1) Is Jonas Gustavsson now in sole possession of the starting role in Toronto? How many games will he start this season?

Gus and Tosk will play a 60/40 role for the remainder of the season barring injury. What’s important to remember is that Gus is a rookie and BB and RW will not allow this kid to be burned out prematurely regardless of fan or media pressure. Yes it’s true that he is 1 year removed from an SEL championship but don’t buy into the belief that the kid can hack it from here on in as the number one completely on his own. The kid is good and under the tutelage Allaire he’ll continue to get better, however tossing him into the fire with carte blanche #1 status would be foolhardy and shouldn’t and won’t immediately happen. Right now he’s got the ball but if and when he does drop it, Toskala will be given every oppotunity to play himself back into the lineup. Why or how you might ask would this be possible given his past and current play? Well we’ll answer exactly that by exmaining question #2….

2) Do you think Vesa Toskala will be shipped by the Trade Deadline? Will he have any value by then?

Yes he will be traded and the value of return will completely depend on how he plays between now and the deadline. Remember, teams during playoff time often require depth in goal and Vesa will probably become an attractive commodity given that Burke will be more then flexible in attempting to move him or accomadate another team. Note however that Burke does want to lose this netminder for a complete non-return and as such Vesa will play the remaining 40% of the season. Yes Toskala has played poorly and porously too but understand that he is playing poorly for a very, very poor team, one that’s encountered alot of transition and is still in search of an actual identity. There is no reason to think that Toskala can’t turn this season around and in so doing the leagues impression of him if and when he starts to play more intelligently and confidently in net. For the coaching staff or management to simply give up on him 13 games into the season would be foolhardy and completlely counterproductive. The Leafs will not be in lottery contention anyhow regardles of what the naysayers spew from the mountain tops even were he continue to play abysmally in goal. Toskala may yet be a marketable commodity and historically has played better when confronted with strong internal competiton. Look for him to rebound in his next few starts in goal.

3) Do you think Phil Kessel should stay on a line with Matt Stajan and Jason Blake, or should Ron Wilson try to surround him with different players?

Yes he should stay with Stajan and Blake..
Here is why:
This line combination is designed with 2 purposes in mind, the first is so that we can get Stajan some points and confidence so that he may be marketable come trade deadline time. Stajan is not in the Leafs longterm plans but while he is we need to bloat his point total as much as possible to try and garner the best return we can get for him when he is dealt. Kessel would probably not produce that much more with anyone else as his centre anyhow as that is the position where we are weakest as a team. Stajan does have the ability to play 3rd line on most NHL teams and is not completely irrelevant he just isn’t top or 2nd line material and he is certainly not cut from the mould of a Brian Burke type player. Secondly he should be on this line for 2 other reasons – i) it gives the Leafs a more balanced attack with lines 2 through 3 and ii) also gives Jason Blake the opportunity to produce given that the focus for the opposition will shift from him to Kessel. This also gives Stajan a second passing option for a former 40 goal triggerman. Blake and Kessel should develop nicely as Blake may become more of a setupman as a result of this pairing something which I believe to be better suited to his skillset at this stage as a Leaf.

4) How many goals will Kessel pot this season?

It is unfair to expect Phil to light it up with this offensively challenged team however given that his playing time should be very high I do not think it unfair to ask or predict that he will score about 18-26 goals. Lets hope it’s 26 as opposed to 18.

5) Have you been impressed with Mike Komisarek’s defensive game of late? Or do you think some improvement is still in order?

Komisarek is still adjusting as is Beauch. Yes improvement is in order but lets evaluate his play after game 40 as opposed to game 13. Komi is a gamer and a warrior and once he gets his head wrapped around all things Toronto the fans in this city will fall in love with him. In the interim, while he contimues to improve for each gaffe he makes his minutes should be reduced and given to a now struggling Luke Schenn. Komisarek now fills essentially the role that Schenn did last season and while Komi’s presence is not the sole factor to Schenn’s regression he is being overplayed. Still he’s making the big bucks and until Schenn steps it up, no one is going to push Komi anywhere given the brand of “Burkeian” hockey he brings to the table.

6) Which players need to step up in terms of overall performance?

Brian Burke:

Brendan Shanahan where are you? Why aren’t you on this team? There are so many intagables he offers to this team Brian and you 2 are even good friends. Shany’s a local product and Irish too. He’d lead and take bullets for this team. Who needs to wear the “C” when you have Shanny? Give the media a field day, deflect attention away from your teams 1 and 12 start and bring in Shanny Burkey, it’s the right thing to do. Pick up the phone and give him a call we know you have his number. That Kessel deal better work out too Brian or the media and league will never let you live it down.

Ron Wilson:

You need to get these guys playing as a group Ronnie. I dunno what it’s going to take to get some offensive production but whatever it is you and the coaching staff better figure it out soon. No you won’t be getting fired and yes you are a good coach but this is getting downright embarassing. Poor team or not we want results now Ron and results starts with a win.

Ponikarovsky: Needs to utilise his big body and become a legitimate goalmouth presence but for what we are paying him don’t expect him to live by the sword if he’s going to have to die by it. Needs to be a more effective leader for Grabbo and Kuli as well, Poni is the vet of the “Rusky 3″ and they should be creating more as a result of Poni’s drive and work ethic, not less.

