2010-11 Toronto Maple Leafs: Pre-season Plight, Regular Season Delight?

Toughness isn’t measured by how you can throw a punch (ala Mikhail Grabovski), but how well you take one. And as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, you have to be very tough to survive in this town. Let’s take a look to see if this group has the right tools to excel this 2010-11 NHL season.  

NHL Pre-season hockey finally kicked off last night as our beloved Maple Leafs hosted their first of three “Battle of Ontario” meetings prior to the start of Regular Season. And to save you the agony of another unflattering recap, the Leafs got spanked 5-0... But does this really say anything about the kind of team Brian Burke has designed over the last 12 months?

A Hungrier Bunch  

The last thing that any member of the Toronto Maple Leafs want is a repeat of last season. After a terrible 1-8-1 record out of the gate, the lowly Leafs just could not bounce back to save face. So in an effort to redefine what it means to play against this squad and to gain a new edge and swagger, Burke loaded up on the brawny and tenacious type which he hopes will pay dividends. But I think, as most would agree, it was mainly to escape his team getting the proverbial noogies of yesteryear...

Although at times the expectations of Leaf fans seem a tad outlandish, one reasonable expectation is that they will come out stronger and hungrier than in years past. Of course, it takes more than will to win hockey games, but provided the other elements come together as well, no one has more to prove or should have more desire to prove their worth than this club.

Recipe for Success

After Burke’s locker room shake up, the attention now falls on Ron Wilson’s ability to channel the likes of Dr. Frankenstein and piece together a monster on the ice. The recipe for success? –skilled youth with a flinty dynamic (and a pinch of veteran know-how). Toronto’s young guns will undoubtedly be called to arms this season to perform at an elevated level. This list includes Tyler Bozak, Nikolai Kulemin, Luke Schenn and even sniper Phil Kessel (who some people forget is still only 22).

And to say there is pressure on Nazem Kadri, to not only make the team, but to contribute in a significant way this year is an understatement. The Leafs definitely need make strides and the best way to for them to do this is for each of them to continue to develop individually and as a team.  

Part of any great team is an aspect of progress. In the case of our Maple Leafs, progress must also be evident across the entire board starting with Captain Dion Phaneuf. He has the daunting task of not only returning to his previous form in years past with the Calgary Flames but also now, the burden of carrying the weight of Leafs Nation on his shoulders. Only time will tell if his walk matches the talk leading up to this season. 

Much is also expected of Francois Beauchemin, Mike Komisarek and Mikhail Grabovski –they will all have to make big strides to prove themselves and silence the naysayers. 

Commitment to Improve

From all the reports leading up to Pre-season action, we have heard about the degree of commitment this club has already exhibited in getting prepared. The boys were training in the gym early and already seemed committed to do the necessary work to create a winning team.   

In the case of the first preseason game against the Sens, it seems the mishmash of current and potential NHLers on the Leafs couldn’t find the right balance to put all of that ambition to good use.

In a post game press conference, Ron Wilson says his team (particularly Kris Versteeg and Colby Armstrong) was “guilty of doing too much.” Wilson did however praise the two forwards for their work on the penalty kill and also the gritty play of Mike Brown, which included a scrap in which he got the better of bruiser Tim Spencer.

With respect to the several missed opportunities to capitalize on the power play, Captain Dion added, “not to make excuses, but it’s early and it shows we’ve got lots of work to do.” Hopefully all that game one indicates is the Blue and White’s need to shake off a little rust and come together as a unit –a sentiment echoed by Nazem Kadri’s comment, “there is still chemistry to be made.”  

Last year the Leafs came up big in exhibition play going 6-3-0 and yet took a nosedive to start the Regular Season. With just one game in, everything is certainly still up in the air as most Leafs haven’t even broken a sweat yet.

I for one would love to see the Buds blow every single game coming into Regular Season… Why you ask?? If it means attending the school of hard knocks and suffering some tough love in the beginning, BRING IT ON! As this team continues to warm up, I say let’s throw more fuel on the fire and whip these boys into shape for when it really matters most.

Although these rough and tumble Maple Leafs now seem to have the “cajones” to throw down with the best of them, nothing comes easy in this league. One thing is for sure, we will find out sooner or later whether the Leafs are indeed tough enough to take punches as well as they can throw them.