Maple Leafs Overview

leafmeister writes "After months of speculation, Burke looks like he is finally done. Here is an overview of the Leafs roster, strong points, weak points, and areas of improvement.

Offense: Scoring, at least on paper, is the weakest part of the Leafs roster. In terms of forwards, they have two proven commodities. They have Kessel, who can be relied on for 30 plus goals, and Versteeg, who can be relied upon for 20 goals. Beyond that, they have question marks. The most glaring question mark is obviously at center, where they do not have anyone who has broken 50 points. The best bet is Tyler Bozak, the undrafted center played the final games last year with Kessel, and developed pretty good chemistry with the star sniper.

His scoring pace topped all rookies. However, it was a VERY small sample and similar success this year is far from a given. If he plays all year, I would expect no more than roughly 50-55 points. That was roughly what his scoring pace would have had him at this year. The next best bet is Mikhail Grabovski, an inconsistent, frustrating player who can make things happen in the offensive zone. However, he is no first line center. Barring a breakout year, the Leafs will have to make due with the current weak group of centers. On the wings, they have Kessel, who will have to have to put up a better offensive season this year than he did last year if the Leafs are to make the playoffs. His numbers last year were indeed impressive, considering he missed training camp, the first twelve games of the season, and was allegedly never truly in top form. If the Leafs are to do any damage, he has to crack 40 goals. Versteeg is a good, consistent, all around, versatile player who can help in all areas. He will be given more ice time, and will see power play time with Kessel and Phaneuf, so he has a better shot than ever to crack sixty points. Nikolai Kulemin had a good finish to last season, playing with Kessel and Bozak. He is a beast of a man, and has a top notch physical game. If he sees more top line ice time, it is not unreasonable to expect a 20 goal, 40 point season from the young winger. Colby Armstrong is a good addition in all areas of the game. He kills penalties, has some offensive ability, and can get under the skin of the opponents. If he can crack twenty goals, I will be thrilled. Although he adds enough to the game in other areas to make him a useful player, even without scoring. The forward core should look like this, at least to start:

Kulemin-Bozak-Kessel
Versteeg-Kadri-Armstrong
Caputi-Grabovski-Sjostrom
Brown-Hanson-Orr

The forwards will have to be the backbone of the offense, but they do have a good cast of offensive defensemen to help them move the puck. They have Kaberle and Phaneuf, both of whom should crack fifty points. Beauchemin and Gunnarsson have some offensive ability as well, and could crack 30 points.

Defense: On paper, defense is the strongest aspect of the Leafs roster. They have two pairings that could be top pairings, so long as the players play up to their potential. They have a capable, shutdown, shot blocker in Komisarek, a developing shutdown stalwart in Schenn, an offensive, hard hitting, puck rushing, all-star in Phaneuf, a smooth skating, smooth passing, power play quarter-back in Kaberle, a decent hybrid defensemen in Beauchemin, a developing puck mover in Gunnarsson, and a decent depth defensemen in Lebda. I will make a prediction. If three of the first five mentioned either develop further, or regain previous form, the Leafs will make the playoffs. I would say that all of them, hold for Gunnarsson, underachieved last year. That has to change. Here is how I would make the defense pairings:

Phaneuf-Beauchemin
Kaberle-Komisarek
Schenn-Gunnarsson
Lebda

Goaltending: It should be an interesting battle between Giguere and Gustovsson. I expect, in the end, that Giguere will win. Who knows, maybe being the first goalie that the Leafs have traded for (in recent history), that didnt cost a kings ransom will serve him well. Either way, the Leafs need one of them to win the goal tending battle, and carry the team. Some top teams like Philly and Chicago have proven that you dont need a high end goalie to win, the Leafs do. Gustovsson is going to be a good goalie, and another year of splitting duties should help him out.

Power Play: The Leafs have decided to keep Kaberle. Whether you like it or not, it shows one thing beyond a reasonable doubt. The Leafs offense starts with the power play, and with a unit that includes Kaberle, Kessel and Phaneuf, at least on paper, it looks pretty good. They have two main threats, the Phaneuf one timer, and the Kessel snipe from the half boards. If they can get a big body who can stand in front of the net, take punishment, screen the goalies and get rebounds, they should make a dangerous unit. As of now, here is how I would make the PP units.

Armstrong-Bozak-Kessel
Kaberle-Phaneuf

Armstrong is one of the few Leaf forwards with decent size, and he is willing to take punishment. Not perfect, but I would say he is the best option.

Caputi-Kadri-Versteeg
Gunnarsson-Beauchemin

No huge weapons, but all solid contributers. Caputi looks like he has the potential to be a major net presence.

Penalty Kill: This is an area that must improve. Given the additons, I think it is a safe bet that it improves significantly. They added Versteeg, who became a PK ace in Chicago, Armstrong, who has good PK instincts, and they are complimenting a group that saw major improvement after the big trades. Versteeg, Armstrong, Kulemin, Sjostrom, Brown even Bozak, could all see PK time this year. On defense, they need Komisarek to regain his 2008 form, and Schenn to develop further. If they can have both of them shot blocking, they should be okay on the PK.

Versteeg-Amrstrong
Komisarek-Beauchemin

Bozak-Sjostrom
Schenn-Phaneuf

If the Leafs PK picks up where it left off, they will have a good shot at a playoff spot.

Rookie Factor: The biggest rookie this season on the Leafs, will have to be Nazem Kadri. He has put on a lot of weight, worked very hard, and is coming into a weak group of forwards. If he gets some time with Kessel and Bozak, he should be in the thick of things for the Calder. Caputi saw some time last year, and has a good shot at making the roster. He should see PP time, and if he puts himself in the right places, should enjoy some success. Long shots to make the roster are Jerry D'Amigo, Keith Aulie, and Marcel Mueller.

I will finish with some predictions.

The Leafs will finish 10th, and give Boston the 12th overall pick.

The Leafs scoring list will look this this.

1) Phil Kessel - 38 goals, 67 points
2) Tomas Kaberle - 8 goals - 55 points
3) Kris Versteeg - 21 goals - 53 points
4) Dion Phaneuf - 17 goals - 49 points
5) Tyler Bozak - 14 goals - 49 points
6) Nikolai Kulemin - 23 goals - 41 points
7) Nazem Kadri - 17 goals - 40 points
8) Colby Armstrong - 15 goals - 38 points
9) Mikhail Grabovski - 11 goals - 35 points

That would be somewhat of a best case scenerio, given the talent on the roster.

Anyways, I think it is safe to say that the roster improved. Playoff worthy? Probably not, but they should be in the thick of things. "