LEAF LIFE: Could The Leafs Make The Playoffs in 2010/2011? YES!

I understand that two thirds of the people who read the title of this article skipped right by it and filed it as mindless drivel.  For those who decided to have a look, I appreciate the chance to explain myself.

 

Let me first explain that I am not one of “Those” Maple Leaf fans.  By “Those” I mean the ones who insist that each season begins with a legitimate shot for a Stanley Cup, or that Kris Versteeg has magically turned into a forty goal man because of the colour  (yes I’m Canadian and this is how we spell it) of his sweater and that team “B  L  A  N  K” can’t wait to trade their youngest top line producer or up and coming prospect for  our spare parts, over hyped bottom six prospects and horrendous contracts.

I am also by no means saying that the Leafs will make the playoffs.  I do however think it is much more of a realistic possibility than most people care (or dare) to admit.

 

I’m not going to try and beat you over the head with obscure statistics like Dion Phaneuf’s shooting percentage or how many goals Phil Kessel has scored when he’s had steak and shrimp as a pregame meal to make my case, I’d much rather have the reader make up their mind for themselves.  My goal is to just plant a few seeds and let the idea grow. 

Eighty eight points was enough to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference last season.  That’s  fourteen more than the abysmal seventy four points the Leafs managed last year.  How do they make up fourteen points?

 

1)      Don’t get off to the worst start in franchise history.

Last season’s start was embarrassing and I don’t think it’s possible to repeat it.  No Kessel, no Phaneuf, no Giguere and although none of them are first or second team NHLers, they are talent that can make a difference in a team winning or losing a game.  Add to that a player like Tyler Bozak who had a decent rookie year when he was called up midseason and Nik Kulemin who didn’t seem to find his game until after the All-Star break and that’s five players who could have made a difference in the Leafs 1-7-5 start.  Throw in a couple of solid free agent additions in Kris Versteeg, and Colby Armstrong, some energy and skill in rookie Nazem Kadri and some minor improvement in stalwart defenseman Mike Komisarek and a start as brutal as last years is highly unlikely if not impossible.

 

 

2)      Win Some Close Games.

The Maple Leafs had fourteen overtime losses last season, tied for second in the NHL.  Add on the additional 8 games they lost by one goal during regulation and there’s a few easy points for the taking.  Hypothetically let’s say they end up tying half of those one goal games (+4 Points) and let’s take their fourteen overtime losses and cut it to a more respectable eight overtime losses which is close to the league average (+6 Points) and there is an additional ten points to add on to their seventy four with the luck of a good bounce or two.  A defense core of Phaneuf, Kaberle (I’m not going to get involved in the trade speculation because I’m downright sick of it) Komisarek, Beauchemin, Schenn and either Gunnarson or Lebda should be able to win them (or tie them) some close games.  None of the first four defenseman mentioned are as bad as they played last season, all of them should be improved.  Schenn actually had a really decent season after the arrival of Phaneuf and to put that together for a full season could be a nice bonus.  Improvement from Gustavsson and even play at  par from Giguere would be enough for a significant point improvement.

 

 

3)      Play The Whole Season The Way They Played The Second Half.

Not much explanation needed here and it has a lot to do with points number one and two.  Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson was a different “Monster” during the second half.  Luke Schenn and Nikolai Kulemin found their games.  Phaneuf ignited some fire in his teammates

 The Leafs had a modest 11-7-3 record after the Olympic break last season with much of the same team they will ice this season plus a few free agent and rookie upgrades.  That works out to a winning percentage of .610 which is definitely a little high.  To imagine them doing it for an entire season is unlikely but not so absurd that it would warrant institutionalizing.  I think .540 to .550 is more realistic and giving them that along with roughly ten OT losses would put them right in line for an 87-90 point season.

 

 

 

You’ve either totally checked out of this article (or are laughing hysterically) by now if you’re not a Leaf fan or I’ve totally restored your faith in the upcoming season if you are a Leafs fan.  Either way, that was not my intention.  I merely wanted hockey fans to think about the upcoming season with an unbiased mind and not write the Maple Leafs off as bottom feeders just yet.

 

Don’t hold it against Leafs Nation just because we’re the center of the Hockey Universe. 

 

 

 

LEAF LIFE