Opening Night Observations

One prediction right off the bat: The top-two Leaf lines are going to have to change.

Quite simply, having three right-handed shots on the top line (Tyler Bozak, Phil Kessel and Kris Versteeg) and three left-handed shots on the second unit. (Nik Kulemin, Mikhail Grabovski and Clarke MacArthur) just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It makes even less sense when Ron Wilson keeps those lines together on power plays.

So we'll see. Each line came up with an even strength goal in Thursday night's 3-2 win over Montreal, which is good. But the power play was horrific, which is bad. With the opportunity for a one-timer only on one side or the other, the Habs defended the Leaf power play with ease, although the biggest issue was the absence of any Leaf forward willing to chase down the puck in the offensive zone.

The easy switch on the forward lines would be to flip Versteeg and Kulemin. But that won't happen after a win.

Otherwise, the surprising development from opening night was the elevation of third-year defenceman Luke Schenn up to No. 4 on the depth chart. Schenn played 21 minutes and 36 seconds, more than he was allotted on a regular basis last year, and skated mostly beside veteran puck-mover Tomas Kaberle.

Mike Komisarek, meanwhile, played the least of all Leaf defencemen, just 12:08, and generally worked on the third pair with Carl Gunnarson. It's a sensible way to deploy Komisarek in the early going as he finds his feet after off-season shoulder surgery.

At the same time, Schenn deserves to play more than Komisarek right now, particularly when he goes with his first instinct. He looks bigger and seems more confident, and if Komisarek can get his game going, those two along with Dion Phaneuf (23:45 in the opener) could make the Leafs intimidating on the right side of their defence.

Of some concern, meanwhile, is the shaky play of Gunnarson, who didn't have a strong training camp. His weak puck play created Montreal's first goal, and right now he seems to lack that simple effiiciency that characterized his play last season.

Next up, Ottawa on Saturday night. Have to believe head coach Ron Wilson will go with J.S. Giguere in net again, then turn to Jonas Gustavsson for a start on the road next week in Pittsburgh or New York.

 

Comments

[Ostrich Lover]

Hey Paul, are you serious?

Seguin straight up for Kessel? I laughed my ass off at that one!!! No one would even suggst that that would be a good trade. The Leafs won that trade easily, so easily in fact that there should be no debate about it and the fact that there is shows how ironicly unknowledgable the Leafs fans are in general.

Komiserik was not even close to horrible. He makes one bad play, and since hes a defensive defensemen, thats all most people notice. I dont think he was gonna get a lot of ice time last night no matter what.

People are making out that Kabele had tis awesome game, and while he wasnt horrible, the Leafs best defenseman last night were undebatably #'s 2 and 3.

[Krakondack]

Giguere was good, and deserves praise, but folks, this is what all good goalies do. Giguere did not stand on his head or anything, he simply did his job well. For too long, Leafs have not had that, so maybe we see more into it than is there.

[Matt Devin]

Another astute observation from Damien.......and surprise surprise that after an opening night win the Toronto Star's "star" hockey reporter has to find some way to rip the leafs.

Many guys have made a good living playing, and preferring the off wing - Andreychuck ? Jagr ? Ovechkin ?

Although I'm sure this situation hasn't gone unnoticed by Wilson.....Cox makes a good point on the PP.....gotta be ready to one-time the pass......but 5 on 5 chemistry is more important that which way your stick curves.

[sunrunner]

Just curious as to what your observations are after watching the second game? I read your articles regularly and agree with a lot of the comments you make but isn't it a bit early for comments like that?

[Hunter in London]

Stop trying to find negatives in a game and point out the fact that Kessel played a good game and MacArthur is a pleasent surprise.