Wanted: Anyone Half Way Skilled on the Left Wing

While Brian Burke and our Toronto Maple Leafs have made some positive acquisitions this off-season, there is much more to be done before any Leafs fan can be confident that a playoff birth is even a potentiality in the upcoming season. Trading for Kris Versteeg was a way of adding what may prove to be some top 6 skill to the team. Then, with Colby Armstrong we can see some added grit from a player TSN has called the Brian Burke prototype. Earlier this summer Burke brought in Mike Brown who, if he makes the roster will give Toronto supplementary strength. However, for the sake of solidifying a quality right wing, Toronto sacrificed Viktor Stalberg’s speed and offensive hockey sense on the left side.

From many of the Leafs blogs I've read and from the conversations I've had with Leafs fans, most have argued that Toronto’s major need is a top line centerman. Many still have a desire to make a trade for Marc Savard, risking his long contract and history of injuries. Personally, I think the Leafs have a much larger problem on the left wing than the center position. Tyler Bozak is closer to being a number one centerman than Kulemin is to a first liner on the left.

From the players we brought in this offseason, only Marcel Mueller is a conceivable LWer and I say that very cautiously. Listing our players by position, I can illustrate the Leafs' strength on the right wing and its weakness of the left. The center position, while still a problem, is less dire and thus can be addressed afterward.

RW: Phil Kessel, Kris Versteeg, Colby Armstrong, Mike Brown, Colton Orr, Joey Crabb...(ha.)

C: Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri, Mikael Grabovski, John Mitchell, Brayden Irwin, Christian Hanson (if he is resigned), and Mike Zigomanis...(ha.)

LW: Nik Kulemin, Freddy Sjostrom, Luca Caputi, and Marcel Mueller.

From what I can see, Toronto only has one NHL caliber left-winger. Kulemin, who played first line minutes for much of last season after robbing Alexei Ponikarovski of his spot, has proven himself to be a good two-way player who will help Toronto in the long run. Unfortunately, a Kulemin type player ought not to be on the first line, nor should he play first line minutes.

An argument can be made that Freddy Sjostrom is a second NHL caliber LWer in the Maple Leafs’ roster, but only as a fourth liner who is mostly used for the penalty kill and defensive situations.

Put frankly, Luca Caputi was a disappointment last year. While 9 points in 28 career games is not a horrible statistic for a 21 year old, last season was supposed to be a tryout and he did not prove himself to be good enough for an NHL roster. That being said, this season is a new opportunity. Viktor Stalberg blew us all away last pre-season and was awarded a spot on the team based on that performance. We can all hope Caputi will do the same but it's likely he will need more time to develop.

Finally, we come to Brian Burke's newly acquired Marcel Mueller. There isn’t too much information out there about him, but I do know that he was signed to a two-way contract. This will give Ron Wilson some flexibility, giving him the opportunity to spread out Mueller’s time between the NHL and the farm.

As we can see, Toronto is temporarily troubled on the left wing. However, there is one player I would love to see help solve this problem. Because of the fiscal difficulties in Dallas, James Neal is available for trade. Whether this is where Burke decides to trade Kaberle, a multi-player deal could send some of our lower salary contracts over as well for some additional offensive skill. Toronto has a superfluity of players under contract between the Leafs and Marlies and could therefore put together a package good enough to land a player skilled enough to play alongside Phil Kessel.

Another development in the Kaberle rumors has turned towards LA and Brayden Schenn. As a left wing prospect, he could be a potential player to fill this void. It’s widely speculated that Burke was trying to move up the draft order in 2009 to get Luke’s younger brother on the team. Whether this is an available means to such an end, time will tell.

Personally, I would rather Neal in a Leafs uniform next year since he is older and a proven scorer. Because of Neal’s low salary, a second round pick in 2011 would give Burke the opportunity to offer-sheet James Neal against the financially vulnerable Stars. This would be the best case scenario in acquiring a quality LWer to play with Phil Kessel. It may be a harsh move but at the end of the day, business is business.

Next we can turn to center

-Bone

Introducing: The Sjo-Stopper

Once again, apologies for the lack of posts lately. Where I last left off, there was no Phaneuf, no Sjostrom, no Giguere and to put it quite frankly, no Luke Schenn or Rickard Wallin. Since the two trades involving the Calgary Flames and the Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks, there has been a transformation of spirit, hitting, and skill taking over the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room. When I was informed of the trade I was acting as the lead member of the FLQ, Jacques Rose in the Montreal Model UN reconstruction of the Canadian Cabinet during the October Crisis. I was informed of the new trade intel via blackberry from a friend of mine. It has now been just over a week since the team changing trade and this is how I see the team at this point.

