Winds of change are blowing through the NHL. Once mocked and ridiculed teams such as Florida, Atlanta, Edmonton and the Los Angeles Kings are now looking fresh and ready to compete. Similar changes have taken place in Tampa where the biggest move was Steve Yzerman, who by taking over the GM position, offers instant credibility to the Bolts franchise. Looking back at the last 10 or so years (not to get overly depressed), there’s nothing to suggest why we should be talking those teams down. For the Maple Leafs, success has been rare and far apart. So, where does this leave the Blue and White? Are we a part of the big shift of power that is going to hit the NHL in the next couple of years or are the Leafs just a rock too hard to be moved by the wind? In this article I’ll compare the Leafs with other franchises that I view as the most capable of future NHL success and are also in the midst of a rebuilding process. Details down below.

EDMONTON OILERS

A proud and storied franchise slumped to a level at which it is marked as one of the least desirable places to play in the entire league and which free agents look to avoid like a life threatening disease. More recent examples being Danny Heatley and Chris Pronger. Heatley refused to waive his NTC for a move to Edmonton, while Pronger bolted as soon as he got the chance. Actually, he created the chance by demanding a trade. Then came Big Sexy, Mr. Sheldon Souray. It’s sad that a franchise that once boasted maybe the best team in NHL history with players like Gretzky, Messier, Anderson, Fuhr, Coffey etc. suddenly couldn’t satisfy Sheldon Souray. In recent years, Edmonton was more famous for it’s losses and player/management wars than Stanley Cups, and their player development was at it’s all time low. But, all that seems to be changing with Tambellini and crew taking a more careful approach this time around. They have to, with expectations of a fan base only second to our own at an all time high (ok maybe not all time, but rather since the Gretzky years). Boasting talents like Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi Svensson, talents that will grow together, and that have a chance to become a really tight nit group because the similar stages in their development and the young look of the new Edmonton Oilers. While their talent pool is probably deepest in the league, they are still missing key pieces of the rebuild. A top defenseman, a younger NHL starter goaltender and a top line center. Ryan Whitney and Ladislav Smid are two good defensemen, coupled with Tom Gilbert, Kurtis Foster make a decent top 4 group but there is still a feeling that a top NHL defenseman is needed. That top guy could possibly be Sheldon Souray but it’s highly unlikely he’s ever going to have the same impact as during his previous years, and it’s extremely likely he’ll be traded for some spare parts. Goaltending is a big question mark since Devan Dubnyk and Jeff Deslauriers are not really No1 material (maybe Dubnyk, but he has yet to show it, although the character is there) and future of star goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who was acquired last season is clouded by back injuries. They lack a veteran presence and will be looking to add it during this offseason. As far as the forward group is concerned, goalscoring and assists will be up to those kids mentioned above, with the biggest contribution coming from the oft injured and supremely talented Ales Hemsky, Shawn Horcoff and the overpaid, oversized winger Dustin Penner. Sam Gagner has great passing ability but he has to prove he can produce at the NHL level (although he is still extremely young) and players like Gilbert Brule, Andrew Cogliano will probably play some part in the rebuild. Their new coach, Tom Renney, is a solid NHL coach, and the staff includes Pat Quinn, as the senior hockey adviser, assistant coaches Kelly Buchberger & Wayne Fleming, President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe and GM Steve Tambellini. While often stigmatized as hasty and rash, I’m willing to give Lowe and Tambellini the benefit of the doubt, their competence assessment depending on the future of the young trio. I don’t doubt Quinn for a second.

ATLANTA THRASHERS

Atlanta has made some great moves in acquiring Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien and the rest of the Chicago corps, they have finally put a respectable GM in place (Rick Dudley) and are not looking like a complete train wreck. Also, as a kind of side effect to the whole Kovalchuk trade and the recently completed NHL draft they have some great prospects in Patrice Cormier and Alexander Burmistrov. A core of solid defensemen led by Tobias Enstrom and Zack Bogosian is looking really promising after a breakout season Enstrom had last year. Other notables include recently acquired Brent Sopel, Ron Hainsey and Johnny Oduya. They plugged a big hole recently, by adding solid No1 goaltender Chris Mason who’s coming off a good season for St. Louis. The guy is a team player and is perfect to either hold down the fort by himself or share the load with up and coming Ondrej Pavelec. They have a solid, although not spectacular group of forwards. Good checkers in Cormier, Eager and Ladd, two very good evolving power forwards in Byfuglien and the guy who was most famous for knocking out Matt Cooke last season, Evander Kane. To me, the guys on Atlanta are not superstars, and they don’t need to be, but what they do have is a perfect top six, bottom six ratio. They have two good top six centermen in Antropov and last year’s surprise package in Rich Peverley coupled with good young scoring wingers in Brian Little and Niclas Bergfors. When you add Clarke McArthur, Todd White and excellent prospects like Cormier, Burmistrov and Telegin you have yourself a young and hungry hockey team, one that will only improve as years go by. The GM change from Don Wadell to Rick Dudley is a welcome and positive sign for Thrasher fans, it’s also the biggest plus as far as the offseason is concerned. The rest of the staff remains questionable. For this season at least, the franchise seems capable of making a postseason run.

