Well, since I am clearly the only person still writing on this site anymore, I thought I would make up a totally unique idea, unfounded by any previous member of this website, and list off five predictions I have for the Leafs next season. They could be good or bad, but we’re Leafs fans, we’re pessimists, so really don’t expect much to cheer about (not in this post anyways).
Without further ado, here they are:
1. Kris Versteeg and Mikhail Grabovski will kill eachother.
Pending a Kaberle trade it looks like our top two lines are destined to look something like this: Neal/Kovalchuk/Simmonds/Raymond-Bozak-Kessel, with our second line being Kulemin-Grabovski-Versteeg. Now don’t get me wrong, that’s a decent top-six at first glance, but anybody who has watched more than five Leafs games as well as five Blackhawks games (so essentially if you’re a Leafs fan who watched the playoffs), you would know that both Versteeg and Grabovski are incurable puck-whores. These are two guys who refuse to let anybody on their line ever carry the puck over the blueline but themselves, these are two guys who try to deke through everyything, and these are two guys who will be just as bad once they are set up in the offensive zone. Now that doesn’t mean they’re bad players, it just means that if they play on the same line by default they will probably end up brutally murdering eachother. Or, since Grabovski’s completely insane he’ll probably just beat him up whether it’s in practice or at the bar.
2. Mueller > Caputi
So the Leafs signed some big German kid whose supposed to be a guy who hits, gets in on the forecheck, has good hockey sense and above all else can skate well. He’s a left-wing power forward who looks like he’s only gonna get better, which is perhaps the exact opposite of what we can say about the recently acquired Luca Caputi. Don’t get me wrong, I like the kid and all and I hope he can get it going with the team who grew up cheering for, but Caputi proved to us back in March that he isn’t overly aggressive, he has extremely mediocre hockey sense, and worst of all, he can’t skate to save his life. Now who knows what he did this summer to prepare for next season, maybe he shows up faster than future Hall of Famer Bill Sweatt, but in all likelihood the kid that spent two years in the AHL already is probably going to be down there for a third, and that could very well be the nail on the coffin for an otherwise promising hockey career. Essentially, I expect the much more well-rounded Mueller to take his place on whatever roster spot there may be for one of them moving forward.
3. Jeff Finger won’t get waived.
It appears pretty much everybody ever in the history of Leafs Nation expects Jeff Finger to get waived just because he sucks. Though he may in fact be horrible, the fact still remains that if we bury Jeff Finger in the AHL, we bury any chance we have of ever trading him and his 3.5 per year contract. It’s the same deal as last year, why bury underachievers like Vesa Toskala or Jason Blake to completely destroy their trade value when we can hold onto them and ultimately compress them into an asset (a la J.S. Giguere)? Though I understand that the Leafs are pressed up against the cap, they can still make it work even if they keep Jeff Finger, whether it’s keeping a max of twelve forwards up with the club at all times or shedding some cap in a potential Kaberle deal. In other words, Finger won’t get waived unless he absolutely has to (for example if he was getting in the way of acquiring a star player).
4. Kadri will suck.
No, not longterm. Longterm I think Nazem Kadri could, if he adjusts some of his flaws and puts on even more weight, potentially be a first-line center sometime in four or five years. But as for now Kadri is a slightly undersized potential rookie who does stupid things like hog the puck, take long shifts, take horrible slap shots and produce even worse turnovers. To add to that, he has all the pressure of Leafs Nation mounting over him, including the actual Leafs brass of Ron Wilson and Brian Burke. Realistically I see Kadri pulling a Stalberg this year: tear it up in the pre-season, make the team, do absolutely nothing for ten games and become an awkward adventurer between stardom in the AHL and worthlessness in the NHL. Repeat process until we trade all of our forwards and Kadri is given a full stint with the club post-deadline. Once Tyler Bozak is his center all should be fine. Wait, what?
5. The Leafs won’t make the playoffs.
Best case scenario this summer is that the Leafs trade Kaberle for somebody who could score roughly 25 goals next year, which without going into detailed projections would probably put the club around 230 goals next year. Consdering the Leafs goaltending is expected to hold up enough to be around the same, the Leafs would have a decent shot at the playoffs. Problem is, injuries and cold streaks are inevitable, so the Leafs goal total next season will probably be, at best, around 210 goals, so unless Jiggy and the Monster wanna go win us the Jennings I’m not sure the post-season is achievable. Take into account that teams such as Carolina, Atlanta and Tampa Bay will all be better, another season without post-season glory seems almost a sure thing. I know you can make the whole “well, other teams will have injuries too” argument, which is true, but the fact is that those teams projected goal total is still well over 230, so it won’t really be an issue either way. It isn’t a matter of if the Leafs stay healthy they will be fine at scoring goals, its a matter of the Maple Leafs just can’t score enough goals in general.
