Sunday Discussion: Can these two friends generate enough firepower?
The Leafs lost 3-1 to the Sabres last night. It was their fifth exhibition game in as many nights. Today, a breather. But with four games remaining until the big show begins, coach Ron Wilson says this much is clear: His top two lines will feature Tyler Bozak between Kris Versteeg and Phil Kessel, while Mikhail Grabovski will centre Clarke MacArthur and Nikolai Kulemin.
During the 90s, as the Leafs shed Ballard-era dysfunction the way a snake sheds its skin, fans were suddenly exposed to an unusual sight: The swirling red goal light behind the opposition net.
Three of those teams (92-93, 93-94 and 98-99) went on to the Conference Finals. And during the regular season, the top two scorers on all of those teams combined for at least 150 points.
Doug Gilmour (127 points) and Nikolai Borschevsky (74) put up 201 points in 92-93. Gilmour (111) and Dave Andreychuk (99) ratcheted up the total to 210 points the following season. And in 98-99, Mats Sundin (83) and Steve Thomas (73) led the attack with 156 points.
Granted, neither Kessel nor Bozak played full seasons last year. So the following comparison is flawed. Nevertheless, here’s the deal: They combined for 82 points. In fact, even if you add the 44 points Versteeg scored with the Hawks, the team's presumed top line is still under the 150 threshold with 126 points.
What does this mean? Maybe nothing. As Brian Burke told me recently: "We think we can manufacture offence by committee."
Is he right? Or is the committee still missing a critical member?
PHOTO: RENE JOHNSON/TORONTO STAR
The committee is still missing a critical member - the 100-plus point centre! A guy like Lecavelier, St Louis, Crosby etc. I think Bozak may even become that guy - maybe - but not likely this season. Kessel is a one-dimensional shooter. Maybe he can be more. A Joe Thornton is what this team needs to contend in the east. I think this is going to be a fun team to watch IF Kessel can pot 40-plus, Bozak is a legit 60-80 point guy and Grabovski can take the reigns as a reasonable facsimile of a number two guy. If not, it's gonna be a very long season. Or at the very least a season with a lot of tight defensive play.
Posted by: Moe Green | 09/26/2010 at 01:34 PM
They'll be okay if they get 20-plus goals from the majority of: Grabovski, Kulemin, MacArthur, Versteeg, Armstrong, Bozak and 40-plus from Kessel. A tall order, but possible!
Posted by: Moe Green | 09/26/2010 at 01:37 PM
I think the key for the Leafs will be keeping the puck out of their net more than anything. They will have to produce offensively for sure, but Boston secured themselves 6th spot in the east with the lowest goals for in the East, and 2nd lowest in the entire league. Unfortunately, their success can be traced to superb season from Tuuka Rask (ironic isn't it), and it's unclear whether the Leafs have a goalie capable of such a season.
Posted by: Mike | 09/26/2010 at 02:10 PM
For interest's sake, take a look a the Leafs' 1998-1999 and 1999-2000, teams. Scoring by committee, and, nationality aside, a somewhat similar team makeup from those two years to this.
But the difference is Curtis Joseph. As much as hockey is about other things, it's about goaltending, meaning your goaltender is half of everything. If Giguere can keep the PK from getting away from him and stay around 0+/- in even strength play, they have a shot.
Good goaltending can make up for the Leafs' shortcomings, but between us, I wouldn't bet on a .915 S%, or a sub 2.40 GAA from the Leafs, and that's not good enough.
Posted by: Gabriel | 09/26/2010 at 04:26 PM
Not even close.
This is a bottom-third of the league team again, possibly bottom 5.
Would have been nice to rebuild through the draft, wouldn't it?
Posted by: Patrick | 09/26/2010 at 05:57 PM
Here are the career high goals and points of Toronto's top 6 forwards:
Kessel - 36G, 60Pts
Bozak - 8G, 37Pts
Versteeg - 22G, 53Pts
Armstrong - 22G, 40Pts
Grabovski - 20G, 48Pts
Kulemin - 16G, 36Pts
If every one of them matches their career high (which is highly unlikely, given that players get hurt and young players' development tends to be up and down), that is probably not enough scoring to make the playoffs.
Posted by: Marc | 09/26/2010 at 06:13 PM
I know this is off the subject but I just realized something. There is no way Kadri is gonna start with the big club. Just think what kind of a draw a hungry, future maple leaf star will be with the Marlies. Unless he knocks the collective socks off management, Kadri is Marlie-bound for at least half a season. I think he knew that from the start of training camp and that's why he is giving a lackluster effort. It's all part of the game and Nazim is a player. Injuries might make it a different story. Money makes the world go round.
Posted by: Moe Green | 09/26/2010 at 06:51 PM
Do you really think that "career high" means they will never get higher? Kessel played 70 games coming off major shoulder surgery and racked up 30 goals and 55 points with Stajan as his centre for most of those games . Bozak, after a major bout with the flu knocked the piss and 20 lbs outta him, played 37 games and scored 27 points as a rookie. Grabovski netted 20 as a rookie then managed just 59 games after breaking his wrist last season. Seriously dude, think about what you are saying.
Posted by: Moe Green | 09/26/2010 at 06:59 PM
For all the rebuild for the draft people : Kadri -7th overall, Schenn 5th , Kessel 5th, Phaneuf 9th, Its all good. Bozak 82 pts, Kessel 40 goals, 90 pts. The statement of Kessel being a one dimensional player is a joke: hey pal, watch a game.
Posted by: ol | 09/26/2010 at 08:07 PM
Definitely not. This remains one of the worst lineups of forwards in the league, and the weakest group of centres bar none.
Posted by: Geoff Read | 09/27/2010 at 09:41 AM