Are Toronto Maple Leafs' Wings "Chicken"?

Leafs Wings, “Chicken” ???

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke came out this summer and said of his team's lack of toughness,“We are going to be a much more hostile group...we will be tougher. I’m not watching this again.”

Well, Leaf fans, after a couple of key offseason acquisitions, mission accomplished! Or, is it?

Burke likes his teams to be tough, with that in mind it was hardly surprising when he added perennial tough guy Colton Orr to the lineup this off season.

Trouble is, outside of Orr, who will wear former Maple Leafs tough guy Tie Domi's No. 28 this season, the Leafs are still very thin on toughness along the boards.

As it sits right now, the Leafs are likely to start the likes of Jason Blake, Lee Stempniak, Nikolai Kumelin, Alex Ponikarovsky, Niklas Hagman, Jeff Hamilton, Christian Hanson and the aforementioned Orr at left and right wings.

Collectively, this group of players will not put the fear of God into any opposition, physically or offensively. To be fair, some may even say this group is soft.

Before you all clamor to your keyboards to remind me that Burke has invested a lot of dough in a more physical defense, I know.

Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin and Garnet Exelby will certainly be an upgrade from last years crew in that regard. Trouble is, none of these players play on the wing.

Clearly, Burke is not finished tinkering with his roster. A move to acquire a solid two-way, physical winger would go a long way into making the Leafs a serious playoff threat. The acquisition is not a question of “If,” it’s just a matter of “When.”

As it stands, the Leafs look poised to lose more battles along the boards than they will win. Fact is, most of their wingers are tentative players that are more at home away from the boards.

Sure, Hanson can mix it up a bit and Ponikarovsky and Blake have a decent competition level, but, collectively this group still lacks the appropriate amount of sandpaper to get the job done on a nightly basis.

Hang in there, Leaf fans, before long Burke will right the sinking ship that has been the Leafs. Like Burke said, “I’m not watching this again.”

Spoken like a true believer in grit!

Until next time,

Peace!