Pre-season Can Be Deceiving
With under two weeks until the pre-season debuts, many fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to ponder which players will make the cut come opening night against the Montreal Canadiens. Players like Jiri Tlusty, Tyler Bozak, Christian Hanson, Nazim Kadri and others will be competing for employment at the National Hockey League level. However, the rigors of the NHL regular season far exceeds that of the pre-season, and as a result many players have failed to maintain their newfound success.
The pre-season is essentially a chance for the less experienced players to showcase their talent and attempt to land a roster spot on their respective teams. It’s also a crucial step for the more experienced players to physically and mentally prepare themselves for the regular season. However, due to the amount of rookies and less talented players, the level of competition is generally moderate compared to the 82-game schedule. As a result, those who play with added intensity with hopes of landing a job in the NHL are often the beneficiaries of an explosive amount of offensive production.
Last pre-season, for example, Toronto’s own Lee Stempniak produced an impressive 12 points in 5 games with the St.Louis Blues, ranking him second overall. Andy McDonald led the league with 13 points in 5 games, and while the 32-year-old is talented, he has never ranked amongst the elite by the end of the regular season. While McDonald’s season was derailed by the injury bug (46-15-29-44), Stempniak produced an underwhelming 14 goals and 44 points.
But it’s not as if the Leafs aren’t familiar with these fluctuations. Look no further then Simon Gamache and Alexander Suglobov, who could never live up to the hype they generated during the preseason. The duo went on to produce a mere 6 goals and 14 points in 61 regular season games collectively.
It’s not so one-sided, however, as many players who have found success in the preseason have managed to translate that to the regular season. Just look at Mikhail Grabovski, who warranted a roster spot by leading the Leafs in scoring with 5 goals and 8 points. He went on to produce 20 goals and 48 points during the 2008-09 campaign, earning him a three-year contract extension worth 2.9 million dollars per season.
This is a forewarning: Even if the likes of Rickard Wallin, Viktor Stalberg, Bozak, Hanson and others perform at an optimal level during the pre-season, it does not mean they’re necessarily ready for the hardships of the NHL. The roster on opening night could change in a matter of games if a full-time position as an NHL player proves to be too difficult for any of these players.
Either way, let’s drop the puck!
*****
Here’s an awesome preview video I found on Youtube. This should get the adrenaline pumping.
Leafs 2009-10 Epic Preview Video
You stay classy, MLHS.
ronguillet@mapleleafshotstove.com
September 4th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
agreed, let’s get on with it
September 4th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Didn’t the Blues play the Leafs twice during last year’s preseason. I remember Hollweg taking stupid penalty after stupid penalty. Might explain the inflated point totals of some of the Blues players.
September 4th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
That’s a mint video. I can’t believe Stempy put those numbers up! Although there are usually a lot of inexperienced goalies getting the starts
September 4th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Lets get this thing going already!!
September 4th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
funny shit ————> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS3p7XI23hY
September 4th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
@Jordan
Picked it up at coles bookstore at a mall tonight while out with my wife. Great looking magazine….
September 5th, 2009 at 12:29 am
epic indeed…by the end of the video I was ready to hack up some dwarves with my broad sword. Bring on the Habs!
September 5th, 2009 at 1:47 am
I remember one preseason where Chad Kilger lead the Leafs in scoring. It’s always nice to hear a player is playing well in preseason games, but it doesn’t count for much.
September 5th, 2009 at 5:33 am
mmmmm Go Leafs Go…..
September 5th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Preseason can also work the other way with good players taking some time to shake the rust off. IMO the Stempniak trade de-railed him. He looked like a totally different player after the trade and I’m hoping he is a little more comfortable to start this year. We need him to score and in the right environment he has proven he can.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Agreed HH, I’m not going to hold my breath about Stempniak though. Hopefully he’s more comfortable now this year, than last year. He’s got to prove he belongs.
September 5th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Could be HH, he did have 13 pts in 14 games prior to the trade
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Hard to believe anybody could miss St. Louis though
September 5th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Keon, RW said that he found that Stempniak was confused with him last year. He said that Stempnaik didn’t fully understand RW personality and he felt that contributed to is production with the Leafs last year.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Both Wilson and Burke are always positive about Stempniak. When they talk of players ‘picking their teeth out of the glass’ he’s usually included in the group. Not a huge fan but I’m not gonna write him off just yet.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:22 am
I think the pre-season does nothing more than give an opportunity for the young guys to take a roster spot or two from a vetran. It will be interesting to see what happens. It is key for our future success for at least a couple of these guys to shine this year. We definately have some young guys with some elite skill. Everyone needs to buy into Ron Wilson’s systems and hopefully Dallas Eakins will can get the same messages across with the Marlies. Since Brian Burke’s arrival the club has transformed into one of the hardest working, hungriest, toughest, meanest, and most competitive teams in the league. If RW can get everyone on board the puck will go in a lot more than one might think.