And that’s a wrap. Let me know what you think in the comments.
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15 Comments
1.) I wonder if Grabovski will bitch slap at a Versteeg like Semin bitch slaps at a Staal?
2.) I have already ordered my Mueller jersey. I hope he wears number 3 and is named captain or my jersey is obsolete.
3.) If it cost so much for the Leafs to acquire one Finger, just think about how much it would cost for the whole hand!!! Just think about it!
4.) Nazim Kadri sounds like a really good name for a chocolate bar or energy drink. Or the name of a Harvey’s Burger. A nazimkadri with cheese please.
5) Playoffs??? What is this “playoffs” thing people keep talking about? Is it some sort of special event or something?
Leafs will make the playoffs, with our improved D and out acquisition of guys like Versteeg and Armstrong this team is a lot better than last year. Not to mention a healthy Kessel. I think the Leafs are getting a bad rap right now, the fans have been let down the last 5 years and no one wants to be optimistic anymore.
Burke will not let the Leafs miss the playoffs again with himself in charge, we will get a good return for Kabs and we will be set up front.
People need to stop thinking in the negative
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I could NOT be happier that there is someone else in the world who realizes that Kadri is not going to step in and win the Calder, Richard, Hart, Lindsay, Norris, and Vezina (yes I know, but that’s how stupid it gets sometimes). Time in the AHL will serve him well, and Burke has a history of making young stars toil in the minors (see Perry, Corey and Getzlaf, Ryan).
I also like your realistic view on Finger.
Kudos on this totally original idea!
I do disagree and think that the Leafs will end up in the playoffs with what’ll end up being one of the best Ds in the league this year, if not the best. However, I appreciate your pessimism on Kadri and Caputi. I’ve heard people projecting him as a top six player this year for us but I personnally wouldn’t mind never seeing him as a Leaf ever again in my life. Kadri might get 40 points; 30 is realistic and a third-line spot with some PP time would suit him well for now. That’s why we need to keep Grabovski; Leafs fans can’t just assume that Kadri will make the second line and that we don’t need any other good centers.
Sorry, but I was talking about Caputi at the start, Kadri at the end.
Why on earth can a 16 year ikd write a blog on the leafs and be given any respect. Grow a few years bud, and I might start listening to what you have to say.
All joking aside. The Leafs will make the playoffs. I am so convinced of that, I will even project that they aren’t even going to squeak in at that 7 or 8 spot. I project they will hit 5 or 6th overall with points in the high 90′s. This is coming from a MAJOR pessimist so over recent years I was never bold enough to make such predictions. With their depth in goal and on the back end alone my projection is NOT far fetched.
Kadri isn’t going to be a top 6 Centre this year but he will get a chance to do just that when he makes the team out of camp. Time with the Marlies and the odd call-up throughout the season will allow him to develop – of course.
Why the heck are you here, then? It better not be to read my blogs, I’m not much older than him.
Can’t really see how people can think the Leafs are going to make the playoffs. Look at other teams in the conference, if you can’t find 8 that are better than the Leafs right now.. you’re insane.
Toronto has better GT and D then they did last year, the Leafs were well over .500 after acquiring Phaneuf, Shoe, and Giguere.
We will have a healthy Kessel and Komisarek and we have made the additions of Versteeg and Armstrong that to me is enough for the playoffs. But Burke is not down and will still find a way to make this team better either through a trade or signing of some kind.
This team is going to surprise many may
I agree Damian.
I guess I’m insane Ryan. I can find a few teams in the east that are obviously better than the Leafs as far as offensive depth. I could last year too when stacking up that small, overpaid Montreal team against teams in the east but look what they did. The Leafs, as they stand right now, are better offensively than most think. Their PP will be a lot better than last year. They will be a very hard team to play against.
So yes, I will say it…..I would feel comfortable saying the Leafs are capable of beating the following teams in points this season for one reason or another. NOTE: I think Carolina might have a very good year so they could be the exception.