FLORIDA PANTHERS

The Panthers have a really good chance to be a good NHL team for years to come. Florida has taken a route that’s similar to the Thrashers and Blues. Solidifying the defense, with a top notch goaltending talent in the player pool, and one already an established and quality NHL goaltender they are ready to build for the future from the back end. Jacob Markstrom is currently rated as the No1 goaltender in the world that’s not playing in the NHL. That will soon change. And when it does, the Panthers will have to decide what they are going to with Tomas Vokoun. But, that will remain kind of a bittersweet concern of GM Dale Tallon who has still time to decide what he wants in return for Vokoun. Depending on next season’s free agency, as well as this year’s lack of interest for high profile goaltenders I suspect it won’t be as much as he’s hoping for. The Panthers have have also drafted well according to their team needs. They are one of the big winners of the 2010 NHL draft with tough defensive prospect Erik Gudbranson and a possible steal of the second round in John McFarland. With a trade that sent Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell to Boston, the Panthers made sure their defensive core is set by getting a good puck moving defenseman in Denis Wideman. The new look defense looks really good, especially if Gudbranson adapts quickly. Brian McAbe is a guy we all know and Dimitry Kulikov oozes potential. Similarly to Alanta, there is not a bunch of big names up front, but with players like David Booth and Stephen Weiss there is plenty to build around. Other helpful cogs might be Michael Frolik, Michael Grabner, Steve Bernier who all haven’t come close to hitting their prime. Players like Chris Higgins, Cory Stillman and Steve Reinprecht still have something to offer. There is also the “small” fact that the team’s new owners seem to really care about hockey, the team and the community which in turn creates an atmosphere of something really positive that’s bruin in Florida.

LOS ANGELES KINGS

Well, Kovalchuk or no Kovalchuk it’s hard to deny the Kings are miles away for the Leafs in terms of the rebuilding process right now. Going after Kovalchuk only proves my point even further. Of all the teams mentioned in this article, the Kings are probably in the best potion concerning the rebuild, as long as they don’t go too crazy after Kovalchuk. What do they have? Well for starters, they have a goaltender with 39 wins last season in Jonathan Quick. They also have an even better goaltender who’s about ready for the big time in Jonathan Bernier who is/was btw the best goaltender in the AHL. Their defense is very close to being cup ready, but they do need another top 4 puck moving defenseman. Other than that, no problem. Drew Doughty is probably the best 20 year old defenseman since Bobby Orr, and strangely I really don’t feel I’m exaggerating too much here. Jack Johnson isn’t bad either. You can always count on Rob Scuderi to grind it out. They also have some prospects coming in to fill some bottom roles. Oh yeah, the forwards. Well, simply put, they have a legitimate NHL superstar (that much is clear by now, even if you don’t watch many Kings games) in Anze Kopitar. Ryan Smyth, their Leaf coveted hard hitting captain Dustin Brown, Wayne Simmonds, faceoff beast Jaret Stoll, injury prone but good winger Justin Williams and Michal Handzus round up an already impressive group, even without Kovalchuk. Now add him to the equation. And best of all, they’re young. The average age of the core group of Doughy, Quick, Bernier, Brown, Kopitar, Simmonds  and Johnson is just 22.2 years of age. All that without taking highly touted prospects Brayden Schenn and Brandon Kozun into account. Their coach, Terry Murray, although not exactly my first choice for coach of the year, proved he was exactly what the doctor ordered and with the careful approach of their GM Dean Lombardi you can be sure this is one well run team. If they do get Kovalchuk, Jack Nicholson just might have to switch to hockey.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

We have some pieces in play, sure. Dion Phaneuf, Phil Kessel, Tyler Bozak, Jonas Gustavsson, Nazem Kadri, Kris Versteeg and Luke Schenn. Those are the main building blocks. Komisarek, Kulemin, Gunnarsson are the next most important assets while JS Giguere, Francois Beauchemin are going stay in TO for a relatively limited period. Accordingly, their main assignment is to fill in the blanks for the time being and teach younger guys how to be NHL players. Ideally, I would like the management to add some veteran depth at some positions, especially the center. Our core seems solid enough, but a lot is based on the assumption that either Nazem Kadri, or Tyler Bozak will end up being that No1 NHL centerman for the Leafs. I’m not doubting Kadri’s talent or Bozak’s NHL readiness, but I’d like to have a guy who would help them develop and teach them to play the position in the NHL. That No1 center would hold down the fort until the kids reach their full potential and would give us more depth throughout the first 3 lines. I feel really confident about our blueline corps especially with Komisarek’s due return. Yes, he wasn’t exactly stellar for the first part of his career with the Leafs, but seeing his training habits and work ethic I suspect that he’ll be much better next season. That is also based on the fact that, unlike last season, he’ll have help dealing with guys on the back end. Giguere and Gustavsson look really solid as a goaltending tandem which would suggest the area that needs most improvement is up front. While we’ve all noticed some big and positive changes in some players towards the end of last season, questions still remain. Can Bozak and Kulemin continue with that level of play for an entire season? Will Kris Versteeg play like a top six forward in the Leafs uniform? Will Jonas Gustavsson emerge as a No1 NHL goaltender? How will Nazem Kadri react to the pressure put on him by the Toronto media and Leafs Nation? Will Dion Phaneuf make a good captain? Is Phil Kessel a 45-50 goalscorer in the NHL? My answer to almost all those questions is a positive one. Can Bozak and Kulemin continue with that level of play for an entire season? Why not? Bozak has battled mononucleosis earlier last season and, finally healthy, he showed why Burke tried so hard to sign him. Kulemin had only just completely adapted to the NHL level and his forechecking work as well as corner battles and work ethic have been in a steady climb since he came into the league. There is no reason why that can’t continue. Will Kris Versteeg play like a top six forward in the Leafs uniform? He played like a top six forward on the bottom six Chicago line. Will Jonas Gustavsson emerge as a No1 NHL goaltender? He has the size, the agility, the work ethic and a really good mentor. How will Nazem Kadri react to the pressure put on him by the Toronto media and Leafs Nation? That one I really don’t know. What I do know is this kid has the drive and a will to learn. That, coupled by his skillset is a dangerous combination. Dangerous for teams facing the Leafs in the future. Will Dion Phaneuf make a good captain? Well the impact he had on the dressing room, plus the fact that he earned the captaincy in such short notice suggests he’ll not only be good, he’ll be perfect. Is Phil Kessel a 45-50 goalscorer in the NHL? Get him on a line with the right centerman and I’m sure he’d come close, but to tell you the truth, I’d be happy with him hitting 40 on a regular basis which he’s more than capable of. I’m also really happy with the level of sandpaperness that Burke has added to this team. Mike Brown and Colton Orr will be a terrifying tandem, and Colby Armstong is no slouch either. At 3 mil. he might be a tad overpaid, but his checks won’t be any lighter. Size and some scoring on the top two lines remains an issue, as does some veteran leadership. While I’m not ecstatic about having Ron Wilson as a coach, I’m also not ready to hang him out to dry. I’ll only be prepared to judge him AFTER he has had a season to coach a respectable NHL team. That said, I think our GM is one of the best in the game. He might not be patient, he might not be conventional, but he knows how to get the job done.

