thing of the past and that's just wrong.

Tonight’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks, which is in Chi-town, will be the only meeting between these two historic franchises. In fact, Chicago and Toronto met only once in 2008 as well, a game Chicago won, 5-4 in overtime.

The Hawks, currently 10-5-2, have been one of the NHL’s hottest teams, featuring an enormous amount of young talent, including forwards Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Kris Versteeg and defensemen Duncan Keith, Brian Campbell and Cam Barker, all of which have All-Star potential.

There has been some finger pointing at Chicago’s number one goalie, Cristobel Huet, for his inconsistent play this season. Unfortunately for the Leafs, Huet seems to have found his groove and has been sharp in recent victories over the Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings.

A win tonight would give the Blackhawks their third win in a row and sixth consecutive win at Home, where they are 8-2-1 on the season. The United Center has never been an easy place to earn two points, tonight will be no exception.

For the Leafs, tonight’s game provides yet another litmus test to see how they matchup with one of the NHL’s elite teams. Sitting at a paltry 3-8-5 on the season, the Leafs are stuck in 29th spot.

Despite some recent good play, the Leafs are coming off a 5-2 loss to the mediocre Minnesota Wild, a game in which the Leafs seemed disinterested and unwilling to hit. Swedish goaltender Jonas Gustavsson looked shaky against the Wild but, by all accounts, will get the nod as the Leafs starter tonight.

Here’s a news flash for you Maple Leafs: if you don’t want to end up on a stretcher you better be ready to take a hit and dish them out, the Hawks come to play every night and boast one of the toughest lineups in the League. If the Leafs play like they did against the Wild on Tuesday they are going to get hurt, end of story!

A concerted effort on defense from both the forwards and the defensemen will be needed if the Leafs and Gustavsson are going to have any chance of beating the Hawks. Chicago boasts the NHL’s 14th ranked offense and their defense, ranked sixth in the league, has been exceptional of late.

Unfortunately for the Leafs, the defense squad will be without defenseman Mike Komisarek, who, after struggling to find his game at the beginning of the season, was playing better of late and was becoming a valued asset for the Leafs.

Phil Kessel, who has played well in his return and Alex Ponikarovsky, will have to continue their strong offensive effort tonight. That said, if the Leafs keep getting poor efforts form the likes of Jason Blake (two goals on the season), Matt Stajan (three goals on the season) and Nikolai Kumelin (three goals on the season), then Kessel and Ponikarovsky's offensive efforts and the Leafs defensive efforts will be all for not.

The Leafs own the NHL’s worst penalty kill at 71.6 percent. They have the worst goals against per game average at 3.69 and, averaging 2.56 goals per game, their offense sits at 21st overall, all of which has to have the Blackhawks drooling and the mouth and ready to go on the hunt.

So, how did it come to this? Why do the Leafs and Hawks, two of the NHL’s Original Six franchises meet just once this season and just once in 2008? Read on, as I try to make sense of the NHL’s undoing of the once mighty Norris Division.

As a result of realignment, the Norris Division was formed in 1975 and lasted until after the 1992-1993 season, when the Norris Division became a thing of the past.

Originally featuring the Montreal Canadiens, L.A. Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals, the Norris was always known as a tough Division to play in and often featured bench-clearing brawls and fights.

The Norris went through a few changes over the years, first dropping the Capitals and taking on the Hartford Whalers in their place (1979-80) and then receiving a more complete face-lift in 1981-82, adding the Minnesota North Stars, Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues, while dropping the Hartford Whalers, L.A. Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Finally, in 1982-83, the NHL made yet another change to the Norris, featuring what many of us remember the Norris as being: the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota North Stars.

The Norris may not have been the most skillful Division in all of hockey, but it did feature a ton of lunch pail players, including Toronto’s Wendel Clark and Chicago’s Al Secord. Fighting was the norm in the Norris and much blood was spilled on the ice night after night, in fact, they were some of the most memorable fights in NHL history.

Unfortunately, when the 1992-1993 season ended, the NHL decided to chop up the divisions once again, only this time they took it a step further, eliminating the historic Norris, Smythe, Patrick and Adams Divisions, opting instead to go with a “less confusing” Eastern Conference—featuring the Northeast Division and the Atlantic Division, and the Western Conference—featuring the Central Division and the Pacific Division.

Once again, marketing and realignment was more important than the history of the game. The NHL cited that the majority of the U.S. fans had know idea who James E. Norris, Lester Patrick, Charles Francis Adams or the legendary Conn Smythe were and, therefore, were unable to identify with the Divisions.

So, for the “betterment” of the game, NHL fans lost a little bit of their history and, along with the name changes, lost some beloved rivalries—Chicago vs. Toronto being one of them.

It is a sad state of affairs that the Leafs and Hawks don’t meet more often, then again, given the disparity between the two teams, perhaps it is in the Leafs’ best interest to stay where they are, history be damned!

Until next time,

Peace!

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