Toronto Maple Leafs: Why Wins Are Product of Smart Offseason Moves

It's very easy to get ahead of yourself when you live in Leafs Nation, but seeing as the Leafs have made it through October on a very positive note, I think it's time for some positive feedback.

The Toronto organization had a fairly busy summer, making a flurry of moves that no one was too sure about at the time. 

Would Tim Connolly or Matthew Lombardi play? 

Can John Michael Liles really help our dismal power play?

Was it right to re-sign James Reimer?

We, the fans, were filled with questions. Now, after 12 games of the season, we are starting to gain some answers and see results. 

The Leafs are winning. Great! What's most exciting about this is not the current division lead, but rather why the Leafs are winning, and who the help is coming from. 

Let's see how the offseason moves are helping Toronto become a winning team. 

Racking Up the Points

Even though Phil Kessel is taking the league by storm, there are still points (including many assists to Kessel) coming from the new acquisitions.

Liles, Lombardi and Connolly are all in the top 10 in scoring for the Leafs, with Dave Steckel coming in 13th. Sure, Kessel and Lupul are getting it done, but Liles' eight assists and Steckel's three goals are a huge help that didn't exist last year. 

Lombardi and (now) Connolly Are Healthy

Many critics believed that when Lombardi was sent to Toronto, the Leafs would be lucky if he played at all. I'm pretty sure he shut them all up with a shorthanded goal in the season opener.

Connolly, who did miss games to injury this season, has battled back and put up four points in the four games since his return. 

Both of these players knew that the team put faith in them and was counting on them for offensive help and they've been responding. I don't think anyone could have predicted such a start for both of these previously injury-prone players. 

Liles Is Taking the Heat off Other Defenders

When Toronto acquired veteran defenseman John Michael Liles, they hoped he could help on the power play and probably fit into the second defensive pairing. 

Liles is currently on the ice more than anyone on the team, save for captain Dion Phaneuf. Liles has really stepped up his ability and is proving to the club that he can skate just as long as anyone else. 

His extended minutes are allowing other defensemen on the team to get their rest and come out when really needed—proving the depth on the blue line that Toronto has long been yearning for. 

Steckel Is Killer in the Faceoff Circle

The big center has been invaluable for the Toronto in the faceoff category, winning 60.9 percent of all faceoffs so far. That's good enough to put him in second place in the ENTIRE LEAGUE, only behind Chicago captain Jonathan Toews. 

Steckel's ability to win the majority of faceoffs is a major contributor to the Leafs' hot start. He gives them possessions in the opposing team's zone, and it helps to alleviate pressure in their own zone. 

Steckel's help is really that much more valuable when the next highest Leafs in faceoff percentage are Grabovski and Bozak at 68th and 72nd in the NHL, respectively. 

Kessel Can Relax Knowing He Has Help

Some players do well under pressure and others do not. 

Kessel was thrust onto a Leafs' roster that expected him to produce goals all by himself. This season, Kessel is producing at a tremendous pace, because he knows the goals are also coming from other places. 

Just look at the game against New Jersey on Wednesday night. Late in the game, Kessel was absolutely robbed by Martin Brodeur and he smiled afterwards, thinking how close he came to goal No. 11. 

He smiled because Toronto was winning by two and, they didn't let the Devils build a substantial lead the entire game. 

Maybe all Kessel has needed this whole time was a cast he could rely on so he could relax and score goals while they also contribute a decent amount.