Dandy Dozen: 12 Toronto Maple leafs we need to stick around
While Brian Burke has stocked the Leafs' cupboard with plenty of draft picks and prospects, which players do we have that have already proven they can excel in the NHL?
It would seem these would form the core of the untouchables, together with the best prospects that have not yet earned or been given an opportunity to show what they can do at the highest level. If the Leafs want to win a Stanley Cup in the next three to five years, one goal should be for the Marlies to win it all in 2011-2012, and that will require bringing in more than "two or three" players to take the Buds over the hump.
This past regular season the Leafs decimated the Marlies and ruined their playoff hopes, by bringing up seven players as the top team opted for a full-fledged youth movement. If Frattin plays well in pre-season games he deserves a shot at the NHL, whereas Joe Colborne and the other youngsters must be pencilled in for the Marlies, with only a Herculean effort elevating them to the bigs.
Here are the core, proven NHLers:
# POS PLAYER GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S%
81 R PHIL KESSEL 82 32 32 64 -20 24 12 1 6 325 9.8
16 L CLARKE MACARTHUR 82 21 41 62 -3 37
6 0 3 154 13.6
84 C MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI 81 29 29 58 14 60
10 0 4 239 12.1
41 L NIKOLAI KULEMIN 82 30 27 57 7 26 5
1 5 173 17.3
19 R JOFFREY LUPUL 54 14 17 31 -11 33 4 0 2 129 10.9
3 D DION PHANEUF 66 8 22 30 -2 88 3 0 1 190 4.2
9 R COLBY ARMSTRONG 50 8 15 23 -1 38 0 0 0 69 11.6
2 D LUKE SCHENN 82 5 17 22 -7 34 0 0 0 128 3.9
36 D CARL GUNNARSSON 68 4 16 20 -2 14 1 0 1 69 5.8
43 C NAZEM KADRI 29 3 9 12 -3 8 0 0 0 51 5.9
59 D KEITH AULIE 40 2 0 2 -1 32 0 0 0 32 6.3
# GOALIE GPI GS MIN GAA W L OT SO SA GA SV% G A PIM
34 JAMES REIMER 37 35 2080 2.60 20 10 5 3 1134 90 .921 0 1 2
That's 12 players that are keepers, and if you want to include top prospects on the "untouchables" list, then start with Matt Lashoff, Joe Colborne, Jake Gardiner, Matt Frattin, Tyler Brenner, Jussi Rynas and Greg McKegg. Now we have 19 players that can be most of the team three to five years from now, however in this coming season it's likely 4 or 5 of them will play for the Marlies.
Toronto Maple Leafs' depth is impressive, setting up trade possibilities
Let's look at more Leafs with the big club or in the system. I would say this group has the potential to contribute significantly in the next couple of years, however seasoning is required for most:
Darryl Boyce, F 26
Simon Gysbers, D 23
Ben Scrivens, G 24
Korbinian Holzer, D 23
Tim Brent, C 27
Bradley Ross, F 18
Joey Crabb, F 28
Josh Nicholls, F 19 on April 27
Tyler Bozak, F 25
Jerry D'Amigo, D 20
Gregg Scott, F 22
The thirty players named in the 3 lists above are the ones I deem most worth keeping at this point in time, indicating those not named should be considered for trade, for not being re-signed, or for being re-signed at a reasonable rate and then included in trades. It doesn't mean I don't think they are good players, many still with vast potential, just that they are not the pieces the Leafs need at this point in their progress from playoffs contender to Cup challenger.
Though Bozak wasn't able to perform as a first line centre, Brian Burke believes that's the fault of Leafs management, not Bozak. This indicates he may find a role as third or fourth line centre, plus perform in key faceoffs when required.
Komisarek is likely staying because his salary limits the teams he can be moved to, however Gustavsson still has value and truly needs a start elsewhere, possibly with a veteran, reasonably priced goalie coming back to us in return. I just think the pressure on Gustavsson would be too much in Toronto, as the Leafs have to treat October and November like it is already the playoffs.
To compete in Autumn, Leafs need to bring in five proven NHLers
Ideally we can get Brad Richards (is there a strong second choice right now?) plus another big scoring forward, two more proven NHL defencemen and a better backup for Reimer. That means bringing in five players, and Burke should be able to do this without affecting the core nineteen above, though he may have to move some of the next eleven, dipping into the thirty pool.
The goal should be three free agent signings, with the other two coming in via two trades, or perhaps one giant three-way bonanza deal, giving each team just what they need. Adding a bona fide centre, another scoring forward, a couple more strong defencemen and another goalie will make the Toronto Maple Leafs 2011-2012 training camp an exciting place to be, and the season that follows a truly memorable one for deeply deserving Leafs' fans.
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