Ron Guillet
I've been an Alexander Steen supporter even since he debuted with the Leafs back in the 2005-06 campaign. Since that time, Steen has made no progress offensively, posting 35-45 points a season in his short NHL career thus far. [more…]
Twelve games into the NHL season and the Leafs have garnered a 5-4-3 record. Considering NHL critics predicted the Maple Leafs to get humiliated this season, they are one of the biggest surprises so far.
*A little late posting this - my apologies. But RG's foresight was bang on...
Yes, yes it will.
The Belorussian native is struggling amidst his rookie season – still searching for a point on the score sheet – but it's not as if the speedy center isn't trying, in fact, he's displaying the work ethic head coach Ron Wilson is demanding.
After a spectacular game by Vesa Toskala and Co. tonight, the scoreless game was decided in the shootout, and once again, the Leafs were on the losing side.
While it seems unfair to bring this up after such a dominant game by #35, it must be said: Is it time to play Curtis Joseph in the shootouts?
Three games into the season and the Toronto Maple Leafs have already embarked on an up and down ride.
Preseason has concluded for the Toronto Maple Leafs. After 9 games of juggling line-ups and testing their young guns, the Leafs have finished with a 2-5-2 record. However, this blog does not have the objective to bash the Leafs and bring the fan base to a heaving sigh. Instead, let's take a different approach. Let's go into the season with our heads high. Let's go into the season with an optimistic state of mind. Let's go into the season to watch some hockey!
(Eric Engels has a lot of fun with this at Hockeybuzz, so let’s bring it down to the Hot Stove minus the lowly Habs of course)
The season is approaching and preseason hockey continues to serve as an indicator for what is to come from the many new faces that comprise the ’08-09 Leafs.
It's time for Ponikarovsky to step up.
No more excuses. The now-Canadian citizen is going to have display his talent and prove to the Leafs why he should rejoin them in the long-term. The six-foot-four, 220 pound sniper has shown glimpses of being top-six forward quality, but that's as far as he goes before falling back into inconsistency.
Schenn will play for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.
I'm as sure of this as I am that Carlo Calaiacovo will get injured. While there is an abundance of defensemen competing for the two available positions (Kaberle, Kubina, Finger and Frogren will form the Leafs' top 4), Schenn will, at some point, stand-out from the majority of the group. Whether it's in training camp or mid-way through the season, as soon he joins the team he'll stay there for the remainder.
Before Schenn arrived, Anton Stralman was the Leafs' best defensive prospect. Now, however, things have changed. While Stralman is still shaping up to be a premium offensive defenseman, the Leafs haven't had a franchise caliber defender in quite some time.
Rebuild.
That was the game plan going in to the off-season after another abysmal season from our boys in Blue and White.
Given this arduous task was veteran GM Cliff Fletcher. I mean, it's not every day that MLSE realize their failure and place this kind of responsibility on their GM (or… is it?).
Fletcher got to work right away, trading a 3rd round selection in the 2008 draft for Jamal Mayers. While this received mixed reception, the presence of Mayers to the Leafs' now young line-up is going to add some leadership to a team sorely lacking it.
GM Cliff Fletcher has made some questionable trades this off-season and the addition of Mikhail Grabovski to the Leafs' line-up is an intriguing one – one that is going to cost Toronto a 2nd round selection in 2010.
Grabovski is a bit of an unknown commodity. Having just 27 games of experience in his NHL career, (played 24 last season) he has shown strong offensive potential despite being caught behind so many players on the Habs' depth chart. The Belorussian was a victim of the numbers game, only averaging 11 minutes and 12 seconds of ice-time last season - he also registered a feeble 26 seconds per game on the PP. With that said, he accumulated 3 goals and 9 points in the 24 games played.
First off, I'd like to thank Alec Brownscombe for giving me this great opportunity. I hope to bring some interesting and opinionated blogs to the table that will keep you all reading throughout the frustrating season that is surely to come.
Most of you already know me through Hockeybuzz as Ron Guillet, -- your lovable moderator -- which is in fact my real name. I'm currently attending college studying the Journalism program, and I'm striving to become a better writer as the season progresses. [more…]
