Leafs Preseason: Talk about a Test!

If the Leafs aren’t already scrutinized enough by the Toronto media and fans, the preseason schedule will sure bring about a lot of woes for this team that is just barely rebuilding and still lacks a top six forward.

The excitement that preseason hockey has, obviously, is that the regular season isn’t far off, and fans can begin to see what the offseason acquisitions and some of the future possibilities their beloved teams have, while coaches solidify and determine the final rosters for their teams.

The Leafs will face the Eastern Conference regular season first overall Boston Bruins to start off, then one of the favourites in the East, the Philadelphia Flyers, who they play twice. They will also play the Stanley Cup Champions (Pittsburgh and Detroit) of the past two years four times, and the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres twice, who seem to be the only soft spot in the schedule.

But through the years the Leafs have always, no matter what, had their problems with the Sabres...for what reason? Who the hell knows?

Toronto may win one game in the preseason. Lest we forget, Toronto beat Detroit last year in the first game of the regular season 3-2. But I wouldn’t bet on that happening again even though it isn’t the regular season.

On the other side of the coin, perhaps, with the tough test the Leafs face before the real games begin, will be, instead of a foreshadowing of the regular season, a good tune-up for this team to get a jump on some of the teams that play a soft preseason schedule.

It could vault them into an early higher intensity of play, or it could, back on the flip side, smash any bit of confidence they gain in training camp.

However the cookie crumbles, the preseason will test the team's toughness against Philly and Boston along with how it deals with speed and skill while playing Detroit and Pittsburgh.

All of Leafs Nation, no matter what the roster looks like, has high expectations for their team, and this year is no exception. Though the rebuilding process, as GM Brian Burke has stated, is going to take time, we all pray for at least a sniff of the playoffs and this preseason may bring hope or dash any sign of it.

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