Leafs After Three Games

After an exciting pre-season the regular season has gotten off to a bumpy start for the Leafs. All three games have resulted in losses, but the interesting thing is that each game was different. That could show that the team has more problems with different deficiencies being exposed each time, or it could show that the team has the ability to correct the deficiencies and just needs to find a way to put it all together.

The biggest concern so far is the defense. Burke invested heavily in the off season with the acquisitions of Komisarek and Beauchemin. Together with Kaberle and Schenn they were supposed to be the big four and provide 45-50 minutes of solid defense each game. Komisarek got off to a rough start against Montreal but we can write that one off to over exuberance against his former team. Since then he has steadied his play and it looks like he and Kaberle could be a strong number one pairing with Kaberle leading the rushes.

The real disappointment has been the number two pair. Beauchemin has gotten off to a really bad start and does not look like a top four defender on a contenting team. Schenn has had an equally shaky start to the year and there is no chemistry between the two. It may be time for the Leafs to look at dropping Schenn back to the third pairing for a while and move a Finger or Van Ryn (when he is healthy) into the second pair to work with Beauchemin. The problems here are likely temporary. It is not unusual for a 19 year old defenseman to struggle in his second year and Beauchemin is too solid of a veteran not to find his game. The only real question is whether the two of them will make the solid pairing that was forecast as the season moves on.

Toskala’s shaky start gave the team an early opportunity to give Gustavsson his first start. So far Gustavsson has done absolutely nothing to disappoint or show that he will not be the number one goalie at season’s end. Granted he has only played five periods of regular season NHL action, but he shows the confidence, agility, positioning and rebound control that you need in your number one goaltender. The Leafs will likely delay such a proclamation for as long as possible since they need to help Toskala rediscover his game if only for the sake of him providing some value for him at the trade deadline.

In Toskala’s defense fans should remember that he is trying to modify his style under the tutelage of Allaire and the team did not play solid defense in front of him. The reality however is that at 32, and in the last year of his $4 million contract there is no future here for Toskala. The team would be just as well served with a 29 year old MacDonald earning under $1 million serving as back up.

The forward units are a bigger concern for the team. Stempniak, Mitchell, Stalberg and Stajan have played well so far. Grabovski shows flashes of speed and skill, but his inability to win face offs against top centers wastes half of each shift for his line since they need to spend that time getting the puck back. Ponikarovsky is his old steady self but is showing that he will not be on the team next year. The Leafs sorely need to get Kessel’s finishing touch into the lineup and it remains a question as to whether he will play with Stajan or Grabovski, or will Bozak will be in the lineup by that time.

The bottom six needs to be settled as well but we can expect quite a bit of shuffling here throughout the season. Rosehill and Orr can not play on the same line but both may find a place in the regular lineup. To compete, the Leafs need to roll four lines since they must rely on energy and fore checking for a full sixty minutes.

Three games in it is too early to panic but the pieces have to come together quickly. With the schedule for the balance of the month being very difficult this will not be easy but the Leafs can not afford to fall too far back of a playoff position.