Toronto Maple Leafs 2010/11

[Ironhead]

Things are looking up for the coming season. They may not make the playoffs, but I seriously doubt we are looking at another lottery pick(to the Bruins) come June 2011.
Some nice additions so far, I know not blockbusters, but nice none the less. Goaltending is stable and defence appears to be strong. Leafs just need that number one center, the rest would fall into place.
I was hoping the Kaberle thing would be over by now.



Leafs signed Jerry D'Amigo to a three year entry level deal.

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=535871&navid=DL|TOR|home

 

[gladheateher]

The Leafs are definately a lock for the playoffs and might pull off a surprise or two - good job Burkie !!

 

[gcostanza]

The Maple Leafs are a better hockey club now, than they were at this time last year.

Goaltending is significantly improved, the defensive core is stronger.

A lock for the playoffs ?

I don't think so, who's going to put the biscuit in the basket ?

I hope the Leafs are going to make the playoffs, but realistically, my hope is to finish 20th or better overall.

 

[Saskatchewan]

Goaltending is significantly improved ....

News to me.

Remember Jean-Sebastien Aubin? He went 9-0-0 with the Leafs and had a GAA of only 2.21. His GAA has never been below 3.19 since that little hot streak. Accordingly, the Monster's little run of success late last season certainly doesn't reassure me that the Leafs have a quality netminder. Gigure has a Stanley Cup ring, okay - that might bring some stability. We can only hope for the best.

From the look of things Kaberle will still be a Leaf when the clock strikes midnight. Only 3 hours to go and no deal pretty much means Burke has over valued him. Thankfully with Kadri coming in, I think the Leafs might actually finish next season at .500 - which is something to build on.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Great article!

http://whenfallsthecoliseum.com/2010/08/16/hockey-the-2010-11-toronto-maple-leafs/

 

[The Oracle]

Great article!

http://whenfallsthecoliseum.com/2010/08/16/hockey-the-2010-11-toronto-maple-leafs/

Whatever that guy is smoking I'll take some.

I've known people to be optomistic but really is he for real.

 

[gcostanza]

News to me.

Remember Jean-Sebastien Aubin? He went 9-0-0 with the Leafs and had a GAA of only 2.21. His GAA has never been below 3.19 since that little hot streak. Accordingly, the Monster's little run of success late last season certainly doesn't reassure me that the Leafs have a quality netminder. Gigure has a Stanley Cup ring, okay - that might bring some stability. We can only hope for the best.

From the look of things Kaberle will still be a Leaf when the clock strikes midnight. Only 3 hours to go and no deal pretty much means Burke has over valued him. Thankfully with Kadri coming in, I think the Leafs might actually finish next season at .500 - which is something to build on.

J.S. Aubin ? WTF ? Seriously, WTF ?
Why would his name be in this conversation?
He hasn't played for the Leafs since 2007.

The Goaltending combo for the Maple Leafs at the beginning of the 2009-10 season was Vesa Toskala & Joey Macdonald.
Yikes !
And Minor League Yikes !!

If you don't think the combination of J.S.G. & J.G. are better than the 2 goalies listed above, you don't know much about hockey.

 

[Ironhead]

Most recent addition is Clarke MacArthur(F). Signed one year at $1.1.
Leafs have been adding to the D as well. Jeez I think they got 11 'NHL' D now.

 

[tribunus]

The only objective this season is to not hand Boston another potential franchise player in the form of a top 5 pick.

 

[Insidious Von]

The only objective this season is to not hand Boston another potential franchise player in the form of a top 5 pick.

So far this is the only post that makes any sense, it's a good thing I'm off the Kool-Aid. I don't see how the goal-tending has improved? One goaltender is past his prime and was dependent on oversized pads for his success, the other has heart problems.

I hate the way Burke and Wilson scapegoat players; last year's failure were all Toskola and Kaberle's fault. Since Kaberle could not be traded, they may just avoid giving the Bruins another lottery pick. Talk about saving Burke and Wilson from their own stupidity.

 

[smuddan]

Maybe I'm over simplifying things, but I truly believe that the Leafs' chances of making the playoffs hinge on how much improvement they have in the "specialty teams" area.

