Sundin out

Into every Leafs season a little angst must fall.

RENE JOHNSTON/TORONTO STAR

Stajan, Wellwood, Steen: Time to step it up, kids.

So here it goes. So far a little more than a month into the season the Leafs front lines have been pretty much intact. But losing Mats Sundin for three to four weeks - which would amount to between 10 and 13 games on the schedule - puts them in something of a bind. And being out that long means that there will be some adjustments when he comes back.

So what do you do now if you're Paul Maurice? Shifting Kyle Wellwood back to centre is probably the first option - it's certainly the first one I can think of, but who would move up on the depth chart to fill Wellwood's spot from there? Matt Stajan to the first line seems a reach. Mike Peca, anyone?

This is a blow, for sure, Sundin in all-star form this season. But if there's a bright side, it's that Pavel Kubina is due back Thursday night - those defenders who limped out of the lineup before Kubina are getting closer to returning, too. A renewed commitment to defence, and continued good goaltending from Andrew Raycroft sounds like Maurice's overarching theme for the next month.

UPDATE: This from Mark Zwolinski's latest report:

Leafs coach Paul Maurice said Kyle Wellwood, who had been on Sundin's wing on a regular line and on the power play, will centre the club's top line with Alex Ponikarovsky and Nik Antropov when the Leafs faceoff in Boston tomorrow night.
Wade Belak was dressed as a forward in practice today and may be see work on the fourth line to complete the forward lines.
Alex Suglobov, who has been a healthy scratch for over a month now, may also get back into the lineup in Sundin's absence.

UPDATE II: It almost is too eerie, but Raking Leafs is saying just about the same thing I'm doing here. (What's that old saying about great minds?)

Comments

[James Mirtle]

I think Steen's going to see a lot more playing time, on the power play and elsewhere. He's been thoroughly disappointing so far with six points in 17 games, and this could be his chance to get back on the 60-point pace he's capable of.

[Andrew Barrie]

With Kubina back in the line-up, i'd propose an experiment.

I'd assume Brendan Bell would probably be relegated to press box if not sent down to the Marlies, and suglobov put in as a forward.

But why not keep Bell in the lineup, and play 7 defencemen and 11 forwards.

Bell and Ian White are both offensive defensemen, and it could be interesting to allow them to play in a forward position, or perhaps even Kaberle, who's already a brilliant playmaker on the blue line.

Any of them would make strong two forwards.

[John Richardson]

Well, I just heard on the FAN that Wellwood will centre the first line with Ponikarovsky and Antropov.

Antropov? The longest reclamation project in Leafs history? That Antropov?

As Earl Weaver once said about one of his pitchers, "I gave him more second chances than my first wife"

[Carla]

Yikes, if Wellwood is going to centre the top line, I’d rather see somebody like Tucker moved up there with him, rather than that Ponikarovsky/Antropov combo... We need somebody who can actually hit the net when they receive one of Welly’s sweet passes. Pony’s been mostly missing the net so far this season and Antro’s still pretty rusty after all that time off.

I think I'd leave Peca as the second line's centre, cy.

[Peter Youngblut]

OK. Here's a new take. Steen to centre Wellwood and Tucker. Stajan to centre O'Neil and Suglobov. Peca to centre Ponikarovsky and Andropov.

[cy]

i'd be loath to break up the Steen-Stajan-O'Neill line, they've been okay lately. And no, I don't see Peca shifting up a rung.
More time for Steen? well, someone's got to move up to the power play. I do think their defence is going to tell the tale this next month, because they're going to be missing a whack of offence.

[Carla]

'I do think their defence is going to tell the tale this next month'

I think you're right about that, cy. Thank goodness we have D coming back from the infirmary. Kubina's return may well save the team's ass--at least, if he plays as well as he was playing before he was hurt.

If Belak has to play at all (and does he? really??), I hope it's as a forward.

[Ricky]

With Kubina coming back, remove Belak from defense to the press box, and get suglobov to play. for sure Bell and White are better defenders than belak, and with more experience will become better in the future. No point in relegating one of the youngsters, let them play and become regulars. younger the better/faster in the new NHL.

[Wardo]

With Peca's and Stajan's lines clicking so well recently, I wonder if it would be a mistake to fool around with those arrangements at this point.

Wellwood between the big Soviets isn't ideal, but it seems like the best option to try for now.

P.S. Ian White as a forward?!

[pino]

free agent perhaps, Allison!!!!!

[cy]

don't go there, pino! that kind of thinking has got the leafs in deep goo before. no point using your cap room, this early, on a player who isn't in game shape and hasn't played since last spring. let's see how this team responds to a little adversity. sometimes it's not necessarily a bad thing, esp. at this point in the season.

[Moe Green]

I don't suppose any player in the league is as important to their team as Mats is to his Leafs. It's not just scoring or brilliant playmaking, it's his on and off-ice leadership. Kudos to the off-season addition of Mike Peca by JFJ. Let's see if Peca's intangeables come into play during this stretch.