Mislav “Xterratu” Jantoljak

And with the first overall pick the Edmonton Oilers select Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires. A sigh of relief by all the Toronto hockey lovers. Why you ask? What does Hall have to do with the Maple Leafs? Well, let me explain. When Brian Burke traded for Phil Kessel with the two picks and made a bold (some would call stupid) move that was a topic of heated discussions throughout the year, nobody really thought it would be a lottery pick. Did you? Honestly now, did you believe with the kind of preseason the Leafs had we would end up being the second worst team in the league?

I’ve said numerous times, with my articles on leafspace and elsewhere, that if I was the GM of the Leafs with that kind of situation, I’d make the same deal to get us that top scorer. It’s really easy to talk about this as a mistake now, with hindsight. At the time, Burke didn’t know it would be a lottery pick, and yes, those are the two first round picks, but Phil Kessel is some kind of player. I’ll just stop here, cause this article isn’t about defending the Kessel deal. I want to thank the Edmonton Oilers for taking Taylor Hall in the 2010 NHL entry draft. Read on.

The best player in the draft was Taylor Hall. He is such a driven guy and has loads of desire, will to succeed at the NHL level. When asked about him going to those dirty areas and getting hit in the NHL (by say Chara) like he was in the Memorial Cup by Travis Hamonic he just said: “I have to go to those dirty places, if I just make a soft chip in the zone it’s an average play.” That was said with innocence and childish naivety.  He doesn’t know how to play any other way. When they asked his former coach, the current coach of the Windsor Spitfires Bob Boughner, how does Taylor Hall play, he responded: “If this kid could chew the frame of goal to win, he would”. A two time Memorial Cup MVP that made history with that achievment, he is a proven winner. All my comments about his skillest can be found here – http://media.fans.mapleleafs.nhl.com/_Tyler-or-Taylor/blog/2298869/122856.html

Taylor Hall will be a special player. If the Oilers selected Tyler Seguin, we all know Boston would have picked Hall. And then, and only then would I really regret trading that pick to the Bruins. Don’t get me wrong, Seguin will be a fantastic player in his own right, but my guess is his value will be about the same if not worse than Kessel’s (yes I know he’s a centerman). The only player in the draft that could make me regret trading the pick would be Taylor Hall – and that hasn’t happened. Thank God. And the Oilers.

Now looking at the draft in general, I wouldn’t have liked us trading for a pick anywhere out of the top 15. It would just be a bad deal cause we would have to give up a lot, and the best player available after the first 13 picks is still available in the second round. His name is Kiril Kabanov. Yes, the name might scare some teams away, given his recent past with the Wildcats and the Russian National Team, but any team that’s lucky (more lucky than good, cause he’ll end up a late diamond) to pick him is going to have a top 5 talent if he decides not to play clown anymore. I would really like us to trade for a second round pick and taking a risk with this guy. Commenting on the draft from a neutral perspective, the Rangers made a really BAD pick with the No10. Dylan McIlrath isn’t a bad player. He’s a physical beast, that will intimidate people, but if you’re looking for defense and have Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley available you don’t take McIlrath. Period. St. Louis Blues had a supreme draft year trading for the 16th pick that netted them Vladimir Tarasenko. Nicknamed the Russian tank, the kid has the desire and the skillset to be a really good NHL player. Next on the list is Florida that made is splash in this year’s draft getting 3 picks. Erik Gudbranson will be an NHL force for some time to come and Nick Bjugstad, Quinton Howden are both really good prospects. And with those picks they’ve added Wideman, Bernier and Grabner. The only real loss for them is Nathan Horton but he can be replaced via free agency. Atlanta picked the smartest and the fastest player in the draft with Alexander Burmistrov thus utilizing its only pick to the maximum. Yzerman showed what kind of GM he will be with taking a risky No6 pick with Brett Connolly. If he has no hip issues, this kid could turn out to be a steal of this year’s draft.

All that and no Leafs. But the exciting part is still ahead. Where does Kaberle go? Does he go? Which free agent will the Leafs sign? All questions that will be answered shortly. I’m at the edge of my seat, falling of the chair as we speak.

Mislav “Xterratu” Jantoljak

As you all know, yesterday was a day of celebration for the NHL. All the skill, points and supreme individual performances were awarded with the league’s highest honors. I was really pleased by the fact that (outside of Miller not getting the consideration for the Hart) all the awards went to deserved winners. Duncan Keith was the outstanding defenseman of the year, Ryan Miller was tested by Ilya Bryzgalov but in the end had a better season in consideration for the Vezina, Datsyuk should get his own award for owning the Selke Trophy etc. That’s all fine and dandy, but how is this related to the Leafs? Well, in this one I will try to compare some the current NHL award holders with our own Leafs and project the chances of a Leaf being up there on the podium sooner rather than later.

THE VEZINA TROPHY – Ryan Miller

Well, it’s way too early to tell what kind of NHL goaltender Jonas Gustavsson will be. I mean the tools are there: a huge body that covers a large portion of the net, a good mentor that can teach him not to overplay on shots, good flexibility and strength. He has also constantly improved ever since the personal tragedy and his heart problems that clouded his NHL start. Those are all signs of a potential quality starting goaltender. Ryan Miller is a machine. He is a goalie of extreme mental focus, that has the ability to dominate a large portion of the games he plays in and who is a workhorse for his team. I’m really not doing Jonas any favors by comparing him to the best goaltender in the NHL so early in Gustavsson’s career. But, that’s obviously what it takes to win the Vezina. We’ll just have to wait a season or two for Jonas to really become something that we can judge as to he will or will not be Vezina worthy in the future. For now, any comparisons to Miller would really be unfair to Jonas. Time will tell. So far, my guess is that Gustavsson will become a starting goaltender for the Leafs in the future, maybe even an A+ goaltender, but a Vezina nomination is just a pipe dream right now, which is absolutely normal and acceptable. Only a special few reach elite status in the best league in the world, and we shouldn’t put such pressure on a really good young goalie.

FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY – Pavel Datsyuk

Boy would we all like to have a player of Datsyuk’s defensive qualities on the Leafs roster cause the reality is, we don’t. That’s one of the main questions that needs to be answered by Burke in the offseason. A solid two way point producer. When I think of a player that would fit the bill for the Leafs in that respect, I don’t quite jump on Pavel right away. I think of Ryan Kesler, Jordan Staal, Mike Richards or Mikko Koivu. Those are the players I’d love to see in a blue and white, cause their play would fit the Burke team vision to a tee. Those are also the players that would have to be dealt through trades that are about as realistic as an alien invasion. Unless Marleau somehow decides that TO is the place to play and ups his already solid defensive play.

CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY – Tyler Myers

Do we have any first round draft picks for the 2010-2011 season? Phil Kessel. Oh, there is a small matter of Nazem Kadri. Yes, we could finally have a Calder Trophy winner next season. Kadri is fast, shifty and has an amazing set of hands. He showed his capacity for putting points on the board throughout his junior career, but now everything comes down to his transition to the NHL level. Not to say that carrying the future hopes of the entire Leafs Nation isn’t pressure in it’s highest form, but to add to that, the kid has to make the team. I think making the team isn’t a problem, as he showed in last year’s preseason what he’s capable of. The hard part will be handling the Toronto pressure cooker, where even as a highly touted rookie, you don’t get as much time. All eyes are on you kid, show them what you can do.

JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY – Duncan Keith

Not so long ago, if somebody mentioned Duncan Keith ahead of Dion Phaneuf as the future Norris Trophy winner he would probably be wearing a straight jacket in a room with pillowy walls. I mean, the guy was seriously considered for the Calder when Alex Ovechkin had his breakout season, he then had 50 and 60 point seasons being a total of +22 and hit everything that moved. He was a beast and probably the most feared defenseman since Scott Stevens. During that time Keith had 21, 31 point seasons and was -11 for the two combined. What happened? First off, Keith worked his butt off in practice, incompetent management of the Blackhawks was replaced by a highly competent group, and the coach believed in his qualities. On the other hand Phaneuf was having trouble moving forward as a defenseman, his positional play seemingly getting worse (in fact it was mostly due to a troubed Calagary defense as a whole that had no mentor for the young Phaneuf, and that even with Miikka Kiprusoff had trouble not looking like Swiss cheese for the most part of Phaneuf’s number dipping seasons). Dion Phaneuf has grown, as a player as well as a leader and his move to Toronto is exactly what he needed. He loves the spotlight (something as a Pronger sort of player) and is the prime candidate on the current roster for a major NHL award. He still possess all the qualities that made him a superstar in his first 3 seasons in the league, he’s still young and will be a great Leaf captain for years to come.

MAURICE (ROCKET) RICHARD TROPHY – Sidney Crosby/Steven Stamkos

Getting Phil Kessel a smooth passing center will be the first step into turning him into a Richard Trophy winner. The second one is staying healthy throughout the season and the third one being turning the Leafs into a competitive team. Obviously, two of the main prerequisites of step three are steps one and two. Kessel has shown the ability to score goals at will. My main hope is he becomes a more consistent producer for the Leafs and could do that by trusting his linemates more. He did that towards the end of the season and his production peeked. He also did that during his spell with the Bruins when he tallied his best ever points/goals total. The reason for that – Marc Savard. I firmly believe that Phil Kessel could win the Richard Trophy and that’s the main reason I backed Burke in making that much questioned, fabled “Seguin” trade with the Bruins.

CONN SMYTHE TROPHY – Jonathan Toews

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Mislav “Xterratu” Jantoljak

The undrafted winger was forced to undergo heart ablation surgery, similar to that of Leafs goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, partway through the season to correct an irregular heartbeat. Though out for nearly half the season, not dressing for a total of 33 games, Hamilton finished off the year leading the Marlies in goals and among the top-five in assists. Hamilton’s best season was in 2007/2008 with Houston where he registered 20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points. I presume, barring any injuries, Ryan will top that this season.

Expect the Toronto AHL club to turn to Hamilton this season to take more of a leadership role. With long-time Marlies Alex Berry and Ben Ondrus both UFA’s this summer, the chances of both returning for camp is slim and the need for leadership is great. Ryan’s seen playoff action in three of his four years in the AHL, he is an active voice on the bench and has proven recently that he has the mental fortitude to battle through adversity – a perfect candidate for added responsibility.

Ryan will spend most of the summer in Texas where he will wed his fiancee.

YouTube It:

• Ryan at the Maple Leafs Hockey School
• Hamilton on Behind the Bench

But let’s not talk about how much that quite frankly sucks, let’s not focus on whats bad.  Instead, lets focus on what we do have to be excited for in the form of a prospect: the infamous Nazem Kadri.  I’ve wanted to do a piece on Nazem for awhile, about his potential as a star, his potential as a bust, his potential as a player for the Leafs next year and more.

I compared his stats, read all about him, watched his videos, but as I continued to research I asked myself why I didn’t just learn firsthand about Nazem from those who know him best: the diehard London Knights fans.

There was immediately one person that came to mind, and that’s Brandon Krug, or as most of you know him as on Twitter, Kadri_Nation.  I asked him if he wouldn’t mind answering a few of my questions, and he was kind enough to oblige, so without further ado here’s what he had to say:

How good do you think Nazem Kadri can be in the NHL?  How many points do you think he could one day put up and who would you compare him to in today’s game?

Nazem has the potential to become an elite player in the league. He’s been an elite player for years in the CHL and I have no doubts he’ll one day be mentioned with the likes of Crosby or Ovechkin.  Some might think I’m bias but the skill this kid has is incredible.  It’s hard to say the numbers he could put up in the NHL but expect him to be top 3 point leader with the Leafs.  Nazem plays a fast pace game with a chip on his shoulder.  I’ve always compared him to Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers.  He won’t think twice about going top shelf on any goalie and certainly will stick up for himself and teammates.

How NHL-ready do you think Naz is and just how good do you think he would fair next season with the Leafs?

Although I’m a huge Kadri fan, the right choice was made to send him back to London for more conditioning and to polish up on a few things on a smaller stage.  After this OHL season Nazem is ready to make the jump to the Leafs.  With the changes that have been made to the Leafs roster he will flourish and put numbers up.  I don’t expect him to be a huge point contributor off the bat but he has the hockey sense to do the little things to be successful.

What strides has Nazem taken this past season and what improvements do you think he has made with another year of junior experience under his belt?

Nazem elevated his game for sure this OHL season.  He became physically tougher and became quite the team player and leader.  Nazem ended the season with 35 goals 58 assists and 105 penalty minutes.  The numbers could have been even higher given he missed time for the World Jr’s.

What are the cons of Nazem’s game, or better yet, what do you think he still has to work on to become truly fit to be a star in the NHL?

Nazem has Cons?  Seriously though, Nazem needs to work on his stick handling…well actually polish it up a little.  He needs to tone down his emotions a bit when it comes to taking the elusive “Stupid Penalty” but as mentioned before this comes with the grit he brings to the game and a bad penalty here and there for the right reason doesn’t bother me much

How consistent are the “elite plays” that Kadri makes?

Many of his 35 goals were awesome.  Stick Handling in and out of opposing players and making the goalie look goofy, but what I found interesting were the number of beauty goals he set up.

What are the underrated aspects of Nazem’s game both on and off the ice?

If anyone thinks his will to win is underrated they’re not a true hockey fan.  The one underrated aspect that comes to mind is his hockey sense.  You constantly see him talking to his teammates and doing little things that many don’t notice whether it be taking a hit to make a play or simply changing his stick because the curve is a fraction off of what he likes.

Closing statement?

Leafs Nation has plenty to be excited about when Nazem arrives with the big club!

You can follow Brandon on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kadri_nation

You can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/raskofalltrades

Holzer was drafted 111^th overall by Toronto in the 2006 NHL entry draft and has spent the past three seasons developing in the DEL (German Elite League) with the DEG Metro Stars. The 6’3”, 190lbs defenseman’s recent season was his most impressive yet, playing 52 games, notching 22pts (6 goals and 16 assists) and spending 96 minutes in the penalty box. Korbinian’s resume was further bolstered last season with ice time while representing Germany in both the 2010 Olympic Games and the IIHF World Championships, though failing to earn a medal at either international event.

Holzer was selected fourth by Toronto in 2006 behind Tlusty, Kulemin and Reimer, with Viktor Stalberg having been selected fifth. The Maple Leafs crop of 2006 draftees may be their strongest since 2002 with now all of the first five selections taking on a noticeable roll in the development system. Though he was a JFJ selection, Korbinian will fit the Burke-bill perfectly once adding some much needed bulk to his current lanky frame.

With all of the depth the Maple Leafs have on the blue line, expect Korbian to begin his North American hockey career with the AHL Toronto Marlies. Holzer has been related to as being much like recent Marlies graduate Carl Gunnarsson, and will likely be expected to fill the top-four defensive spot created by Gunnarsson’s departure.

For more Holzer info, check out: Leafs Prospect of the Day – Who is Korbinian Holzer?

The 5 W’s

Who is he?

Kenny Ryan is the first winger to be picked in the Brian Burke era, and one who fits the mold that Burke is known for. Ryan is an 18 year old Right Winger from Franklin, Michigan. A right handed shot, the 6’0, 209lb Ryan may not tower over the average player, but he definitely doesn’t let that stop him from using his body to his advantage. Though he has nopro experience just yet, Ryan is playing in the Memorial Cup as we speak with the Windsor Spitfires.

What did his stats look like this year?

Ryan had a respectable year for a first time junior player, getting 35 points in 52 games on an absolutely stacked Spitfires roster (with players like Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique, Greg Nemisz, Eric Wellwood, Dale Mitchell, and others in the way of his pursuit of more minutes). 14 of those 35 points were goals, with the other 21 obviously being assists. He added 33 penalty minutes to that total. He has 2 goals in this years Memorial Cup.

When/how did the Leafs acquire him?

Ryan was selected 50th overall in the second round of the 2009 Entry Draft, the first of the Burke era. He was picked with our first second round pick, Jesse Blacker being selected 8 spots later, and Nazem Kadri being picked 43 spots previous.

Where has he played?

Prior to playing for the Spitfires last year, Ryan was a member of the revered United States National Under-18 Team, playing 3 years with them, each year inching closer to a point per game pace. He had 27 goals and 22 assists in 62 games in his draft year. He actually started this season with Boston College, but decided at the last second that Junior Hockey suited him better and moved on to the Spits.

Why was he acquired?

Ryan embodies many of the characters that GM Brian Burke is widely considered to look for in a player, being a scorer that uses his size and doesn’t shy away from physical play.

What’s been Said…

HockeysFuture.com

Ryan is a goal scorer, and works hard to get pucks as well. Projects as a second or third-line forward.

NHL Central Scouting’s Gary Eggleston

Ryan is a solid skater who is strong on his skates, has good balance and his hard to knock off his feet. Has good overall speed and works hard in all zones. He is strong in the corners, is aware of defensive responsibilities and backchecks well. Ryan plays a rugged two-way game.

NHL.com

His childhood hockey idol was Darren McCarty because “he played with so much energy and grit” and his most memorable hockey moment was playing against Russia, in Russia, at the Four Nations tournament with the Under-17 U.S. team.

In The System

Whats his role expected to be next year?

Ryan will most likely be playing another year with the Spitfires, or somewhere in the OHL for sure. He’s too young (North American Age Rule) for the AHL and isn’t NHL-ready justs yet.

Has he exceeded or failed to reach the expectations had of him since being acquired?

He’s met them, but there hasn’t really been much of a time to gauge his development that much anyway. He’s only 18, and has only been in the system a year, so to expect anything out of him right away is a bit much.

Where is he ranked in the Leafs depth chart for his position?

Hockeysfuture.com has him 3th (4th, but they have Hanson as a prospect still, so we’ll assume third), behind Jimmy Hayes, and Dale Mitchell. His ranking is a 6.5C, meaning he could be a decent forward, but nothing to write home about.

The Big Question

What does the future hold for him? Does he have a shot at being a contributing full time Leaf?

Absolutely! Whether he’s a top 6 forward or not remains to be seen, but his style of play screams ability to be at least a decent 3rd or 4th liner. I could see him being a Leaf for sure in 3-4 years, if not sooner. Just not next year.

Anything Else?

Random Facts

NHL.com asked him about various things before last year’s draft. Here they are.

NHL Team: Calgary Flames
NHL Player: Jarome Iginla
Shootout move: “Top glove or backhand”
Goal celebration: “Glass jump or arm sweep”
Video game: NHL ‘09
Movie: Never Back Down
TV Show: Home Improvement
Actor: Will Smith
Group: Dave Matthews
Website: Youtube.com
Book: The last lecture
Home cooked meal: Pasta
Sport (other than hockey): Swimming
Activity away from the rink: Basketball
Place to shop: Finish line
Place to visit: Florida

See Them In Action

Alright, this isn’t actually “in action”, but here’s friend of LeafsHQ SteveDangle interviewing him a few weeks ago

Click here to view the embedded video.

The 5 W’s

Who is he?

Mikhail Stefanovich is considered by a considerable margin to be the biggest “boom/bust” prospsect in the Leafs organization, and one of the top 2 Belarussians named Mikhail in the teams history. Stefanovich is a 20 year old Right Winger from Minsk, Belarus. A right handed shot, the 6’2, 202 lb Stefanovich has a fair amount of size to go with his talent. Though he has no North American pro experience just yet, Stefanovich has been plaing in the QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) for the last several years.

What did his stats look like this year?

