Let’s get some Leafs stuff out of the way. Here is what the Leafs lineup looks like as of this morning.
Wellwood-Sundin-Blake
Ponikarovsky-Antropov-Bell
Kilger-Pohl-Tucker
Devereaux-Battaglia-Newbury
Belak -Stajan-Steen
Kaberle-McCabe
Kubina-Colaiacovo
Gill-White
Toskala-Raycroft
With the influx of forwards it doesn’t seem like there will be room for all these players and Paul Maurice will have his work cut out to get the opening night lineup. This is assuming no more transactions occur, to make Maurice’s decisions even more difficult.
Concrete assessments without seeing the club is tough, but with a similar lineup, it’s not difficult to envision.
Still, subtle changes can make a difference. Take Darcy Tucker for instance. With Jason Blake most likely manning the right slot and taking the Almo pass, will his numbers decline? Could 20 goals be possible without the same amount of first unit power play time?
The reciprocal could be Mark Bell to return to the twenty-goal form of his tenure in Chicago. Balance is key throughout the lineup. It will be an ‘offense by committee’ approach once again next season.
The best case scenario for Mats Sundin is to score two quick goals on opening night, tie and break Darryl Sittler’s record for most goals in Maple Leafs history and be done with it. Enough of this chasing after the record and having the focus shift from the Swede to the task at hand.
Winning.
I’m not going to beat a dead horse, but the acquisition of Toskala could actually help out the defense. I’ve maintained that it wasn’t the defense that hung Raycroft out to dry, but rather the entire defense corp. having to tune their game to make up for the goaltender’s propensity to fall to his knees, and fail to recover. The seeming perception is that the defense is scrambling when, in fact, they were attempting to make up for their top-shelf-prone backstop.
Toskala allows the Leafs to gain better control of their transition. Good goaltending will allow Maurice to alter the focus and send out the speed the other way.
Just like the little plays along the boards to get the puck out Ottawa used to get by Buffalo in the postseason, the focus of the defense can change just a fraction of a second quicker, allowing for a more fluid transition.
That could make a difference in the season.
There is still an entire summer for teams in the East to retool. Much can occur between now and opening night.
Once the puck drops in early October, a new hope will emerge throughout Leafs Nation. They are not Cup contenders. But will be a much better club next season.
Enjoy.
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Some asked what my plans were going forward from here. This summer I will help out on the McKeen’s Hockey Pool Yearbook, and maintain writing fantasy for the website.
I’ll also be doing season previews for hockeytraderumors.com for more than just the Leafs.
Going forward, I am currently looking for a media position, or a writing job, but come hockey season I’ll be in arenas, taking in junior and minor league games looking for and assessing prospects.
I’ll be hitting up the Maple Leafs organization, various NHL clubs as well, and the NHL offices in Toronto. Where I land is yet to be determined.
A lot depends on how this summer progresses. I’ll still pursue some freelance opportunities but would like to stabilize a position living, eating, resting, sleeping and dreaming about stick and puck.
It’s that simple.
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Some parting comments for various writers on this site:
Josh Plummer, how could you even suggest cutting my hair? I have a Jesus look thing happening today so to me, that’s Sacrilege. You have a dream job with the Canucks and you do just as great a job on this site. Keep it up and Bless You my son!
Eric Engels. Tsk Tsk Tsk. I know a playwright/comedienne named Engels. She hates hockey but I’m guessing she’s cuter than you. She could use some your charisma. Good luck to you, brother!
Daniel Tolensky, the best writer on this site. I would put you on par with me, but they don’t call me the Magnificence that is Gus for nothing ;) Keep the Daily Show going! You’re a phenomenal writer and person.
(Be sure to check Danny’s blog for a short story we, along with Adam, are working on)
Kevin Gibson, I will miss your offsides and you are the king of hockey trivia. It was a great experience to be associated with the Leafs blogger such as yourself. Keep up the great work and make sure you keep pumping out those books!!!
Howard Berger, if you’re reading this, return my emails. :) Everyone lay off Howard. He is the man on the inside and proved it with his coverage of the free agent frenzy! Good luck to you, Howard! It’s Berger time!
Garth, I wish I had your ability to pack the equivalent effect of a roundhouse into a sentence of five words. Or less. Party On, dude. See ya in slug-town next season.
Kevin Lee, my Ontario brethren. I thought of you after the Cup finals. Always enjoyed your blogs and our conversations. Keep smashing them out, brother!
Bill Meltzer, I totally enjoyed your blogs. Packed with outstanding facts and perspectives. I have to admit though, dude, I confused you with Mr. Metzer, the Pens blogger for about a month before I realized you are two different people. Once I realized that …
Brian Metzer, I thought you did a phenomenal job in covering the Penguins situation, and in retrospect, I tip my hat to you. For everything that you have gone through with the franchise, and your struggle, to do the work that you produce is simply phenomenal. Strength and respect. Go Crosby!
Adam Kirschenblatt, a composed young man who shows progression as a wordsmith considering his youth. Especially when I compare our ages. You do great work Adam, keep going!
To Eklund. I can’t thank you enough for allowing me the opportunity to spout these words. I wish you best of luck with the fine community that your site has amassed. You have a very difficult, sometimes unappreciative, other times exultant position. I wish you and this site nothing but the greatest success!
To the readers.
Words don’t yet exist to express myself for the overwhelming comments when this first came to be. Both in posts and in all the emails I received. Almost tear-jerking.
To all who read my rants. I don’t want to get sappy, but there have been a lot of regular posters and regular emailers and more simply, readers who don’t post to the site. I wish I could shout-out all of you. To pick just one person would be a lack of respect to everyone who brought with them their own unique perspective. You taught me a lot while I wrote here.
To everyone that has passed through here, read a blog, posted a comment or emailed a question, I thank you!
But come on, this was a hockey blog. As such, it should end properly.
Maple Leafs fans, pretend there is one minute left in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, at the ACC, with Toronto up 6-2.
Non-Leafs fans, pretend your team is busting up the Leafs 6-2 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, at home.
To end it, in the immortal words of that legendary scribe and nuclear power plant owner, Charles Montgomery Burns:
In closing, gentle reader, I'd like to thank you. "What’s that?" you say? Me thanking you?
No, it's not a misprint. For you see, I enjoyed writing this (blog) as much as I hope you enjoyed reading it.
Everyone sing along now ...
Nananana, Nananana,
hey hey hey …
goodbye
[email protected] 
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