This post does not contain the words "Nazem Kadri"

The Leafs ventured into Ottawa last night and emerged victorious in a back-and-forth game against the Sens. This morning, everybody is talking about you-know-who.

Me, I need a break from that circus.

The regular season is officially one week away. Here are 5 reasons to be optimistic (that have nothing to do with what's-his-name):

1. Nikolai Kulemin: The guy already has five goals this pre-season, or roughly a third of what he scored in 78 games last year. He's carrying the puck the way a protective tiger carries her cub. He seems invincible to one-on-one coverage. And he has a weird intensity in his eyes that says, "I am now comfortable in your land. Prepare to be dominated."

2. Phil Kessel: This off-season, he trained like a lunatic and it shows. Nobody has ever questioned Kessel's ability to bury the puck. He is a natural sniper. But now he has stamina. He seems to have lowered his centre-of-gravity. He is getting faster as the game goes on. Kessel is the engine that will power the Leafs this season and he is now firing on all cylinders.

3. Special teams: To be competitive, your power play and penalty killing need to balance out somewhere in the 13 to 15 spots. That is, if you have the worst PK in the league, your power play better damn well be near the top. Last night, the team went 3-for-9 on the power play and shut-down all of Ottawa's five extra-man chances. Fingers crossed.

4. Mike Brown: How has this guy managed to fly under the radar for most of his career? He has blazing speed. He is a serial penalty killer. He blocks shots with unflinching fearlessness. And when things get chippy, he isn’t afraid to shove his Fu Manchu into an opponent's chin. Brown is a classic "Bottom Six" forward in the Burke-Wilson parlance. His contributions this season could be invaluable.

5. Kris Versteeg: In a previous life, it's entirely possible Versteeg was a contortionist. When controlling the play, his body seems to violate all known physical laws. And he makes things happen for everybody around him. Going into last night's game, Versteeg was tied with Pittsburgh's Mike Comrie with 17 shots on goal. He didn’t play against Ottawa. Why?  He was collecting his Stanley Cup ring in Chicago. In other words, he can get it done and he knows what it takes.

What are you optimistic about?

PHOTO: DAVID COOPER/TORONTO STAR

Comments

[NBBoy]

Kessel is having fun.. barring injury he's going to light it up. 45+ goals.

Versteeg is an exciting addition. He and Kessel look like they've been playing together for years. Could he be the missing piece to give Kessel the time and space he needs to properly set up? I think so.

Mike Brown... at long last... pure Wendel right down to the 'stache. He's a gem.

Kulemin... watch this kid. 40 goals on tap.. him and Kessel are going to be on a tear.

No Toskala! Lovin' Jiggy and the Monster... Reimer's going to be big.

Give the Leafs D some time to gel.. the ingredients are there for making life miserable for opposing forwards.

Of course pre-season and regular season are what they are. But there's chemistry and jump on the team not seen in several years. Nice mix of vets and youth. Playoffs definitely doable.

[Anthony]

Great blog this morning!
Expectations and pressure drop a little bit for the kid and look what he does. Will not be surprised if he doesn't start with the Leafs but its only a matter of time until he is called up for a few games, big media needs to settle down and let him turn 20 before trying to convince us he's the next Crosby. If he plays 15-20 games with the big club this year would be perfect, then next year bring the kid up full time!

Also Schenn had been looking good, any update on his injury?
Go LEAFS !

[Geoff Read]

Kulemin is definitely a good all around player - he's been under-appreciated until now, but I think you're right - he seems like he's about to have a break out season (although I'm not sure about the 40 goals prediction made by NBBoy). It's probably realistic to hope for 25-30 goals and strong 2-way play from him.

