GoDogsGo
09-15-2007, 01:45 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs at a glance:2006-07: 40-31-11 (9th in the East)
General Manager: John Ferguson Jr. (4th Season)
Head Coach: Paul Maurice (2nd Season)
Points Leader: Mats Sundin (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1215&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 76
Goals Leader: Mats Sundin (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1215&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 27
Assists Leader: Mats Sundin (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1215&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 49
PIM Leader: Bryan McCabe (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=987&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 115
+/- Leader: Hal Gill (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=517&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 11
PP Goals Leader: Darcy Tucker (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=169&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 15
SH Goals Leader: Matt Stajan (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=3124&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 1
›What Happened Last Season:
It was another up-and-down campaign in Toronto, with injuries playing a big part of their second straight non-playoff season. Michael Peca was brought in for defensive help down the middle, but was limited to just 35 games with a fractured tibia. Darcy Tucker (who was on pace for career-highs in goals and points) was sidelined with a foot injury for 24 games, while sophomore Kyle Wellwood missed 33 games with a sports hernia. Goaltender Andrew Raycroft earned a team-record 37 wins, but looked shaky at times and was rarely a big game-saver. The Leafs were also bad on special teams, ranking 27th on the penalty kill and 15th on the power play (down from third in 2005-06). But as in 2006, the team stayed in playoff contention right down the stretch. They kept their hopes alive with a wild 6-5 win over the Montreal Canadiens in their final game of the season, with a one-point lead over the New York Islanders for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. The Islanders, however, sank Toronto's playoff hopes the very next day with a dramatic shootout win over the New Jersey Devils. The Leafs missed the postseason by just one point and failed to make the playoffs for a second straight season.
›I Know What You Did This Summer:
With just one year left on his contract, GM John Ferguson Jr. needed to build an instant winner in Toronto. His wish list for the summer included a goaltender and a top-line forward to compliment Mats Sundin. But his first order of business was getting his captain on board for the upcoming season, signing Sundin to a one-year contract. The win-now mentality carried over into the NHL Draft, as Ferguson shipped three high draft picks - including their first and second round selections in June - to San Jose for netminder Vesa Toskala and winger Mark Bell. The final component was a linemate for Sundin, and the Leafs forked out a five-year, $20 million contract for 40-goal scorer Jason Blake.
›Keys To A Successful 2007-08 Season:
One could argue that the Leafs would have clinched a playoff spot if it wasn't for their health issues. Toronto lost 335 man-games to injury, with Darcy Tucker as the team's most notable casualty. The 32-year-old, who missed 24 games, led the team with six game-winning goals. If the team's top game-breaker played a full season, the Leafs probably could have chalked up enough points for a playoff spot. But the team's defence was also a problem, with its 3.15 goals-against average ranked 25th in the league. Those numbers should improve with Toskala, provided he can perform with more starts and more minutes. The team's official statement is that Toskala and Raycroft will compete for the No. 1 job, but Raycroft's days could be numbered after the club signed netminder Scott Clemmensen. The Leafs have a little bit of everything - including its high price tag - on defence. Bryan McCabe, despite some defensive lapses, was a force on the blueline with 15 goals and 55 points, and Tomas Kaberle - the team's best puckhandler - led all Leaf defencemen in points. The rest of the defence should fare better with a full season from Pavel Kubina, along with steady improvement from youngsters Carlo Colaiacovo and Ian White.
›Young And Restless:
The Leafs don't have a lot of wiggle room for more young faces, especially on a blueline that has Colaiacovo and White. On top of that, Andy Wozniewski and Staffan Kronwall will also be battling for a full-time spot. That being said, you can add defenceman Anton Stralman and Nikolai Kulemin to the audition list. Stralman had 21 points in 53 games for Timra of the Swedish League and was named one of Sweden's top three players during the World Hockey Championship. Kulemin, 21, finished third in the Russian Super League with 27 points in 39 games for league champions Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
›Market Watch:
All eyes will be on the captain. The face of the Maple Leafs franchise for the last decade, Mats Sundin signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract in July, and a no-trade, no-movement clause lets him control his own destiny for the short term. The 36-year-old veteran says he has no urgency to go anywhere else, but any way you cut it the window for Sundin to win a Stanley Cup with the Leafs is very small. If they can't make a good run of it this season, no one could fault him if he wanted to join another team that can.
