Tomorrow in Toronto: What the Maple Leafs Can Hope For

The New York Islanders dashed the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup dreams on Sunday by defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-2 in a shootout.

The shootout came down to a goaltender named Wade Dubielewicz making the final save to clinch a playoff berth for the Islanders. If the Leafs had been able to squeeze even one more point out of any of their opponents this season, they'd be the ones getting set to face the Buffalo Sabres in the first round.

 

But this won't be an article full of "what-ifs." Instead, I want to focus on how Toronto's young players performed this season, and to look ahead to next year.

 

 

Carlo Colaiacovo (A): A great addition to the blue line when healthy. If Carlo can stay injury-free, he'll continue to be a third or fourth defenseman for the foreseeable future.

Kris Newbury (B): Showed that he can be a third or fourth-line energy player who won't hurt his club on the scoreboard. He may be able to get some regular ice time next year depending on who comes and goes during the offseason.

Andrew Raycroft (B-): Distinguished himself at times as a competent starting goalie in the NHL. That said, Raycroft's play must become more consistent. He also needs to work on shots from the right face-off circle; other teams seem to know that that's where his weakness is. I believe he'll be a better goalie next season because of all the action he saw this year.

Matt Stajan (C+): His grade would have been higher if it had been based only on the last 20 games. Stajan's season started off well, but by Christmas he seemed as if he were just going through the motions. He turned it around at the end of the year, though and looks to be a 20-goal, 50-point man next season.

Alex Steen (C+): Saw a drop in production from his rookie year, but did show that his defensive game is solid. His play on the home ice didn't measure up to his play on the road, where he got most of his points. Like Stajan, Steen should be a 20-goal, 50-point man next season and a solid two-way winger for years to come.

Kyle Wellwood (A): Showed that he can be an amazing playmaker at the NHL level his vision with the puck astounds me. Definitely a player the Leafs should hold on to. It's easy to see that Kyle loves to play the game, as he always seems to have a smile on his face. If he can stay healthy next season, I believe that he can ring up 70 points...with the potential for more if the Leafs can find a pure sniper for him to play with.

Ian White (B+): Will be a fourth or fifth defenseman who could see more power-play time next season. Very efficient with the puck, and has a knack for finding that long pass through the neutral zone. As with all playmaking defensemen, he'll only get better with age. I predict a 35-point season for him next year.

Andy Wozniewski (C+): Unfortunately, he was hurt for a great deal of the season but showed in his limited time that he can develop into an effective fifth or sixth defenseman with an ability to kill penalties.

From the looks of these gradings, it seems as if the Leafs will be set on defense for the next three or four seasons. And if they can just come together on offense well, in a perfect world...