No Scoring? No Problem! Leafs Will Win In Spite Of It

Heading in to the 2010-2011 season the one aspect of the Leafs roster that everyone refers to is scoring depth.

Maybe it’s just me or maybe it’s just that Leafs have been so depleted in the last few years, but I actually am OK with the Leafs scoring heading into the season.

Now, I know that the Leafs offense is not the greatest in the NHL, and that it is still a work in progress but I do believe that it is better than last years and that it more than enough to do the job.

One thing is for sure! The Leafs definitely need another Kessel type player in our top 6.

Let’s start but summing up last year’s team. I know it’s all full of bad memories, but I promise that this will be last time I bring up the 2009-2010 version of the Leafs. EVER!

The Leafs added many players before last season started. One was Phil Kessel, and thank god too, because once I show you the stats you will cringe too.

Kessel for the second consecutive season scored 30 goals ....... and that is only offensive highlight to last season. One 30 goal scorer and the next offensive player had 16 goals (Kulemin). That’s right folks. Not one 20+ goal scorer ended the season with the Leafs.

In acquiring Phaneuf the Leafs traded 3 of their most talented offensive players in Stajan, Hagman, and White.  These three players combined for 57 goals last year. Considering that the Leafs only scored 214 goals last season that would count for 26.6 % of the Leafs total offensive output.

One of the players that the Leafs added last year was Rickard Wallin, who only potted 2 goals. Two other young players for the Leafs John Mitchell and Christian Hanson played a combined 91 games only scored 8 goals. Victor Stalberg, who some consider the best player in the Versteeg deal (can you say dufus?), played 40 games for the Leafs and only scored 9 goals.

So, how is it that from Jan 30^th on, the Leafs while trading away most of their offensive talent leaving not a single 20 goal scorer and only 2 other double digit goal contributors manage 25 pts in their last 20 games?

Well folks it’s all rather simple, very simple really.

The goaltending and defence improved dramatically. As too did the penalty killing.

What gives me hope for this season and the Leafs a shot at the playoffs is that the Leafs now have two solid lines and a decent third line.

When Ron Wilson was asked about the Leafs lines going into the season, he told the media to watch the scrimmages and preseason games, and you’ll be able to figure it out.

After having watched two days of scrimmages the lines look like this;

Kessel-Bozak-Kulemin

Armstrong-Kadri-Versteeg

MacArthur-Grabovski-Sjostrom

Orr-Mitchell/Hanson-Brown

The key here is the subtraction of Wallin and that the Leafs are not relying on Mitchell and Hanson for offense or at least very little offense. The Leafs have added two 20 goal scorers in Armstrong and Versteeg, who will be receiving more ice time than ever, and two potential 20 goal scorers in Kadri and MacArthur.

In conclusion, if the Leafs want to continue their stellar play from late last season, all they need to is get good goaltending while potting some goals some here and there.

The Leafs playoff hopes hinge on the shoulders of Giggy and the Monster, and believe you me, they are more than wide enough to carry the load.

I predict that the Leafs will be competing for a playoff spot come March and April, but will they make it? That I do not know. But for the first time in a long time, for me at least anyway, there is some hope for postseason hockey in Toronto.

CHEER WITH PRIDE!

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