General Manager: John Ferguson Jr. (4th Season)
Head Coach: Paul Maurice (2nd Season)
Points Leader: Mats Sundin (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1215&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 76
Goals Leader: Mats Sundin (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1215&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 27
Assists Leader: Mats Sundin (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1215&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 49
PIM Leader: Bryan McCabe (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=987&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 115
+/- Leader: Hal Gill (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=517&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 11
PP Goals Leader: Darcy Tucker (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=169&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 15
SH Goals Leader: Matt Stajan (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=3124&hubname=nhl-maple_leafs) - 1
›What Happened Last Season:
It was another up-and-down campaign in Toronto, with injuries playing a big part of their second straight non-playoff season. Michael Peca was brought in for defensive help down the middle, but was limited to just 35 games with a fractured tibia. Darcy Tucker (who was on pace for career-highs in goals and points) was sidelined with a foot injury for 24 games, while sophomore Kyle Wellwood missed 33 games with a sports hernia. Goaltender Andrew Raycroft earned a team-record 37 wins, but looked shaky at times and was rarely a big game-saver. The Leafs were also bad on special teams, ranking 27th on the penalty kill and 15th on the power play (down from third in 2005-06). But as in 2006, the team stayed in playoff contention right down the stretch. They kept their hopes alive with a wild 6-5 win over the Montreal Canadiens in their final game of the season, with a one-point lead over the New York Islanders for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. The Islanders, however, sank Toronto's playoff hopes the very next day with a dramatic shootout win over the New Jersey Devils. The Leafs missed the postseason by just one point and failed to make the playoffs for a second straight season.
›I Know What You Did This Summer:
With just one year left on his contract, GM John Ferguson Jr. needed to build an instant winner in Toronto. His wish list for the summer included a goaltender and a top-line forward to compliment Mats Sundin. But his first order of business was getting his captain on board for the upcoming season, signing Sundin to a one-year contract. The win-now mentality carried over into the NHL Draft, as Ferguson shipped three high draft picks - including their first and second round selections in June - to San Jose for netminder Vesa Toskala and winger Mark Bell. The final component was a linemate for Sundin, and the Leafs forked out a five-year, $20 million contract for 40-goal scorer Jason Blake.
›Keys To A Successful 2007-08 Season:
One could argue that the Leafs would have clinched a playoff spot if it wasn't for their health issues. Toronto lost 335 man-games to injury, with Darcy Tucker as the team's most notable casualty. The 32-year-old, who missed 24 games, led the team with six game-winning goals. If the team's top game-breaker played a full season, the Leafs probably could have chalked up enough points for a playoff spot. But the team's defence was also a problem, with its 3.15 goals-against average ranked 25th in the league. Those numbers should improve with Toskala, provided he can perform with more starts and more minutes. The team's official statement is that Toskala and Raycroft will compete for the No. 1 job, but Raycroft's days could be numbered after the club signed netminder Scott Clemmensen. The Leafs have a little bit of everything - including its high price tag - on defence. Bryan McCabe, despite some defensive lapses, was a force on the blueline with 15 goals and 55 points, and Tomas Kaberle - the team's best puckhandler - led all Leaf defencemen in points. The rest of the defence should fare better with a full season from Pavel Kubina, along with steady improvement from youngsters Carlo Colaiacovo and Ian White.
›Young And Restless:
The Leafs don't have a lot of wiggle room for more young faces, especially on a blueline that has Colaiacovo and White. On top of that, Andy Wozniewski and Staffan Kronwall will also be battling for a full-time spot. That being said, you can add defenceman Anton Stralman and Nikolai Kulemin to the audition list. Stralman had 21 points in 53 games for Timra of the Swedish League and was named one of Sweden's top three players during the World Hockey Championship. Kulemin, 21, finished third in the Russian Super League with 27 points in 39 games for league champions Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
›Market Watch:
All eyes will be on the captain. The face of the Maple Leafs franchise for the last decade, Mats Sundin signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract in July, and a no-trade, no-movement clause lets him control his own destiny for the short term. The 36-year-old veteran says he has no urgency to go anywhere else, but any way you cut it the window for Sundin to win a Stanley Cup with the Leafs is very small. If they can't make a good run of it this season, no one could fault him if he wanted to join another team that can.