Offense
What happened to the Leafs offense this offseason? Well we added Colton Orr, Rickard Wallin, Colin Stuart, and drafted Nazem Kadri. We lost Jeremy Williams, will probably not resign Brad May...and well, that's it. Wallin adds leadership, Orr is a goon, and Kadri has the potential to be a first line scorer. And everyone complains that the Leafs need a goal scorer, how so? They ranked in the top 10 throughout the league last year in goals for, but why might you ask did we finish out of the playoffs? Because of shotty goaltending, defence, and no sandpaper. TML has improved on all three aspects this offseason, so with the addition of a leader in Wallin (former Captain of Farjestad in SEL), and Colton Orr to protect our more...fragile...players, we may actually see a semi-successful Toronto team, they may actually push for a playoff spot.
Look to see Grabovski, Bozak, Hansen, Tlusty, and Blake all make an impact on the Leafs this season...Blake, trade bait?
Defense
So this aspect is hard to detail, or I'll need to write a novel. Toronto added Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin, and Garnet Exelby. They lost 5 million dollars cap space and Pavel Kubina. Obviously the most improved aspect on the team this offseason, especially since they are yet to part ways with All-Star Tomas Kaberle. None of these defensemen are puck movers, except Kaberle, so, Toronto parted ways with one defensive defenceman, who got points only because he didn't have a team going out there and getting points, and picked up three stay-at-home D-men. Not bad. The only problem that can be foreseen is the now over-crowded blueline...lets try this...
Kaberle-Komisarek
Schenn-Beauchemin
Exelby-White
Van Ryn-Finger Strahlman-Frogren
Odd men out...that's FOUR!! two of which could arguably be top four d-men...
Goaltending
Bye-Bye CuJo, bye bye Gerber, bye bye (the potential of) Pogge...helloooo MONSTER...Jonas Gustavsson, yes we won the sweepstakes for the Monster. Another big improvement here, but still is a bit of a question mark. Toskala: will he be healthy by season start? Will he refain his old form? Or will he be a Trevor Kidd? Monster: Unproven...
And what can we get for Justin Pogge? Maybe a young unproven forward?
Major Changes
Defense, loss of Kubina, addition of those other d-men...SANDPAPER, TML is probably now the toughest team in the league. Theyre going to be spending a lot of time in the sin bin, but many will walk away injured, and approach the team with caution.
Improvements Still Needed
Scoring. TML needs a first line centre, and a goal scorer. We have about 8 second line forwards, but no one that will make a major impact. TML remains captainless, we need a Sundin calbre leader. Too bad Koivu signed with Minnesota...
Other
Goaltending Coach change: Francois Allaire...arguably the best goalie coach in the world. Many other front office changes (Poulin, minus-Nieuwendyk)...
...Toronto will finish between 7-10 in the East....
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