There are two schools of thought regarding Sundin ending his career in Toronto. The first says he is a diminishing asset, so best to trade him now while he still holds premium trade value. This makes sense if the Leafs are still several years away from contending for a cup. Also, this let's Mats have a chance at winning the big prize before the end of his career.

The second school of thought, and the one I attend, is simply to ask: what does Mats want? I've heard him say, or at least imply, that he would like to end his career in Toronto. If this is the case, then I say let him. Loyalty and decency are fundemental to establishing esprit d'corps. If being a Toronto Maple Leaf stands for anything, I'd be proud if it stood for that.

[Ninja]

Poni and Antro are best buds, work well on the forecheck together, and could be the ones setting up Wellwood via their dominance along the boards. Kyle should be able to score a few, now that he's not focusing on getting Mats the puck.

I'd guess Steen will take Sundin's spot on the left half boards on the PP. (aside: I'd like to see what White could do with Kaberle on the PP. I think he could wake up the right side of the left side-dependent power play.)

Steen-Stajan-O'Neill should remain intact, as well as Peca and Tucker with either Bates or Chad. It's tempting to insert Sugar on the 4th line, but I think team defense would be better served with Pohl flanked by two big wingers.

cy, i don't know that saying? how does it go again : )

[Moe Green]

I'd like to see Peca centre the top line with Tucker and Pony. I think he was brought in partly to fill in in just such a circumstance. Let's see if he can step up his offensive game. He clearly is strong in the face off circle. I also like the previous suggestion of playing one af the healthy young d-men as forwards. Not Belak, but possibly White or Bell. Lineup as follows: Peca, Tucker, Pony; Wellwood, Andro, O'Neill; Stajan, Steen, Battaglia; Pohl, Suglobov, Bell or White. Whaddaya think?

[Moe Green]

This is going to be a good test for the team. With Maurice at the helm it's unlikely they will get in a tailspin. Knowing Mats, he'll be healthy enough to play in two weeks. Let's see what the boys can do with their backs against the wall. This is a great chance pre-playoffs to see what Stajan, Steen and Wellwood are made of. Also time for the top vets (McCabe, Kaberle, Kubina, Tucker, Peca, O'Neill) to step up. Pony, Andro, Kilger, Gill -- this is potentially a pretty good team!

[Mike]

First of all, why is Belak even in the NHL? Forget putting him up front in the absense of Mats. Here's you're depth chart:
Ponikarovsky - Wellwood - Tucker
Steen - Stajan - O'Neil
Kilger - Peca - Battaglia
Andropoff - Pohl - Suglobov
McCabe - Kaberle
Gill - White
Kubina - Bell
Put Steen on the powerplay so he'll actually have the ice time to produce some points. Maybe then people will get off his case about his lack of production.

[Peter]

Heard a ridiculous idea on the telly last night, on one of our bang-up local sports news broadcasts, that with Mats Sundin out, the Leafs may look outside the organization for some help, with such names as Morrison, Forsberg, Conroy and (gasp!) Allison.
The thought of resurrecting Jason Allison makes my knees weak, but Forsberg has me licking my chops, although 50-1 seems a little generous to see Forsberg in blue and white. A good skater like Morrison sure wouldn't hurt, though, nor would a solid playmaker like Conroy. Care to speculate a little, cy?
Tucker(I barely know her)-Wellwood-Suglobov
Stajan-Steen-O'Neill
Anterpov-Peca-Mustangkarovski
Kilger(I barely know her)-Pohldancer-Battagliagula
Those lines plus fierce prayer should get us through the next month...oh, and four games with Boston.

[cy]

50 to 1? more like 500 to 1, Peter. I don't see them looking at an FA right now, i hear nothing that might be brewing. And that seems right - to rush out and spend would be a massive overreaction. This isn't even 20 per cent of the schedule we're talking about. But the most important argument against going out and getting an FA is that they've got a little more than $1 million in cap room. Better off to save it for later in the season - it helps make a trade happen if you can take in more salary than you're giving up. So please, enough speculation - i even heard the phrase "Peter Nedved" this morning! Perish the thought!
(And, em, as the anthem goes, Are You Really Peter Nedved in Disguise?)

[mark]

The 'Moe Green' depth chart makes sense. You need a finisher on that top line and niether Poni or Andronoknees or Wellwood fit that job description. Wellwood can make the plays, Poni or Andinjury can create space and Tucker is your finisher. This also keeps that second line intact. I also totally agree with Moe's blue line. Why would you sit down Bell or White? To play Belak? Not adviseable.

[Carla]

The latest ( http://tinyurl.com/y6bwl9 ): Kubina ain't playing in Boston...

'Tonight, that means the defence will remain intact, with Wade Belak remaining on the blue line.'

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo!