MAPLE LEAFS PRESEASON: so far...
Posted 3:54 AM ET | Comments 0
This is my first blog on hockeybuzz, but I've been coming here multiple times daily for longer than i care to admit. I'm a leafs fan that's lived in Ottawa for 10 years, and this means that I'm usually starving for leafs news. If there's no news, then just a new Leafs blog is usually fine. But there's never enough. I'm addicted to TML, and I think there are others out there like me too. So hey, I think I'll start becoming a seller of this stuff.
This preseason started off with countless questions;
Will this defense really come together as one of the East's best?
Are the Leafs going to rely on another year of "offense by comittee", or will someone take the reigns that mats left oh so long ago?
Is Toskala going to recover from his surgeries well and succeed, or will Gustavsson take his place and try his hand at being an NHL starter?
To me, these 3 questions answered will be enough for my biggest question: PLAYOFFS?
- When it comes to the Leafs defense, i really have no idea. On paper, it's commonly accepted that this is a high quality top 4, with kaberle, komisarek, schenn and beauchemin. So far, the leafs are running a 2.5 GAA, which is pretty good. it seems like the defense can get things done. but what i saw in the game today (couldn't watch ALL of it, came down to T.O. for the old man's birthday) was a little scary. 4 goals against, about halfway through the game? And we had our top 4 d playing, along with Exelby. I for one believe the Leafs are fine playing goal-for-goal with most teams, but that's not what these guys are here for. Luckily this is pre-season, and i can pass this off as a fluke that won't be repeated for 82 games.
-I will say this for Burke: he's got balls. That was a big trade for Kessel, and it had better work out because if it doesn't, he'll lose a lot of Leafs fans respect. That being said, with the addition of Kessel, this offense has some potential. Grabovski should be given first line center, and we can only hope he keeps getting better. stajan as a solid second line center, and Kessel on the 1st line. To me, the rest of our offensive-minded Buds can be put anywhere on these two lines, because their points production is too similar. I just hope a couple of these college kids crack the lineup, but they're all so good I can't pick a favourite (Stalberg).
-Toskala, I dunno man. Tonight seemed shaky at first, then you pulled through. I think his season won't be amazing, but it should be solid enough to take us to the playoffs.
Yeah I know, a pretty long blog, but its the first time so I'm nervous. Any criticisms are welcome, and I hope to keep helping my fellow leaf fan out with a blog as often as possible, because i know how it feels when you get online and there's nothing new.
-B. Rae
This preseason started off with countless questions;
Will this defense really come together as one of the East's best?
Are the Leafs going to rely on another year of "offense by comittee", or will someone take the reigns that mats left oh so long ago?
Is Toskala going to recover from his surgeries well and succeed, or will Gustavsson take his place and try his hand at being an NHL starter?
To me, these 3 questions answered will be enough for my biggest question: PLAYOFFS?
- When it comes to the Leafs defense, i really have no idea. On paper, it's commonly accepted that this is a high quality top 4, with kaberle, komisarek, schenn and beauchemin. So far, the leafs are running a 2.5 GAA, which is pretty good. it seems like the defense can get things done. but what i saw in the game today (couldn't watch ALL of it, came down to T.O. for the old man's birthday) was a little scary. 4 goals against, about halfway through the game? And we had our top 4 d playing, along with Exelby. I for one believe the Leafs are fine playing goal-for-goal with most teams, but that's not what these guys are here for. Luckily this is pre-season, and i can pass this off as a fluke that won't be repeated for 82 games.
-I will say this for Burke: he's got balls. That was a big trade for Kessel, and it had better work out because if it doesn't, he'll lose a lot of Leafs fans respect. That being said, with the addition of Kessel, this offense has some potential. Grabovski should be given first line center, and we can only hope he keeps getting better. stajan as a solid second line center, and Kessel on the 1st line. To me, the rest of our offensive-minded Buds can be put anywhere on these two lines, because their points production is too similar. I just hope a couple of these college kids crack the lineup, but they're all so good I can't pick a favourite (Stalberg).
-Toskala, I dunno man. Tonight seemed shaky at first, then you pulled through. I think his season won't be amazing, but it should be solid enough to take us to the playoffs.
Yeah I know, a pretty long blog, but its the first time so I'm nervous. Any criticisms are welcome, and I hope to keep helping my fellow leaf fan out with a blog as often as possible, because i know how it feels when you get online and there's nothing new.
-B. Rae