~
I’m extremely impressed with what Brian Burke has done this off-season and have never been more excited for a season to start. To me, all (with the exception of a true #1 center) of the key pieces to a successful season are available to Wilson and now its his turn to impress.
~
Lets all hope for a GREAT season… GO LEAFS GO!!!
September 5th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Absolutely love XLB’s comments… His stupid grin just wide as all hell, in his glory.
When asked whats changed since he was first in the League pre-lockout.
“Guys know that I’m out there and what kind of player I am. So, they either can try to avoid me or their just a little smarter when I’m on the ice.”
So amazing. But in all seriousness, just that effect. The “Where is XLB” thoughts coming into the mind of an approaching forward or a man cutting out from behind the net, or racing for a puck. That is his worth.
September 5th, 2009 at 9:47 am
They’re
September 5th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Off Topic questions. Anyone know any good hockey pool sites. I’ve done Yahoo and Sporting News for years but I’m looking for something new… preferably free unless its really worth it.
September 5th, 2009 at 10:51 am
A quick look at the stats you posted at might show some bias. Grabovski 48 points and he gets the 3 year contract extension, but Stempy puts up 4 less points and he was underwhelming. However, with some further digging, you should have noted that 13 of those points came with his 14 games with St. Louis (point per game player?) but only 31 points in his final 61 games with the Leafs. So, not only as your article headline states that the pre-season can be deceiveing, so are stats in general.
September 5th, 2009 at 10:57 am
I think the underwhelming part came in with the 14 goals… And not being a rookie. No excuses, he was underwhelming to say the least.
September 5th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Leafsfan73, The stats aren’t lying. Stempniak’s 48 pts for someone with his experience is underwhelming especially since Grabs is a rookie. with the 31pts as a Leaf in those 61 games he most definitely was not up to par.
September 5th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Exactly. That’s the point I was trying to make. He should have posted his numbers as a Leaf to drive home the point as to how underwhelming he really was. That’s why I stated with a quick look you can be decieved by stat’s, but with further digging you can see the truth. I fully agree, he was underwhelming. Sorry I didn’t drive the “underwhelming” part home.
September 5th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Goddamn it is so close… come oooooon training camp!
September 5th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
@Spayde
http://en.pooltopnet.com/index.asp
Its free, you can set up a group and its salary cap.
September 5th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
To AB, AT, RG, GB, GK, ND and the rest of the gang here, what a great site. The opinion and analysis here is second to none. This place is like heroin to me. I stumbled in here about five months ago and can’t get enough. Thanks for giving me my Leafs fix all summer long and keep up the good work.
Cheers to you all!
T
September 5th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I wonder is Stajan the guy on the Leafs who was voted for Kelly being fired? If so I change my mind and want him out of town. That has to be the most unethical thing anyone can do. Mob justice and follow the leader. XLD also made a bunch of semi retarded statements about it too.
Hockey players should leave the thinking to the rest of us!
September 5th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
My guess is Stempniak has a really good year this year. Too much adjustment and change last year. It should settle a bit now that the big changes are done and the draft was so successful.
September 5th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Are there no rumours? Too many D and no trade talk? Waiting on training camp for action?
September 5th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
This site sucked all the trade talk out of us king. Now we are just laying around and will react if a trade shows up.
September 5th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Given that White wasn’t in Burke’s projected top-six D the other day, he’s young and his cap hit is small, I’d guess he’s on the way out.
But I kinda hope not.
September 5th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Great video. Anyone know the titles to any of those songs?
September 5th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
@Honesthockey
About Stempniak, I think he’ll have a better year, hopefully since many Leafs are free agents next summer a lot of them will as well. As for Burke and Wilson’s positivity, that is how they should act. I gives Stempniak confidence and lets him know he has a fair chance. I disagree with the way Pogge was treated from the first time they called him up. They threw him under a buss. Obviously they have more faith in Stempniak then they did in Pogge.
September 5th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Ya I’d imagine MVR and White are gone once thye show their worth in training camp. I’d like to hold onto MVR for now until he is healthy for a bit.
September 5th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Hey guys, does anyone know if any of the rookie tournament will be streamed online? I know Alex had mentioned Rogers is covering it, but I don’t believe that includes anything outside southern ON, any help is appreciated, we ALL wanna see what the kids can do!!!!
September 5th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
What did we give up for Stepniak?
September 5th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Steen and Coliacovo.
September 5th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
@ Jay
I have the same problem, I am hoping this site broadcasts it, they have broadcast many other Leaf-related events in the past.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/TML-Live
September 5th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
@ Petebleafs
.
.
So True!! Make something up . We can call you Pete Ek Bleafs
September 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Via tsn (http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=290103) Toronto reacquired their 2010 second round draft pick in exchange for their 2 & 3rd in 2011.
MacKenzie is speculating an offer sheet coming perhaps?
September 5th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
This could get very interesting!
November 25th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Your article is write very well, I like it very much ~
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