Sjostrom - the Bone proclaimed new nicknamed "Sjo-Stopper" was quite an underrated pick up for the Leafs. His presence seems to have excited Rickard Wallin - since the trade they have both been on fire. I'm hoping the two of them together on the PK will actually turn out to be a success. All of the players we received in the trades have in some way excited someone else on the team. Wallin is no longer a healthy scratch caliber player (Well, I used to think he would be a healthy scratch for the Marlies). He has finally been playing well not only defensively but also with strength low in the corners of the offensive zone.

Schenn - right now his improvement is in a league of its own. He's been playing better and better throughout the year however that's not saying much since he wasn't NHL material at the beginning of the season. Now however, he's hitting, shooting, and talking on the bench like a future captain should. The great thing about Toronto media is that when you play well, boy do they play it up. Especially with Luke Schenn since he is such a top prospect for the Leafs future.

Kadri - last night was probably the most excited I've ever been to sit in front of the tube for a game. Watching him play his first shift and spring Stalberg on a breakaway was an incredible feeling. However, the next shift, the kid got hit hard in our defensive corner. After that, he was no longer really a threat. When he was going up against their defensemen in battles for the puck, I was genuinely scared for his health. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Kadri needs to take a couple pages out of Jason Blake's books and learn to play with speed but still avoid the hits.

Kessel and Bozak - like I said in my previous post, Kessel's defensive faults drive me up the wall but how can I complain when he puts up numbers like 7 points in his last 3 games and 10 in his last 5? Although he runs away from any hit coming towards him, he still has that shoot-first mentality that compels him to rip the shot whether or not he even has his equilibrium. Phil shoots from no matter what position; he just likes to score goals. Another positive is his willingness to make that pass when there are too many people covering him - cue Bozak. Bozak has been in the right place at the right time a lot this season. With 11 points in his 15 games up in the show, the two of them make good linemates. Also, with 28 hits in his 15 games, he offers a physical presence to the Leafs' first line that opens up room for Kessel. With Poni's size on the other wing, the line has been quite strong in the few games it's been together.

If these factors, along with the strong play by in net Giguere continues, the Leafs might actually have the opportunity to close the gap between them and...well...not last place. Our largest difficulty this season has been our penalty kill and if the Wallin-Sjostrom tandem can come together as a shut-down pairing then Burkie's trades will have been a roaring success this late in the season.

Let's hope for the best,
Bone



I decided to show the least interesting interview... ever.

November 4th - Tampa Post Game

Last night's game against Tampa Bay was Kessel's debut, and boy was the game a disappointment. The Leafs did a lot of things right, but once again overtime proved to be their kryptonite. Kessel was a star last night with 10 shots on goal. Yet he still was held off the scoresheet and left the game a -1.

Leafs Nation held their breath after watching Ohlund's devastating hit on Kessel early on in the game, which sent him to the dressing room temporarily. The hit obviously didn't affect his game, as he went out the next shift and was just as effective. However, I do have a critique of Wilson that I touched on yesterday and have to talk about again today. Stajan is not a first line center and cannot keep up with the other two. I am not denying the fact that Stajan is highly skilled and has a desire to win, but he just can't keep up with Kessel and Blake on that first line.

Once again Kulemin did not get it done yesterday, having many chances to score without any finish. Sending him down to play with the Marlies would open up some room for Bozak whose speed, passing and vision would be paramount to Kessel and Blake's goal production. Although Stajan can move the puck, he would be more effective with players his speed and caliber.

Overall last night was an exciting game to watch with a disappointing finish. The Leafs outshot the Bolts, they kept Stamkos off the scoresheet and for only the 3rd time this season kept the opposing team scoreless on the power play. Still however, the defense was sloppy in the defensive zone. Gustavsson played yet another fantastic games with outstanding lateral movement but is still struggling with rebound control. It is up to the defensemen to clear those rebounds out from in front of the net, which was not being done last night. Thankfully the Bolts were held to only one goal in regulation but that is only because a good defense is a better offense.

What separates the Leafs last night from the Leafs in mid-October is the amount of play that took place in the offensive zone. The Leafs have finally been able to get the puck down low in the offensive zone and set up. This is largely because of the speed of John Mitchell, Jason Blake and Phil Kessel. If the Leafs continue to set up deep in the offensive zone, the other team will be forced to take penalties like Tampa Bay did last night. It's painful to watch Leafs lose night after night but even the biggest Habs fan cannot deny the improvement in the Leafs play. Soon, if they improve their play in their defensive zone by being more attentive to detail in front of the net they make take an overtime win or even a couple in regulation.

The Leafs really need to take advantage of their simpler schedule this month, with games against Tampa, Minnesota, Carolina, Florida and the Islanders. Other than the Capitals and Chicago, every team the Leafs play in November are possible to beat. Even the 2009-10 Red Wings and the struggling Calgary Flames.