Stefanovich had a drastic change in his play this year, going from a sniper to a playmaker. In 53 games, Stefanovich had 25 goals and 43 assists for 68 points. Despite missing 15 games, he was 4th in points on the Quebec Rempart’s roster. Not exactly a tough guy though, with a mere 24 penalty minutes.

When/how did the Leafs acquire him?

Stefanovich was a draft pick of the only draft year of Fletcher Era II, selected 98th overall in the 4th round of the 2008 Entry Draft, the 3rd selection by the Leafs in the draft (next to Luke Schenn and Jimmy Hayes).

Where has he played?

Stefanovich is a rarity, being a Belarussian, raised there, that plays his junior career in Canada. Specifically, with the Patrick Roy-owned Quebec Remparts. Many people had and have compared him to Alexander Radulov, a former Rempart himself. People point out Stefanovich’s lower talent level but better attitude as the gap between them. Stefanovich’s best offensive year was his wicked 49 goal in 56 game pace he was on this year.

Why was he acquired?

Stefanovich has the potential to add a significant amount of offensive flair, with many originally thinking he would be a 1st rounder in the draft. The “Russian Factor” (even though he’s not Russian) and unpredictabilty of offensive forwards in the QMJHL lead to his fall to the 4th round.

What’s been Said…

HockeysFuture.com

On paper, Stefanovich looks to have all the tools that teams look for: a blend of scoring ability and size. Stefanovich’s sharpshooting abilities and offensive instincts are top notch, but his effort is inconsistent at best. Though he is willing to drive to the net, Stefanovich is a player who mainly fights through contact but doesn’t initiate physical play. His skating needs work, especially his acceleration, but his hockey sense and his ability to read to play softens the blow of this weakness.

Matias Strozyk, EliteProspects.com

A good offensive player with an excellent shot. Needs to improve his skating and especially his acceleration

The Hockey News

Has the instincts of a natural goal-scorer, plus the size to fend off defenders. Can play both wing and center. Needs more work on his defensive-zone coverage. Could also use more of a nasty streak to keep opponents honest. Goal-scoring forward.

Wikipedia

Scouts have identified that Stefanovich possesses a quick and accurate wrist shot and superb offensive instincts, but is not an overtly physical player, even for someone of his large stature. It is also said that his play is inconsistent and his skating is supbar, but his amazing hockey sense and play-reading ability negate his lack of skating ability. His play throughout the 2008–09 QMJHL season has exemplified that he is starting to become a more consistent and driven player. These improvements have been credited, some say, to his pre-season tryout with the Maple Leafs, where he befriended fellow Belorussian Mikhail Grabovski and Russian Nikolai Kulemin. In order to make the team, he realized he needed to improve these negative aspects of his game.

Mikhail Stefanovich, on being invited to the Quebec Remparts organization

My dream was to play in NHL, so when I was invited in the Remparts I was thrilled, you know. It was the year of my draft as well.

In The System

Whats his role expected to be next year?

Stefanovich is no doubt getting a bit old for Major Junior hockey, so it would be of no shock to see him as a member of the Toronto Marlies next ear, likely on one of the first two lines.

Has he exceeded or failed to reach the expectations had of him since being acquired?

About met. He’s continuing to develop and there’s no clue where his career path will lead him yet. The fact that he’s willing to work with his staff on improving his play, and the fact he’s still in North America to begin with makes me think he’s slightly exceeded.

Where is he ranked in the Leafs depth chart for his position?

Hockeysfuture.com has him 4th (5th, but they have Hanson as a prospect still, so we’ll assume fifth), behind Jimmy Hayes, Kenny Ryan, and Dale Mitchell. His ranking is a 7.OD, meaning he could be a decent forward, but has bust potential.

The Big Question

What does the future hold for him? Does he have a shot at being a contributing full time Leaf?

With a player like Stefanovich, its hard to say just yet. He’s a fantastic player with all the skill in the world, but how he adjusts to playing physical, pro level hockey remains to seen as of yet. He could be a stud for years to come, or he could be in the KHL by 2012. We don’t know just yet.

Anything Else?

He’s Better than Tavares…

If you believe the KHL Entry Draft. In the first ever entry draft in 2009, the young Stefanovich was selected 2nd overall in the 2009 by…local-to-him Dynamo Minsk, in hopes that he’d return to play with the hometown boys, I assume. Its a year later, though, and still no Mikhail in Russialand, not to mention he responded 2 days later by signing his Entry Level Contract with the Leafs, so I doubt it’ll matter much.

See Them In Action

Tribute Vid!

Click here to view the embedded video.

The 5 W’s

Who is he?

Korbinian Holzer is the most recent addition to the Leafs list of contracts, according to an interview with assistant GM Dave Poulin. Now, he’s not the newest member of the Leafs organization – but definitely the most recent to sign a pro contract with the team. Korbinan is a 22 year old defenceman from Munich, Germany. A right handed shot, Holzer is another Burke-sized prospect in our system, towering at 6’3 and weighing in at a lanky 190 lbs. He has not played North American Hockey yet, his career involving 3 years in the DEL (Deutsche Eishockey Liga, or the German Ice Hockey League).

What did his stats look like this year?

Holzer played 52 games this year for the DEG Metro Stars, amassing 22 points (6 goals 16 assists) in this time, along with 96 penalty minutes. This was good for second on the Metro Stars for points by a defenceman, behind NHL ex-pat Patrick Traverse. The 110 PIM was good for 4th on the team, 1st for the D.