Kuli: IMO he should be in the minors. There is a stall in the locker room for him but no one has seen him in 13 games thus far in 09. Perrhaps he and Tlusty can play a game of eye spy if they ever hit the ice together because on most nites those 2 are invisible.

Grabbo: God love him he’s tries doesn’t he? Although suffering from small man syndrome, jeepers can he wheel when he puts his head down. Grabbo’s gotta be careful though that soon someone doesn’t rip it off though. Play him with someone tough (Shanny anyone?) as a soft Poni is hampering the tiny Belarusian’s ability to open up the ice. Alot of effort with not alot of results sums up the first 13 for Grabbo. If Poni won’t lead you have to Grabbo, stop setting them up and start firing from angles. Let Poni bury the garbage if he can and to hell with Kuli who lives on the fring of every play.

Stajan: It’s so unfair to hate on this 3rd/4th liner when he’s been forced into the #1 slot. He really, really doesn’t belong on this team. He is the last holdover from an age goneby and he will surely be dismissed come deadline time. Far too soft and unskilled to be a legitimate 2nd liner let alone 1st. Poor Matt Stajan. Enjoy the 40 + assists Matt, you can thank Phil when you exit.

Finger: We don’t need him. He costs 3.5 mil and is defensively sound but offers little else. He will be packaged to your choice of team if the need develops come deadline time provided they have the cap room. Or let’s cross our fingers and hope someone gets injured on another team so we can take their spare offensive, overpaid part and prospect for ours. Fletch just wanted us sound when he took over but this signing is coming back to haunt us right now with way to many NHL D-men on the team.

Mitchell: No real defined role. This guy should really become RW’s pet project. What do they want out of this guy? So far this year he hasn’t been much of anything but a lacklustre liability.

Wallin: The Gus “deal sealer” is actually playing alright hockey as of late but we need game breakers not pk specialists. Oh well, it’s all part of shaking hands with the devil for the immediate future. I can live with Wallin.

Blake: “I want to score, I want to score, I want to score”. Wanting to and actually doing it though are 2 different things. Can’t blame 1 goal Blake that the Leafs and JFJ tossed all that money his way. Cancer or no if he doesn’t start to produce with Kessel in the mix the Leafs are going to have to eat some seriously humble Jason Blake pie and they are going tol have some bad indigestion if they have to pay a chunk of the under producing left wingers salary in the process. Bon Appetit Burkey!

Jamal Mayers: Please retire Jamal. Believe me, it’s the right thing to do. Want proof you say?
How about tied for 434th in the league in goals (0), 417th for assists (1) and for 578th in shots (4). Yes I know your role is limited on the team and that is why I am eliminating your role. We simply don’t need you or your contract and yes we know you are from Toronto, sorry Jamal it’s time to hangem up.

Wayne Primeau: Please retire Wayne. Believe me, it’s the right thing to do. Want proof you say?
How about tied for 434th in the league in goals (0), 535th for assists (0) and for 489th in shots (9). Yes I know your role is limited on the team and that is why I am eliminating your role. We simply don’t need you or your contract and yes we know you are from Toronto, sorry Wayne it’s time to hangem up.

7) Do you think Jiri Tlusty should be given another shot on the Leafs, or should he stay with the Toronto Marlies?

No are you crazy? Let him develop ffs. The only thing more commonplace then the Leafs losing is that the organisation corrupts and burns out their youngsters. Give Tlusty some time. Besides which he may be the piece to someone elses puzzle come tradin’ time.

8 ) What about Victor Stalberg? Is it time to recall the “Swedish Rocket”?

No are you crazy? Let him develop ffs. The only thing more commonplace then the Leafs losing is that the organisation corrupts and burns out their youngsters. Call him up when we need an infusion of energy if we have a playoff push otherwise leave him and let him develop with Bozak and Hanson and the rest of the Marlie crew. Next year Victor, next year.

9) Do you think Brian Burke needs to make a trade to shake-up the team? Does the offence or defense need upgrading?

Yes and his name is Brendan Shanahan our options are limited until we can deal Kaberle, (and we will be dealing Kaberle) so in the interim our best and real only choice is to acquire without losing anything someone of Shany’s ilk. If we can find a taker for Finger due to injury this may also cahnge it should be noted. No one is trading for Blake or Toskala at this juncture so you can forget about that for right now.

10) Will the Leafs make the playoffs?

No they will not. They will get close, probably within 5 points but in calssic Leaf fashion they will just miss the playoffs. Things will get exciting, ratings and jobs will be saved, optimism will be discussed for the next year. 2010/2011 we will though as we’ll have the money and properly groomed talent to do so. Alright everyone there are my 10 questions answered, in closing please give generously to the “Let Nazem Kadri Develop in the minors Fund” because he can’t be looked upon to be our saviour for next year. We’ll have Kovalchuk/Savard for that…let the tampering begin!

Bonus Question

11) On a scale of 1 to 10, how epic fail is the nickname “The Goose” for Gustavsson?

I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that our team is 1 and 12. I will only answer such trivial questions once we approach somethin close to resembling .500 hockey. On a scale of 1 to 10 I give this bonus question a 10 for epic failure.

Just kidding Ron;) U know I love you and the question post was a gr8 idea amigo…

All the best Leafers and Leafettes,

~Realitycorp