Top Shelf: Why the Maple Leafs can make the playoffs

[Pheebs888]

By Ryan Dixon

For those associated with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the post-lockout era may better be described as the post-moderate-success era.

The Leafs made the playoffs each of the six seasons leading up the 2004-05 work stoppage, twice advancing to the NHL’s final four.

Since play resumed, the Leafs have famously fallen short of the post-season on five straight occasions, occupying the Northeast basement each of the past three years.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...-playoffs.html

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Thoughts about this Leafs fans? Got faith in the JS Giguère and François Allaire association?

[steen101984]

I think the reporter did not watched a single Leaf game last year. He brings up good points about goals for but his points about grabovski, schenn and phaneuf are way off. After the first 25 games or so schenn played real well and as soon as dion got there he played very well for the last couple months. Dion was physical and played great offensively and defensively last year while he was a leaf. Grabo spends alot of time getting knocked down but he is very talented when not getting into bar fights and this year will only be his second full season in the NHL. Also he didnt even mention Kulemin who was a beast for the last 30 games or so or Kadri who should make the team barring a terrible training camp.

[Pheebs888]

And that is why I asked for the Leafs' fans opinion :) I'm really looking forward to the new season and to see how the new players fit in their new teams. Shame my Habs have done very little so far but oh well...

[habscards]

As a Habs fan I will admit that the Leafs are on the right path at least. Colby Armstrong will be a great third liner who will get under players skin and draw a lot of penalties. Kris Versteeg cost them a lot in the futures department but they are looking to make the playoffs now. The Phaneuf trade was the most lopsided trade of last year. They dealt their spare parts for a star defenceman. After this year JS Giguere will be finished his seven million dollar a year contract and if he re-signs with the Leafs he will make a hefty pay cut and if he walks away then the Leafs have seven more million dollars to spend. Nazem Kadri should step in this year on a scoring line.

All and all I really can not stand the Leafs but I can admit that they are heading in the right direction.

[Dergula]

It will be exciting this year. With Dion here in town things honestly turned around when we got him. Granted we didn't make the playoffs but the desire to play was there. I hope the D can turn it around this year and not try to do everything.

If there is one goal in mind. it should be to make the playoffs and not give up another great 1st Round pick to Boston. That should be the motivator.

[mr ozzie]

What I am LOVING so far with the Leafs is that they are - for once - a very young team. This is something JFJ wanted to do, but couldn't do. The one thing I do HATE about this team is that Burke prefers an offensive-minded approach. It's fine if you have the necessary assets up-front, but this team still lacks offensive depth behind Kessel, and now Versteeg. I don't count Kulemin as offensive depth, because I have no faith in him. Grabovski just the same. Kadri can't be relied upon this year, and in my opinion should be sent back to London for another year of development. This kid shouldn't be rushed in. What you do have is a very solid goaltending tandem, and one of the deepest d-corps in the league. Kaberle getting traded will wither the Leaf powerplay, and I would hate to see him go. Having said that though, with the addition of Lebda, it doesn't look like Kaberle will sign beyond 2010-11. That frees up 4.25mil cap space to resign Gunnarsson and Schenn. I'd be surprised if Giggy comes back. If he does, I wouldn't sign him for more than 4mil per.

[steen101984]

What I am LOVING so far with the Leafs is that they are - for once - a very young team. This is something JFJ wanted to do, but couldn't do. The one thing I do HATE about this team is that Burke prefers an offensive-minded approach. It's fine if you have the necessary assets up-front, but this team still lacks offensive depth behind Kessel, and now Versteeg. I don't count Kulemin as offensive depth, because I have no faith in him. Grabovski just the same. Kadri can't be relied upon this year, and in my opinion should be sent back to London for another year of development. This kid shouldn't be rushed in. What you do have is a very solid goaltending tandem, and one of the deepest d-corps in the league. Kaberle getting traded will wither the Leaf powerplay, and I would hate to see him go. Having said that though, with the addition of Lebda, it doesn't look like Kaberle will sign beyond 2010-11. That frees up 4.25mil cap space to resign Gunnarsson and Schenn. I'd be surprised if Giggy comes back. If he does, I wouldn't sign him for more than 4mil per.

Its not an offensive minded approach in my opinion. He is building from the net out. We now have 2 nhl ready goalies and 4 ahl ready goalies. 3 of the ahl ready goalies could be ready to be in the nhl in a few years. He has built our d core but also has the big 4 with the marlies (mikus,aulie,gysbers,holzer) and jesse blacker coming down the pipeline.


Also I think the days of rushing kids are over. Look at Kane, Duchene, Tavares, Myers, Schenn, Karlsson, O'Reilly etc etc. All these kids made the jump already and some of them are his age. In London they prepare them really well the hunters run it like an nhl team and because of that players can make a more seamless jump. From the last couple years kostitsyn, gagner, kane, tavares, and carlson have all made the jump. Kadri is next.

He should be on the third line to start and then if he plays well grabo should be dealt in the new year and kadri moved up. He has a very gritty side to his game and that will benefit him while being on the third line.

With regards to the PP last year we had the worst pp in the league. Our pp wont wither without kaberle. Our biggest problem is that they know that kessel or dion are going to shoot so they play tight to them and kabs has a great shot but wont shoot. He needs to be on a team like the caps. They can put ov, green, backstrom and semin out with him. He would be dynamite out there. He can pass it like he wants to and all 4 guys can shoot it.

Kaberle will be traded before august 15th as well. There is no way we can afford: Komi, beuch, schenn, dion, gunnar, lebda, finger and kabs. I expect kabs to be traded and finger to be sent down if the space is needed.

[mr ozzie]

Its not an offensive minded approach in my opinion. He is building from the net out. We now have 2 nhl ready goalies and 4 ahl ready goalies. 3 of the ahl ready goalies could be ready to be in the nhl in a few years. He has built our d core but also has the big 4 with the marlies (mikus,aulie,gysbers,holzer) and jesse blacker coming down the pipeline.

No, no, you misunderstood what I said. I know Burke builds the team from the net out. It's how the team approaches each game, or how Ron Wilson teaches the team to play. I'm having a hard time finding that clip, I'm pretty sure it's a vid clip of Burke explaining it instead of a radio clip.

[edthesandwich]

Nobody has mentioned Bozak yet, and I think that's a bit unjust. The kid actually had better point-per-game averages than Duchene, Myers and Tavares. Not only that, he showed SERIOUS setup skills. Very few cheap assists for this kid. He finished with 22 points over his final 27 games, and looked like he had real chemistry with both Kessel and Kulemin.

If he takes another step forward this season, 70-75 points isn't out of the question. For a second-year player, that would be a rather nice total. He definitely has first-line-center potential.

[swats]

I like the Bozak-Kessel chemistry and a Kulemin breakout season is possible....of course I said the same thing about Stajan once. But when Kessel is quiet, and there WILL be a few games, its up to the new guys..........Versteeg, Armstrong, Mitchell, Grabovski, Hanson, Caputi....at least 2-3 have to step up.

Kadri is listed at 186 lbs on Wikipedia, thats 20 lbs heavier than last year. Bring him up now and make the guys above realize they have some competition for the 2nd line.

I'd like to see Phaneuf and Schenn blasting the puck from either side to keep the goalie moving. Schenn is a right shot and Dion is left so let them rip it and let the forwards clean up the rebounds.

Goal is solid.