When/how did the Leafs acquire him?

As we all know, the John Ferguson Jr. era had one reedeeming quality, and that was the quality of draft picks. Holzer is no exception to this rule, being yet another JFJ-era Leafs draft pick thriving in the system. He was picked in the 4th round, 111th overall in the 2006 NHL entry draft.

Where has he played?

Holzer has spent all 3 years of his professional career with the DEG Metro Stars, improving his play year by year. His hard work lead to him being put on the German Olympic Team this year, as the icing on the cake to his current team portfolio.

Why was he acquired?

Its hard to judge, seeing as he was a 4th round pick and not as much thought gets put into the mid-late rounds, but size had to play a factor in the desicision.

What’s been Said…

HockeysFuture.com

While Holzer has appealing size at 6’2, he needs to bulk up his wiry frame. That being said, he’ll have plenty of time to pack on the pounds as he looks to stay overseas for a couple more years at least, refining his skills.

Matias Strozyk, EliteProspects.com

A large and right-handed defenseman with a defensive mindset. Plays physically and checks hard. Could improve his physical game but has the potential to be more than “good”.

In The System

Whats his role expected to be next year?

Considering the new contract that Holzer just signed, it’s very likely we’ll be seeing him in a Toronto Marlies uniform next year as he continues his march through the ranks of pro hockey.

Has he exceeded or failed to reach the expectations had of him since being acquired?

Exceeded. Not many players in his draft range have accomplished anything yet, with Columbus’ Derek Dorsett and Toronto’s own Viktor Stalberg the only ones to play 40 NHL games. Holzer may not have that, but he has Olympic experience, which is hard to come by when going through the 2006 drafts players after the first round.

Where is he ranked in the Leafs depth chart for his position?

Hockeysfuture.com has him 5th (6th, but they have Gunnarsson as a prospect still, so we’ll assume fifth), behind Jesse Blacker, Keith Aulie, Phil Oreskovic, and Juraj Mikus. His ranking is a 6.5C, meaning he could be a 4/5th defenceman.

The Big Question

What does the future hold for him? Does he have a shot at being a contributing full time Leaf?

He’ll have to really make an impact in the next year or two with the Marlies to have any significant chance at a shot with the Leafs organization long term. With the depth the team has on defence, along with him not being in the top 3 defensive prospects, he’s got some work to do, no doubt. Depth will be the biggest hurdle to his success here, and might mean a career with a different NHL team.

Anything Else?

The German Gunnarsson?

A lot of talk is being made of the potential of Holzer taking a similar role to Carl Gunnarsson, quietly working his way through the Leafs system until finally making it and making a decent impact right away as a solid 2nd pair defenceman. Holzer still has a bit to prove before I buy into this though, just like Gunnarsson had to prove his ability to everyone else.

See Them In Action

One Problem…

If you thought OHL and AHL footage was hard to get, the DEL is like pulling teeth. I can’t find anything definitively Holzer to put up here that would be particularly interesting. So no video, this time. Sorry!

It appears so, actually. Even today’s Toronto Star is following with the fans, declaring that Ron Wilson should be fired due to a 4 game losing streak with a team that was projected to barely make the playoffs at best. What’s worse is when you read any Leafs Message Board or Facebook Group. You’ll find such gems such as.

- Brian Burke and David Nonis should immediately resign for destroying the Leafs organization.

- The Phil Kessel trade is worse than Kurvers for Neidermayer/Lindros, Clark II and Schneider for Luongo and Jonsson, Courtnall for Kordic, McCauley Boyes and a 1st for Nolan, Rask for Raycroft, and basically every terrible trade ever made by the Leafs combined. Never mind the fact that the 21 year old 36 goal scorer signed for 5 more years hasn’t played a single game yet and thus should not be deemed a bust, the Leafs have won the 4 game long draft lottery and the Bruins will select Taylor Hall automatically. In fact, he’s playing for them next game and he’s about to win them the 10 game Stanley Cup.

- Jason Blake is so bad that he should stop taking his Lukemia medication and just drop dead. Corpses don’t count toward the salary cap, do they?

- Nikolai Kulemin should be immediately waived to the KHL

- Garnet Exelby should be locked up in a closet until he convinces Don Waddell to reverse the trade (actually, thtas just me)

- Vesa Toskala should be used cut up into 4 peices and used as the targets for the 2011 NHL Skills Competition. He’d stop more pucks that way.

- Mike Komisarek should be fed to Milan Lucic, and finally…

- Everyone remaining on the roster should be traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a signed photo of Cody Hodgson, which will lead them to file tampering charges as it shows interest in the young centre.

Seriously, though I doubt we’ll be murdering our players any time soon, the massive panic people have right now, while a little understandable, is starting to get way too far. The same group that called for multiple year patience in intentionally losing games for the sake of getting high draft picks till the NHL catches on and fines the fuck out of the organization is now seemingly hoping to set the ACC on fire with the team still in it after a week and a half. It’s getting much too out of hand.

If this team bombs, than so be it. But can we at least wait for the top player on the team to come back and at least a quarter of the season before going into panic mode? All we’re doing right now as a fanbase is making ourselves look like idiots.

Also, it just occured to me that this is going to be the very first article on LeafsHQ, and its an unorganized mess of me yelling at people for panicking. Sadly, I think we’re going to have to get used to this.