Buffalo Sabres
Ottawa Senators
Boston Bruins
Philadelphia Flyers
Montréal Canadiens
New York Rangers
Atlanta Thrashers
Carolina Hurricanes
New York Islanders
Florida Panthers
I guess we will all find out in a few months.
@mike the beeker
Why on earth would you consider the Leafs to be better than the Flyers, Bruins, Rangers, Canadiens or Sabres? Even the Senators haven’t really lost much and have a pure powerplay specialist in Gonchar. The Rangers were a shootout away from the playoffs this past season..
It’s just classic Leafs fans who turn a blind eye to any other team making improvements. The Flyers were two wins away from the Cup and now suddenly they’re worse than the worst team in the East last year? At least back up the argument somewhat…
@ Ryan
I follow all teams quite closely. I don’t have tunnel vision when it comes to seeing just blue and white. I don’t believe I said the Leafs are better or even worst than any of those teams. I said…
“Leafs are capable of beating the following teams in points this season for one reason or another.”
……on that note, the Sabres are capable of doing the same, so are the Flyers, Rangers etc…Ottawa? I wouldn’t go that far.
The same can be said to you. You call me a “classic Leaf fan” which, to you, automatically makes me gullible and dim-witted when it comes matters pertaining to hockey outside of Leafs Nation. Well, you’re wrong. You sound like a Classic Non-Leaf Fan. Absolutely ignorant to any possible idea that the Leafs could potentially turn in to a legit contending team.
I am a Hockey Fan too. Your response was funny in respect to how you completely twisted my words around and added some of your own. It is not unrealistic for any hockey fan to think the Leafs are capable of finishing in the top 5 or 6 in the East. I simply provided a list of teams that could be under them come April.
I will use your words to sum up my point.
“the worst team in the East last year.”
focus on the words “last year.” Because it is not going to be the case in 2010-11. Will it be Philly in the basement? Not likely. Anything is possible though.
Well yeah, that’s why they play the games. But fans go ahead with “The Leafs are going to make the playoffs next season” with no reasoning whatsoever. The team hasn’t really changed that much and despite our “amazing D” we still need to put pucks in the net.
The Leafs might make the playoffs and they might not, obviously. Nobody picked Phoenix last year to cap 100 points either. I hope the Leafs do get in, but as far as pre-season predictions go, the author’s prediction is sound… on paper right now the Leafs don’t have a playoff team when you look at the teams in the East.
I’m quite aware that they CAN make the playoffs. But “I think they’re better than these teams for one reason or another” isn’t exactly an argument for the Leafs to be a “legit contender”
leafs will make the playoffs..
look at all the teams in the east. id say our goaltending is going to be top 8 in the east. giguire is a serious upgrade from toskola. the monster will hopefully be healthy and with a year of north american hockey under his belt will make less rookie errors. remember he had to get used to the style of nhl hockey.
although our defence was horrible last year, there were many factors that contributed to that.. here s a few to name. komi injury, toskala in net, our forwards lacking 2way play…
this year well be top 5 in the east for defence. whos going to be better? on paper we look like a top defensive team.. dion for a full year, kabs back. beauchimin and a healthy komi..schenn will come back stronger and play with more poise and gunnerson is looking like a solid player in the making.
with better goaltending, clearly a better defensive core and added 2 way forwards its safe to say our defence will be top 5 in the east.
this leaves us with offence. yes there is a big question mark there. i think were going to have a solid bottom 6. i think we have a lot of dept at the bottom 6 and if injuries play apart some other guys will get a chance..
top 6 is where the leafs are hurting.. kessel will be 40+ goal scorer and i really think versteeg will be 25 to 30 goal scorer on the second line. as for the rest i dont have good things to say..
even if we are not the best offensively our defence and goaltending can steal games which we couldnt do before.
special team the leafs were the worst for both pk and pp. i can assure you that wont be the case this season.
on paper we have a good team. leafs are going to surprise many. finishing 5th or 6th in the east is not out of the world in my opinion. aside from pitts, was, nj and its any teams to steal the next few spots.. with the leafs division being very weak theres no reason the leafs can finish top of their division…
leafs hater lick my balls, and leafs fans get ready for a season full of exitiment.. and for all you leafs fan who wanna jump on the wagon come playoffs well let you in on the parade!