Were I a Leafs fan I would say the #1 reason for optimism this year is the defense - while the Leafs are thin up front, especially when it comes to goal scorers - they have a top 6 group on D that can skate with anyone in the league. A full season of a healthy Mike Komisarek will up the nasty quotient considerably on the back end, and if Beauchemin can play all season like he did towards the end of last year, that will make a big difference too. The X-factor is of course Kaberle - will his play, or the team's play, be affected by his tenuous position?

[Ostrich Lover]

I love this Blog, with the exception that perhaps I should have been hired to write it, but I digress. i think the Bozakster is the reason to be excited not to mention having the best defense in hockey and could it be that the leafs will go from last to first in PK? I think this team is so underrated and I predict big things including playoffs, more than one round of them, a higher scoring bunch than thought and of course a Calder for my best buddy number 43.

[bill d]

I'm glad that Kadri is no longer being called a savior and that fans are putting his worth at a more realistic level. All in all, I don't think things have improved in Leafland, from this time last year, and I'm pretty optimistic about Boston's chances at getting yet another lottery pick this coming spring, courtesy of the Leafs.

[newsguy]

So, here are my 5 preictions.

1. Leafs win the cup!

2. Nazem Kadri wins the Calder

3. Dion Phaneuf wins the Norris

4. Jiggy and the Monster win the Jennings

5. Kessel wins the Rocket Richard trophy

Please feel free to discuss.

[Flying Fidoo]

The leafs are simply better this year than last. Gigere vs Toskala, Kessel starting the season strong rather than coming off injury late in the first half, a captain, some scrappers. What do you think the outcome would be if you pitted the Leafs today versus the leafs last year at this time? Better overall team chemistry I think. That's the reason for optimism.
A Stanley Cup...no but a playoff contender...I think so.

[RA]

Watching the defense play in most games I have to say they look like the most overrated group in hockey. Very poor one-on-one defense and sooo slow, although it is pre-season so I should go easy on them. Have to admit though, the forwards look better than expected. I am very excited to see Kulemin and Bozak have a break out year (~130 points between the pair hopefully)

[Dov Eles]

Vinay and @newsguy and pretty much all the rest of the commenters...
I love the optimism! We need it with our local outfits! I am like this with every major Toronto sports team in training camp; forget their past season(s), The Leafs, Jays, Raps can do no wrong in the pre-season. While I have been constantly let down (perhaps 2006 Raps are the exception) and despite the intensive media treatment that seems to grow crazier every year (a phenomenom that parallels the lack of cups); I am happy with the direction that the Leafs are taking. Unlike the other teams, however, I have not bought tickets to the Leafs at home or away since 2003 and will hold off till my pre-season dreams are fufilled in the regular.

[Chad]

if Kessel stays healthy there is no question he can pot 40 goals this year.
Kulemin is also looking very strong, but I'm not opposed to putting him on the 2nd line just to maybe balance out the scoring a little bit. put Versteeg on the top line to start the season. don't see how you can go wrong with that.

[Alin]

1. Competent Goaltending - No more Vesa Toskala. Need I say more? Between Gigguere and Gustavsson, the Leafs will get consistent goaltending night-in night-out. That alone could be good for 5 wins, or so.
.
2. Beauchemin, Komisarek and Schenn - improved play in the pre-season compared to their lackluster performances last season from this trio could catapult the Leafs' D into one of the best in the league.
.
3. Specialty teams - The PK should be stronger with Sjostrom here for the whole year, plus newcomers Armstrong and Versteeg. The much improved Hanson should help, as well. As for the PP, a healthy Kessel, the addition of Versteeg, and the pairing of Phaneuf and Kaberle should give the Leafs some more bite with the extra man advantage. Besides, the specialty teams can't be any worse than last season, can they?
.
4. Kulemin - Based on his pre-season performance, a breakout season, i.e. 20-25 goals, wouldn't be out of question for Kulemin. On a team starved for offence, it would give the Leafs some much needed secondary scoring.

[Patrickat1960]

Does the media in this town work for the Leafs or what?
These guys aren't journalists they're fans because only a fan would think this team has the potential to do anything.
This team will be garbage as usual.

