2013 was a great step forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it won’t be remembered that way. After ending a nine-year playoff drought, the Maple Leafs nearly completed a first round upset of the Boston Bruins, but they may forever be haunted by their monumental Game 7 choke the job. Boston’s three third period goals and overtime winner should not overshadow Toronto’s promising young team.
There is a contender in Toronto once again. The center of the hockey world has endured two lockouts since the Leafs last won a playoff series, but the wait might soon be over.
Toronto’s top-six has quietly reached elite status. The oft-ridiculed Phil Kessel trade that allowed the Bruins to draft Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton is starting to look a bit better these days. As Seguin squandered his opportunity in Boston, Kessel continued to excel in Ontario.
The American winger has 134 points in his last 130 regular season games including 57 goals. Though he continues to face criticism for his soft game, he is an undeniably prolific scoring threat.
Kessel’s finesse will now be balanced by rough and tumble summer signing David Clarkson. The former Devil probably won’t match his goal-scoring rate from last season, but his grit will make a difference. However, fans will have to wait for the $36.75 million man’s regular season debut. The eager winger earned a 10 game suspension in a preseason fight.
Breakout star Nazem Kadri finished just shy of 48 points last season, and the 22-year-old signed a two-year extension over the summer. In addition, James Van Riemsdyk finally started to look like a high-end goal-scorer in his fourth NHL season, and Joffrey Lupul was marvelous albeit limited to just 16 games by injury.
On draft day, the Leafs also acquired Cup-winning goal-scorer Dave Bolland from the champion Blackhawks. Bolland was influential throughout Chicago’s playoff run with his elbow-grease game. The grinding center will be joined in the bottom-six by September signing Mason Raymond.
Mikhail Grabovski is gone, but former Denver Pioneers Tyler Bozak and Joe Colborne should give the Leafs plenty of depth at the center position. The 23-year-old Colborne deserves an NHL chance after three good seasons with the AHL Marlies, and he ought to be a fine option as the third or fourth center.
Defensemen Mike Kostka and Mike Komisarek signed elsewhere over the summer. Although Komisarek is the bigger name, he played just 49 games for Toronto over the last two seasons. Meanwhile, Kostka averaged 22 minutes per night as a 27-year-old rookie.
Kostka’s departure could make room for top prospect Morgan Rielly at the NHL level. The silky smooth defenseman was selected fifth overall in 2012, and he could immediately make an offensive impact. His defensive game is raw and he would benefit from some more bulk, but his skill and skating ability make him a potential star.
Of course the spotlight in Toronto will be focused on the crease. Though James Reimer‘s .924 save-percentage was equal to that of Vezina finalist Antti Niemi, GM Dave Nonis still felt the need to make a trade for L.A. backup Jonathan Bernier. Jonathan Quick‘s understudy has long merited an opportunity to start, but he may not be a major upgrade over Reimer.
If Bernier wins the job, then the Leafs won’t regret sending Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens and a second round pick to L.A., but that’s a hefty price to pay for a pine-rider. Bernier’s 1.88 goals-against average would have ranked second in the NHL last season had it been spread over more than 14 games, but that number partially reflects the Kings’ superior defense. Bernier’s save-percentage was actually slightly inferior to Reimer’s.
The pair of 25-year-old netminders could split the action evenly in the regular season, but one will likely be chosen to carry the load in the postseason. The duo combines for just eight playoff appearances. Rolling two good goalies can be very effective when managed properly, but playing roulette in net can also be a major hassle.
The odds of both goalies going belly-up this season are low, so the Maple Leafs should have more confidence in their masked men than they have in recent years.
Toronto was one of four teams from the old Northeast division to make the playoffs last season. The club will continue to compete against those teams in the new Atlantic, and they will now have to contend with the Detroit Red Wings.
The Atlantic teams could cannibalize each other this year, and at least one playoff worthy team will likely hit the golf course early. Toronto, Boston, Detroit, Ottawa and Montreal are all good enough to top the group, but none is guaranteed to finish in the top four.
Toronto is a fairly safe bet to finish in the middle of the group. Defensive question marks and the lack of a truly elite netminder will probably stop them short of their first division title since 2000, but the Leafs should find a way to keep playing beyond game number 82.
