The Leafs have played their first twenty two games of the season bringing them to approximately the quarter mark of the season. We as fans expected an ugly start and we go it! The first ten games of the season we’re inconsistent in terms of structured game play, grinding along the boards and quick outlets were few and far between. Since then, the Leafs have begun to get somewhat comfortable playing Babcock’s style of play. Obviously there are a few hiccups here and there, but overall the team is playing better hockey.

Improvement and hard work is what’s important for this Maple Leafs team and their fans. Last year’s overall effort was unacceptable, so this hard work and dedication to sticking to a game plan is quite refreshing.

I’m not going to dive into the Bernier/Reimer debate as it’s been rehashed over the last few weeks. If Reimer is hurt then Bernier will take over and have a chance to get his game back up to NHL standards and remind us fans and the Leafs organization why we signed him in the first place. Things can only go up for Jonathan Bernier, one would hope at least.

Toronto is 5-2-3 in their last ten outings and is tied with the Flyers in the Eastern conference with 19 points. They have a 7-10-5 record on the season and have 51 goals for and 62 goals against. I’d fathom it’s a safe bet that this is where most Leaf fans predicted they would be at this point of the season, perhaps they are even playing a bit better than some thought; myself included.

Babcock seems to have his troops working hard at practice and hard during the games. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but looking at some of the players it looks as if some of them have lost some weight as their face looks to have slimmed down a bit. Perhaps from working so hard on and off the ice, possibly the professional athlete meal plans these guys are on, but guys like Komarov look to be as fit as ever.

Coach Babcock continues to push the buds in the right direction as he continues to preach that his players need to continue to have puck possession and quick and effective outlets of the defensive zone. He’s quite fond of his mobile defensemen and this could be part of the reason as to why Petter Granberg was put on waivers.

Granberg is more of a stay at home defensemen and was also recovering from a torn achilles tendon and hadn’t played since spring. The Leafs took the risk with the fourth round pick that only skated with the big club in eight games and lost him to the Nashville Predators who already have a surplus of defensemen. You win some you lose some, but the new regime of Maple Leafs prospects are coming up and the others are being shipped out.

MacWilliam, McKegg, Ross, Broll, Nilsson, Biggs, Verheaghe and Finn have all been removed from the Leafs roster in one way or another.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed 2015 draft picks Nielsen and Timashov to entry level contracts. Nielsen was drafted in the third round (65) and Timashov was drafted in the fifth round (125). Both players have got off to booming starts this season with their respected clubs. Nielsen has 24 points in 23 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL), and Timashov has 41 points in 23 games with the Quebec Ramparts (QMJHL).

Prospects update (stats) in the early goings of the season:

Marner (OHL) 39 points in 19 games
Timashov (QMJHL) 41 points in 23 games
Johnson (SHL) 16 points in 20 games
Piccinich (OHL) 29 points in 19 games
Dzierkals (QMJHL) 31 points in 22 games
Dermott (OHL) 21 points in 22 games
Nielsen (WHL) 24 points in 23 games
Cameranesi (NCAA) 13 points in 11 games
Korostelev (OHL) 14 points in 15 games
Bracco (OHL) 14 points in 10 games
Desrocher (OHL) 13 points in 24 games
Engvall (ALK) 10 points in 22 games
Toninato (NCAA) 6 points in 13 games
Donaghey (QMJHL) 7 points in 13 games

Bracco:

Jeremy Bracco was signed by the Leafs in the second round (61) overall. He started the season in Boston College and decided to leave the organization and go play for the Kitchener Rangers. Since then he has been playing extremely well posting over a point a game pace. Since joining the Rangers they have gone 9-2 and sit tied for first in the Central Division of the OHL.

The second round pick said that he has no regrets leaving Boston College, and that both his agency and the Leafs didn’t have any deciding input on the decision. Bracco was ensuring the decision was made by himself and his family and is thankful to the Leafs organization for not being too pushy.

Next Game:

Toronto will host Washington on Saturday night, so the Leafs have some time to wait on Reimer and see if he’s ready to play. If not Bernier will get the start and the Leafs will have their hands full with the number one Russian goal scorer of all time Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals hold a 14-5-1 record and sit third in the East behind the Rangers and the Canadiens. The Leafs will surely have their hands full, but have managed to beat the Dallas Stars twice already, so anything is possible.

Trades:

I’m certainly excited to see Toronto make their first trade of the season. They have a lot of players who are slowly gaining worth on the market; players like Bozak and Lupul especially stand out as of late as they have been chipping in their fair share of points. Health issues as we all know are the big concern with Lupul, his skill is and always has been on the higher end. One can hope the Leafs make some smart trades and move players while their worth is up there, increasing any potential return.

Who would have thought that at the quarter mark of the season Phil Kessel and Leo Komarov (Godorov) would have the same number of goals?

Thanks for reading!

Join the Discussion: » 121 Comments » Post New Comment

» Bust out your monocle and take a gander of the Atlantic

» Atlantic Division Spotlight: Tampa Bay Lightning

» Slicing the Atlantic Division in Half

» Atlantic Spotlight: Toronto Maple Leafs

» Atlantic Spotlight: Red Wings