Consolation prize: Tim Connolly. Over the summer, Brian Burke’s main concern was finding a bona fide number one center for winger Phil Kessel. The free agent pool was thin at this position and after losing the race for Brad Richards, Burke took the next best thing in Connolly. Burke usually goes for the bulky players, but it appears his tastes may be changing as the NHL moves forward. Wilson and his team definitely have their work cut out for them this season, however if the young players continue to progress as they have been, the playoffs aren’t out of the question. The reason they fell so low on the rankings is because of potential injury.
As stated above, Kessel needs a center to play with and Connolly will definitely suffice. Kessel is a speedy forward with one heck of a shot. If I had to pick one player in the NHL to take a breakaway for my team, it would be him or Vanek. He seems to always find the holes in a goalie and never hesitates to fire it on net. Connolly is next on the cap chart with an annual hit of $4.75 million for the next two years. Although he’s been close to a point-per-game player over the past few seasons, his injury history is troublesome. A two-year contract was the right way to go, but the price seems a little steep. Either way, Connolly is a fantastic playmaker with great vision. He and Kessel should form quite the pairing if all goes as planned. I expect Lupul to be paired with Connolly and Kessel to start the season. I like Lupul’s game. He’s a big body with soft hands that always drives to the net – something I know Burke appreciates. His numbers should see a nice little bump playing on the top line. The Toronto faithful are hoping Lombardi’s concussion complications are over. When healthy, Lombardi is one of the faster players in the league. The trade to bring him in was a steal. Hopefully he returns to his true form because his play could really help this club. After playing in Buffalo and Atlanta, MacArthur had an outstanding season in Toronto scoring 62 points and playing all 82 games last year. This production earned him a two-year contract for an annual cap hit of $3.25 million. If MacArthur keeps up his play, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him play on the top line. Next on the list is Armstrong. He is a tenacious forward who doesn’t hesitate to throw his body around. He really enjoys hitting players coming around the net. With the ability to score a few goals, I expect more from him this season than just 23 points. Grabovski and Kulemin are two players who should have a significant impact on the lineup this season. They skate hard and shoot when necessary. Both players should produce around 60 points this season with an improved offensive cast. Bozak has been a pleasure to watch and should blossom into a reliable center. As for now, his defensive play needs to improve. Once that happens, I anticipate this kid having a long, successful NHL career. Kadri is yet another youngster on this roster waiting for his time to shine. He is quite talented and, once presented with more ice time, will see a dramatic rise in his production. He scored 12 points in just 29 games last season. Orr and Brown bring the necessary grit to a relatively small lineup. If any opponents feel like taking a cheap shot at one of the stars, they will have to answer to one of these gentlemen. Boyce is another budding center that should see a bit more ice time this season. His plus-8 on a mostly negative team is an indication of his responsible play. Dupuis was signed after Colorado failed to tender him an offer. He’s looking to start a career in a new environment. I’m interested to see where this decision takes him. Last, but not least, we have Rosehill. He probably won’t see a lot of minutes, but who knows? I don’t.
Offensive Score: B-
Captain Dion Phaneuf leads the defensive troops in, not just salary, but a few major categories: points, shots and average time on ice. Finishing at a minus-two last season makes sense when you take into consideration his average time on ice combined with the team's goals for/against ratio. Phaneuf has come under some scrutiny for his salary, which makes sense to a certain extent, but he is here to mentor and lead this club. With an improved cast, expect improved numbers. Up next should be Schenn, but has has yet to be signed. I don't anticipate him playing anywhere else, but anything can happen. He is a vital cog in this defensive machine. Schenn is most notable for blocking shots and throwing hits. His 22 points are important especially as a 21 year old. There is still time to grow - a lot of it. Komisarek comes in at a ridiculous $4.5 million a year...for another three years! This is unthinkable. The signings of Finger and Komisarek are laughable. Although he provides a much needed service in protection, the cap hit isn't justified. He plays about 13 minutes a game and ended last season with ten points. Not good. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Liles was a fantastic acquisition The Leafs gave up a 2nd round pick in 2012 that once belonged to the Bruins. A small price to pay for a talented defenseman. With one year remaining on the contract at $4.2 million, Liles has a chance to prove himself in their system and possibly earn a long-term contract. Gunnarsson is beginning to take on a larger role for this organization. Increased ice time last season provided him with a chance to prove his worthiness. They may be baby steps, but if this player keeps progressing he will be a mainstay. As stated above, the trade for Franson was an absolute steal. In Nashville, Franson was turning into one of the better defenseman on that squad. This obviously excludes Weber and Suter. Either way, Franson could easily be a top-four defenseman on this team. Lastly, we have Aulie. Although he didn't shine in his first season, Aulie did get some experience playing in the big league. He should see some ice time this season and his future depends on that time.
Defensive Score: B-
Between the pipes, Toronto has Reimer and Gustavsson. Reimer really broke onto the scene last season with a stellar performance going 20-10-5. That's quite a record for a rookie. And with a save percentage above 92%, this kid looks to have a bright future. I'm going to need at least another season of play to actually determine what Reimer can do. Gustavsson is a monster who was highly touted when he first came into the NHL. Unfortunately expectations were too high and injuries were too often. If "No Reimer Reason" struggles early, Gustavsson will have a chance to reclaim his reputation.
Goaltending Score: B-
This team has a legitimate shot at the playoffs. Will they pull the trigger?
No comments:
Post a Comment