These Boys Will Need Help

So Mats Sundin thinks the Maple Leafs will be "exciting" this season.

So exciting he'd rather watch from Sweden. I know, I know, what else is the guy gonna say?

The Leafs, of course, can't even dare to try to be exciting. They don't have much horsepower at all up front, so the notion of playing free-flowing or wide-open hockey can't even enter their collective imagination for a nano-second. It's going to have to be check and check some more, flip it out and off the glass, relieve the pressure and get a change.

Strangely, some have argued that since the Leafs have depth and experience on defence, they may be well-suited to play this type of game.

Depth and experience? Really?

This is the same chatter we heard last fall when some suggested the Leafs had such depth on defence that they should trade some of it away to help in other areas.

Now we're hearing it again. Folks, it's about more than just having lots of names.

What I see is a defence with two proven blueliners - Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina - and a pile of question marks.

It might be the weakest defence corps in the entire league. Certainly one of the weakest five. To use Ron Wilson's methodology, figure out how many of Toronto's defencemen could crack the lineup of the elite teams in the league, and you have a measure of how strong the Leafs really are at that position.

Only Kaberle and Kubina would have a shot. Of the rest Carlo Colaiacovo is wonderfully talented, but it's gone beyond wondering if he can ever stay healthy enough to play for a long stretch. You still don't know what you're going to get.

Ian White is still learning, still an uncertain commodity. The Leafs brass thinks Jeff Finger is great, but he's had one full year in the NHL and was only qualified to play half of Colorado's playoff games last spring.

Mike Van Ryn was a player Florida was desperate to dump coming off a serious wrist injury. Anton Stralman is flashy but full of holes defensively. The Leafs have wanted Staffan Kronwall to make the team for two years and he hasn't been able to cut it or stay healthy. Jonas Frogren is a complete unknown, and Luke Schenn is going back to junior.

Maybe some of these fellows will jump up and surprise. But even if two or three do, or even if Colaiacovo plays 82 games, that doesn't not make this a deep defence corps.

Sundin may think the Leafs will be exciting, but they can't be, as much to protect their vulnerable group of blueliners as goalie Vesa Toskala.

Comments

[Alex Brown]

Kevin - White as basically the 4\5th d-man last season with Gill. He was 1\2 with Carlo in the AHL. He played most of last year trying to cover up Gill's "Aki Berg" ways. However I get the feeling Wilson is not as high on him as Maurice was.

Nudge- Fletcher turned FA pickup Gill into a 2nd rounder. Someone else will also over pay at deadline time for a so called stay at home d-man. They all overpay at deadline time...too many examples to choose from. I'm certain Finger was picked up for that reason. Turning $$ into picks is a good move.

[smokey]

Its guys like Cox who turn so many players off. He only ever complains and whines but that is how he earns his money. Just because he is a sports writer does not make him any expert. He whines constantly for the Leafs to make changes, they do and he whines some more. Its suckers like myself who get so frustrated with his crap that we feel compelled to write. He does not have to be a shrill fro the Leafs but he should at least give the new players.

[Conn Smythe]

I was really surprised to read a negative article by Cox, ha...

I think R Coutts has it correct - the truth lies somewhere in between, because you'll never get it from Cox - all you get from him is biased negativity.

The Leafs were 27th in the NHL last year in goals against last year, and with a stronger defence and a better, defensive minded coach, I have no doubt they will improve. Will they be in the top 10? No. But they will improve.

[Drew]

when becoming a Leaf's fan, does one have to get a lobotomy?? or is it optional??
The only think more enjoyable than watching the Leafs suck for yet another season, is the crap that fans write ... apparently now some Leafs fans have turned to critiquing the media!?!?! ...
Yeah, that's the problem with the Leafs! ... bad writers in the press box!! ...
by the way, if you want to see the Leaf's world through rose-coloured glasses, try Leafs TV or local radio coverage.

[Dave Russell]

Wilson swears he is going to make each player accountable with ice time. If that happens it will make a big difference in their mind set. So far even though they have only won one game so far there have been good signs. Even last night in Buffalo they shut out the Sabres for 57 minutes. Granted they blew it in the last three minutes and overtime but the two goals at the end of the game were deflections with a Leaf in the penalty box and Miller pulled so the Sabres had a 2 man advantage. There are some good signs.

[Conn Smythe]

Two points:

Anyone who disagrees with what Damien says about the team defence is short on hockey knowledge. I think bottom 5 was being generous. Only Leafs fans would disagree, since they notoriously over value the roster.

Secondly, Sundin isn't playing for one reason and one reason only. The only place he wants to play is "in Toronto". The problem? He doesn't want to play "for Toronto".

***

Sorry, 'the Nuge' but I disagree with Cox and am more than willing to debate his royal highness in the hockey knowledge department.

Do I think the team defence belongs in the top 10? Of course not. But I think they will be a solid unit (providing they don't get injured) and they will blossom under a coach who uses defensive systems.

They should compete for the last play - off spot.

As for Sundin, the best thing for the Leafs is if he doesn't play for them.