Leafs: Had good G.F
Posted 12:36 PM ET | Comments 13
As the slow summer weeks pass, every day I hear fans, talk show host, and reporter’s talk about how "It's time to write off the Leafs", "They have no offence", "Team is full of 3rd and 4th liners". To a certain degree I would have to suck up my pride and agree, well I did until I started to think and research how they ranked last year. You would be surprised some of the stat's I found.
Firstly lets recap what they have done so far this off-season.
Kyle Wellwood - off to B.C.
Darcy Tucker - Off to the rocky mountain state.
Bryan McCabe - Possibly sitting at home this season.
Mats Sundin - Still unknown.
To me these are the biggest changes that have been made, and to most people this is what is going to be the end of the Leaf's season this year. Now im going to disagree big time. Check out some of these stats and see for your self.
Toronto ranked 11th overall in the regular season with G.F.(and they didn't make the playoffs)
-Reason: ranked 27th over all in G.A.
With all the guys they have lost only one made a huge difference last year with points and goals. Look at the four guys above stats for last season and tell me where all those goals have gone.
Wellwood - 5G, 21PTS, -12, ranked 11th in scoring, 59GP
Tucker - 18G, 34PTS, -8, ranked 8th in scoring, 74GP
McCabe - 8G, 23PTS, -2, ranked 10th in scoring, 54GP
Sundin(here is the big one) - 32G, 78PTS, 1st in scoring, 74GP
31G a combined -22 and not a full season between them. I don’t think it should be hard to replace what Wellwood, McCabe and Tucker had done last season. Mat's is the biggest loss for the Leafs, but I believe that he will be back next season for the Leafs.
To me, the Leafs have now balanced out the Team, they are focusing on Defense first.... which if you look at the Stats that’s what they need to work on. Scoring hasn't been a problem for the Leafs over the years; it’s keeping them out there net. They have gotten Bigger and better on the back end and pickup forwards that know both ends of the ice. Don’t count the blue and white out just yet.
Firstly lets recap what they have done so far this off-season.
Kyle Wellwood - off to B.C.
Darcy Tucker - Off to the rocky mountain state.
Bryan McCabe - Possibly sitting at home this season.
Mats Sundin - Still unknown.
To me these are the biggest changes that have been made, and to most people this is what is going to be the end of the Leaf's season this year. Now im going to disagree big time. Check out some of these stats and see for your self.
Toronto ranked 11th overall in the regular season with G.F.(and they didn't make the playoffs)
-Reason: ranked 27th over all in G.A.
With all the guys they have lost only one made a huge difference last year with points and goals. Look at the four guys above stats for last season and tell me where all those goals have gone.
Wellwood - 5G, 21PTS, -12, ranked 11th in scoring, 59GP
Tucker - 18G, 34PTS, -8, ranked 8th in scoring, 74GP
McCabe - 8G, 23PTS, -2, ranked 10th in scoring, 54GP
Sundin(here is the big one) - 32G, 78PTS, 1st in scoring, 74GP
31G a combined -22 and not a full season between them. I don’t think it should be hard to replace what Wellwood, McCabe and Tucker had done last season. Mat's is the biggest loss for the Leafs, but I believe that he will be back next season for the Leafs.
To me, the Leafs have now balanced out the Team, they are focusing on Defense first.... which if you look at the Stats that’s what they need to work on. Scoring hasn't been a problem for the Leafs over the years; it’s keeping them out there net. They have gotten Bigger and better on the back end and pickup forwards that know both ends of the ice. Don’t count the blue and white out just yet.
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04 Draft Day
man ..... what ever you have in your pipe ..can your share it with the rest of us?? or is this heat getting to your senses??? The Leafs will be OK?????? do you still believe in the Tooth Fairy???? Have a great summer..it's going to be a Long winter dude.... all the best...
Its better to stay possive as much as one can. Thinking the worst and hoping for the best is a great way to think.
The Leafs have nothing to lose, so finishing last or close to it is expected. However, the Habs have set the bar rather high for themselves and a bad season will be devestating to their psychi ;)
leafs are alwayz my stanley cup favourites!
I think that the leafs will finish higher in the standings than they did last year. Offense is not a problem, i agree with that. With Vesa starting the season as starter and with a back-up capable of winning 5-10 games the leafs are much better off. Plus the players they signed will help with the high energy forchecking game that they wanna play. I don't think they are not going to make the playoff still, but anything is possible.
Trying to find a bright side is definetly the way to go... however, the Leafs bright side for next year will be the opportunity to win the John Tavares sweepstakes. They're not even close to as good as last year, which isn't saying much. A first line of Poni/Antropov/Blake... not exactly going to strike fear into opponents.
I concur...with mslepp, not this post. Tavares is the only thing I see as a good thing to aim for this season. Quite frankly, I'll be pissed if they screw it up and win a few...
I think you guys are nuts!!! As true leaf fans you should always hope and root for them to make playoffs!!! Losing is NEVER an option.....Go Leafs GO....true blue forever!
I think the Leafs dealing McCabe or Kubina for a potential lottery pick is the only way that we'll see Fletcher letting this team challenge for a play-off spot. BUT IF they were to pull a ''Montreal'' and show strong early, they might just look at some mid-season additions to make a real run. Realistically though, if they can't win the division, they should coast.
Might as well finish last and win the Tavares sweepstakes, whats the points of finishing medi ocre and getting a 10th overall pick.
i can't imagine going a whole year not trying to win. How deflating for players and fans. How sad for season ticket holders
hey pengal!pittsburgh invented "tanking the season!"how do you think they ended up with all those high picks to draft crosby, malkin, fleury etc.did you just become a pens fan when sid joined the team? pittsburgh owned the basement in the nhl for a few seasons!
I am a relatively new fan to NHL hockey. I would have been very discouraged indeed as a Penguins fan if they didn't try to win. If that is the case, I have no doubt that is where their troubles in ticket sales and their fans reputation as "bandwagon" fans comes from. Chicago is seeing the same resurgence of fan interest.