Leafs Outshoot Opponents...Whatever…

How many times do we need to hear or read, “Leafs outshoot opponents but…”.  On many nights, the Leafs outshoot the opposition by a wide margin and make the opposition goalie look like a Vezina trophy winner.  The key word here is “many nights”.  I don’t know about you but this consistent statistic tells me that they are a bunch of perimeter skaters with horrible shooting skill and talent. 

The 2009-2010 Leaf roster is a horrible mix of players on one club at any one time.  Like most Leaf fans, I keep hoping every year that this club will do more than it is capable of.  I lie to myself or make excuses for them, just so that I can have something to look forward to.  After all, winter in Toronto can get pretty cold and long.  Enjoying some descent hockey can ease some of the winter blues.

A quarter of the 2009-2010 season has expired and the Leafs have 3 measly wins this season.  I guess eventually reality has to set in.

This entire group with the exception of Kessel, Kaberle and Ian White (this is not a typo) would not make it as top six at their position on any descent playoff bound team.

The proof is all there.  We just need to face it.

The Leafs take a lot of shots from the outside or from bad angles with nobody in front of the net because nobody wants to get their nose dirty.  In today’s NHL, most goals are of the ugly rebound variety unless you are truly a gifted goal scorer with a descent shot.

You look at a player like Kessel, a guy with talent and a true top six forward; he returns from injury, plays less than half as many games (7 played vs 19 played) as his teammates and already has more goals (ranked third - 5 goals vs 7goals) and is only 4 points behind the next leading forward of 12 points. 

I am not suggesting that all the forwards on the Leafs should be able to duplicate what Kessel does, but what I am suggesting is that the rest of the forwards truly lack enough talent and drive that will allow this team to compete. 

One top six forward on a team is not going to win you a lot of games in this league and is reason why they cannot score 5 on 5. When are they going to learn that one hundred shots from a distance aren’t going to do squat for you either?  This problem will remain as long as the Leafs keep the same roster.

Defensively, the Leafs do not fare much better.  Only 3 players are on the plus side of the +/- category.  They are White, Kessel, and Ponikarovsky all at plus +2.

I am not suggesting Ian White is a true top 6 defenceman, but let’s give the guy a little credit.  Ian white is a plus 2 with 11 points on a horrible team.  His play with and without the puck this year has been commendable.  He seems to be getting better every year and at least he is moving in the right direction towards top 6.

Only 2 points separates White from being ranked second on the entire team behind Kaberle who has a total of 21 points.  When two defencemen are close to being your top point getters, this is proof that your forwards are inept.  For those who disagree with me on Ian White then what you are in fact saying is that the Leaf problem is actually worse.

Kaberle is a minus -5 but he is forgiven since he leads the team in scoring.  With some additional support, Kaberle would probably be on the plus side and is definitely a go-to guy this year.  Sometimes, the numbers alone do not tell the entire story.

Let’s move onto coaching.  Wilson has been blowing smoke this year and I think the players know this.  Idle threats don’t work.  His recent comment that he will start to bench guys based on poor or uncommitted play is confusing.  Shouldn’t this always be the case? 

Some of his roster selection from training camp as far as I am concerned is highly questionable.  Some players who earned a shot at the bigs did not make the opening night roster.  I won’t go through my list again but players like Gunnerson should have been given an opportunity from the get-go because he earned it right out of camp.  I am not saying Gunnerson will be here for the remainder of the year but you should be able to play yourself on and off the team.

Even today, there are guys who should be sent down or seated in the press box for their bungling play. – “Butcher-man” and Schenn to name a couple.  It’s pretty simple Mr. Wilson – play your best player at any time regardless of their salary, age or previous reputation.  The good news for Canadians is he will be coaching team USA (lets hope his current approach is consistent).

There were more than a few occasions this year where players who were obviously struggling were being put out in key situations.  This blew up in Wilson’s face.  These players either gave the puck away or took a needless penalty that changed the momentum in favour of the other team resulting in a Leaf loss – confidence blower 101.

We could probably write a 300 page essay on why the Leafs are in the basement but I think it’s pretty crystal clear - they lack true talent and decision making from both on and off the ice.  It looks like we are in for a very loooooong winter.