Penalty Killing/Goaltending - many have said that the best penalty killer is the the goaltender, the Leafs were pretty bad in penalty killing last year and IMHO it was the main reason why they suck so bad; and any improvement will have to come from either getting great goaltending &/or finding players with great penalty killing skills;

Power Play/Play-Making Centre - Power Play didn't stand out to be as bad as PK, but it's an area where the Leafs desparately need a play-making centreman. Too often last year Kessell had to carry the puck circling around and trying to beat 2 or 3 defenders and ended up having his shot block or losing control of it. Unless one of the young guys can develope quickly into an excellent play-maker, say after 25 games or so, Burke will have no alternative but to give up dearly for a no. 1 centre to play with Kessel and anchor the power play. I don't think he will allow the team to suck beyond 25 games and see the playoff hopes go down the drain again before he makes some drastic moves.

 

[sting]

Tonight on Rogers cable 10 or rogers HD station they are broadcasting the rookie tournament. It will be great to see some of the young prospects in action.

 

[C Dick]

When I read the link above I was impressed, it sounded like the Leafs might be decent this year. But then I read the Sports Illustrated hockey preview, they had the Leafs rated as the 26th team. Oh well.

 

[Manji]

Its tough to be a Leaf fan....

Expect the worst but hope for the best kind of thing...

Lot of positives....
Team is definitely better (younger and more talented) than the beginning of last year....
Lots of players that could go either way....Hope guys like Kadri, Versteeg, Kulemin, MacArthur, Bozak and Gustavasson really step it up...And established players like Kessel and Phaneuf take their play to the next level...

Of course I'm being optimistic but I have a good feeling about Phaneuf...I think him being Captain is gonna make him elevate his game....He's gonna lead by example....

Fingers crossed for this season!!!

 

[spankingman]

Same old same old MLSE will sell out the ACC, make oodles of $$$$$$$$$$$$$ as usual, Average fan can't buy a decent ticket, Leafs will be a bit above last year MAYBE!

 

[oral.com]

Wilson will be gone by December!

 

[shack]

Since the lockout the Leafs have done changes through out the summer ( upgrade goaltending , hire new coaches etc ., ) and honestly every season started with the philosphy that we added to the roster and made changes and so we can't do any worse but we have ... Honestly every year since the lock out I thought we made
enough changes and so we are going to get those 4 extra wins and make the playoffs ... Heck last year I was expecting the team to make the playoffs and they didn't ... I am always yelled at for being negative and all I say is lets just wait and see before we get high expectations ( high expectations in this city is to make the playoffs ) ... Cause we have been fooled before by a great ends to a season ...

Don't be so negative!!

 

[Bill the Pirate]

Wilson will be gone by December!

I don't know if I would say Wilson will be gone by December but I think that he will be under pressure. While the leafs are trying to get better it's a slow process. Burke understands that and have some leeway in his dealings with his very good friend Ron Wilson. So you need to take that into account.

The biggest thing that Gigure has brought to the Leafs is not his ability to play as a number one goaltender, it is his stature as a number one that will make it harder for Gustafson to take over that role. When Toskala was here Gustafson was guaranteed half the starts. Now he needs to earn his starts and the reverse works for Giggy, he knows he will get pushed aside if he doesn't bring his A game.

I think that Brian Burke has done a great job in trying to restock our farm teams. I think we are up to four decent goal tending prospects and as everyone keeps talking about we are getting fairly deep in defensemen. This is all good for the future of the leafs.

hopefully we can make some moves this year that will augment our scoring ability.

 

[maurice93]

I don't know if I would say Wilson will be gone by December but I think that he will be under pressure. While the leafs are trying to get better it's a slow process. Burke understands that and have some leeway in his dealings with his very good friend Ron Wilson. So you need to take that into account.

The biggest thing that Gigure has brought to the Leafs is not his ability to play as a number one goaltender, it is his stature as a number one that will make it harder for Gustafson to take over that role. When Toskala was here Gustafson was guaranteed half the starts. Now he needs to earn his starts and the reverse works for Giggy, he knows he will get pushed aside if he doesn't bring his A game.

I think that Brian Burke has done a great job in trying to restock our farm teams. I think we are up to four decent goal tending prospects and as everyone keeps talking about we are getting fairly deep in defensemen. This is all good for the future of the leafs.

hopefully we can make some moves this year that will augment our scoring ability.

If Giguere is a legit number one goalie I guess tha makes Jonas Hiller the best goalie in the NHL, given how his numbers were VASTLY superior for the past two seasons. But we all know Hiller is nowhere near that --- and logically Giguere is nowhere near a number one goalie anymore.

 

[pblues]

I have been a long-time Leaf fan, but I am going to be realistic this season. The team Burke has built resembles a good squad. If they make the playoffs it will be because they have kicked the shit out of their competitors.