[SLA]

While the Leafs have made some marginal improvements this is not by any means a good hockey club. The lack of depth alone brings injuries into play. Goal tending is questionable at best. With only one line capable of scoring with any regularity it is a given that they will face the opposition checking line day in and day out. I wish them well but looking at this line up I don't see winning on a regular basis a reality.

[John]

ALL good posts ! U can feel the anticipation for Oct 7th !

I think thee main reason for optomism is BURKE. What he has done in just under his 2yrs tenure has been remarkable ! Off the ice he has built a structure that will set up this team for yrs to come. The team has gone from being rated 25th in the league for prospects to now being rated 6th ! That speaks to the future. It is starting to show on the ice. He has brought in some talent, some grit and a pest(Armstrong). This will be a talented tough team to play against and only time and chemistry stand in their way !!

[vern apars]

only one drawback you still have wilson/burke at the helm remember the olympics they had a star team and were sent home

[Matt]

You're right John their team was sent home...with a silver medal because they lost to us. Big drawback there, Canada is just a bunch of pushovers right?

[MontrealBoy]

Ah yes, the annual period of optimism and delusion. Let the parade begin!! Toronto may be a better team than last season, but that's not hard to accomplish given by atrocious they were last time 'round. All that aside, they are still a horrible club with little post-season prospects. Let's work on some more modest goals...like staying out of dead last!!!

[dps]

Mike Brown: How has this guy managed to fly under the radar for most of his career?
Answer: He has not played in Toronto until now, where the perceived value of all players magically increases ten-fold.

[Flying Fidoo]

Leafs fans aren't alone in their eternal confidence and optimism. Look at how long others waited like Chicago, New York and even Boston is getting a little long on the waiting list for a cup even though they have won one since the Leafs last parade. Look at Boston Red Sox in baseball and the eternal wait that Chicago Cubs fan have had.
Its not delusional or pathetic. Its just about being a fan. Sometimes being realistic is simply called hope and that's not a bad thing. Go Leafs. Good luck guys.

[Willie]

Prediction: James Reimer for will be starting for the Leafs by Christmas.

[Petevh]

Mike Brown's moustache. Man, that thing is INTIMIDATING. It's like, "How dare you share this ice surface when you can't grow a moustache like this?". Should be worth a point a game at least.

[James Jack]

This team is a work in progress but there is no way they are going miss the playoffs. The team is solid with goaltending and defence and the forwards all have speed and energy. The Leafs this year will be the cinderella story in hockey because this club is built on character and will make sure every team they play knows they were in a game. The Leafs will win many more of those usual lacklustre mid week games.

[Pyramid Power]

Tyler Bozak and Mike Komisarek make me feel optimistic. And a good full solid year from Francois Beauchemin. And Frank Allaire hopefully hopefully getting Giggy and Gus to play to potential. Goaltending is easily my biggest worry about this team. Easily. Not sold on either guy making the saves they need to when it matters. We were spoiled by quality netminders for a long time here in Toronto with The Cat, Cujo and Eddie when he was good. I hope to be spoiled again after enduring the Raycroft/Toskala lost years.

[RJ]

I have to agree with Patrick1960.....goaltending is shaky at best....seriously - Monster wasn't winning any games last year....Gigere...well we all know where his career has been. Defense, although better than last year wasn't handling AHL destined players all that well in the pre-seaseon...that should be concerning to everyone. Despite wanting the Leafs to do some damage this year, I don't see it happening. No NHL team....can be win enough games to make the playoffs when they CONSTANTLY let in 3 or 4 goals a night...it's that simple.

[Jamieson]

I really like your style, and this blog has quickly moved up on my daily read list. Get your bosses to give this a little more visability from the main pages.

anyways, I'm really looking forward to what Grabovski is going to bring this season. I really like his game and his "fire", and hope he has a great season.