TEN Reasons why the Maple Leafs are the team to watch in 2012-2013

Here are my Top Ten reasons for beleafing that Toronto will have the biggest rise of any team in 2012-2013:

1. We were close - In early February, the Maple Leafs were in 6th place in the East, and only 7 points behind Boston for the divisional championship. Other than the games against Boston, the Maple Leafs were competitive against most teams.

2. Phil Kessel - Playing without a centre that can score goals or set them up at a first line level, Kessel became a Top Ten scorer in the NHL. With a decent centre, he will be a 40-goal, 90 point player.

3. Jake Gardiner - While many had him pegged for the Marlies last season, my blog advised Jake to head into training camp believing that he is in charge of the Maple Leafs power play. Everyone gave the job to Liles in advance, however having watched Jake play for the USA for years, I knew he had the zazz the Leafs needed. This past season he just started to dominate offensively in the last few months, and his progress should vault him into top pairing status next year.

4. Randy Carlyle - The guy is a detailed strategist and motivator with a proven ability to win big hockey games, and doesn't seem like the type to be affected by T-dot pressures.

5. James Reimer - If a #1 goalie is paired with him, Reimer will provide a capable backup and will challenge for top ranking.

6. Luke Schenn - Hardest young hitter in the league.

7. Joffrey Lupul - A bona fide first-line left winger on a team that really needed one, Lupul had a career season and works magic with Kessel. Will likely wear an A this coming season.

8. Gunnarsson - Paired with Phaneuf, will provide a solid 2nd tandem as Toronto's 3rd and 4th defenders, behind Gardiner / Schenn.

9. Nazem Kadri - In recent weeks he has begun dominating the AHL, and if the trend persists in the Calder Cup playoffs, Naz will secure a Big Nine position with the Leafs, and will not disappoint. Kadri already has a winning record with the Leafs in each of the past two seasons.

10. Brian Burke - The much maligned GM will land a big fish or two, plus some more muscle, making the upcoming training camp a crowded, competitive place, and positioning both the Leafs and the Marlies for successful 2012-2013 seasons.

You need about 30 NHL-level players in this concussed NHL, and the maturing youth in the Leafs system will provide the depth the Buds need to start clicking on all levels.

GO Leafs GO!!!

Core Toronto Maple Leafs for 2012-2013 and forward

If Brian Burke wants to keep certain players off-limits from trade talks, here are the 10 players he would be best to try to keep out of trade talks:

Jake Gardiner
Phil Kessel
James Reimer
Nazem Kadri
Matt Frattin
Tyler Biggs
Joe Colborne
Cody Franson
Mark Owuya
Brad Ross



Here are 5 names that should be considered in trade scenarios, with an explanation:

Jonas Gustavsson - As he is a free agent on July 1st and the Leafs would be unlikely to have any interest in signing him, offering exclusive rights to negotiate with him until June 30th could bring a 3rd round draft pick, or a young player. This trade needs to be arranged in advance and happen within a week of season's end, as the deadline will be fast approaching.


Dion Phaneuf OR Luke Schenn - It would be nice to keep them both, however if there are grains of truth in the stories about tension between these two, it may be best to listen to offers for each and hit the bid if a strong goalie or enticing package becomes available.


Joffrey Lupul - Yes it would be sad to see him go and if the Leafs were ready to challenge for a Cup I'd have him on the top ten list above. Instead, the Buds will need 2 or 3 seasons of playoffs experience before being ready to drink from the Mug, so trading Lupul to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender can bring a pick and a player, with Matt Frattin and Nazem Kadri competing for the left wing spot on Kessel's line.


Jussi Rynnas - I'd like to see a proven NHL goalie plus Reimer start with the Maple Leafs, with Scrivens and Owuya slated to handle Marlies duties. This means Rynnas can be moved as part of a package deal, or straight up for a pick or a skater.


Tim Connolly - I don't believe his season was as disastrous as some do, however a $4.5 million checking line winger doesn't make a lot of sense. If BB can package Connolly up in a trade, free agent Darryl Boyce has a winning record as a Leaf and would excel on Carlyle's checking line, and he would likely be available for $850,000 to $900,000 per year.


Other names that could be moved to free up cap space include Komisarek, Lombardi and Armstrong.

So long Monster, I truly wish you well

Leafs have Reimer and 3 AHLers in the nets for 2012-2013

In another travesty of epic proportions, more nails were placed in the Allaire and Gustavsson maple coffins tonight as the Leafs were eliminated by 3 half-snapper, top cheddar shots that could have been saved. All 3 goals high on glove side. The problem is Allaire's system emphasizes protecting holes 3,4, and 5, leaving the top corners open. Shooters know this, and have been exploiting the knowledge for months.

So we have James Reimer, currently ranked #3 in my Top 25 Toronto Maple leafs 25 years old or younger, behind only Jake Gardiner (#1) and Phil Kessel (#2). The problem is that of the next 3 guys, Ben Scrivens, Jussi Rynnas (#20) and Mark Owuya (#8), none have played more than a few games in the NHL, and Owuya played most of the year in the ECHL.

Burke now in market for big-time goalie

All 3 of those Leafs prospects need to play at the AHL level or higher next year, and none of them can be guaranteed an NHL spot. This means one of them needs to be traded, and based on 2011-2012, Jussi would be the man on the block. Playing well in his NHL debut tonight likely increased his value so that's good, and the loss will also help us get a better draft pick.

What goalies are available? More than people will tell you about. You see, the free agent names are the ones everyone talks about, and there are many of those:

Goaltenders - 2012 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents
Player	2011-12 Team	11-12 Cap Hit	Contract Notes
Cristobal Huet	Chicago Blackhawks	$5,625,000
Martin Brodeur	New Jersey Devils	$5,200,000
Dwayne Roloson	Tampa Bay Lightning	$3,000,000
Antero Niittymaki	San Jose Sharks	$2,000,000
Chris Mason	Winnipeg Jets	$1,850,000
Michael Leighton	Philadelphia Flyers	$1,550,000
Dan Ellis	Anaheim Ducks	$1,500,000
Tomas Vokoun	Washington Capitals	$1,500,000
Jonas Gustavsson	Toronto Maple Leafs	$1,350,000
Johan Hedberg	New Jersey Devils	$1,250,000
Scott Clemmensen	Florida Panthers	$1,200,000
Alex Auld	Ottawa Senators	$1,000,000
Martin Biron	New York Rangers	$875,000
Johan Backlund	Philadelphia Flyers	$800,000
Ty Conklin	Detroit Red Wings	$750,000
Josh Harding	Minnesota Wild	$750,000
Andrew Raycroft	Dallas Stars	$650,000
Yann Danis	Edmonton Oilers	$650,000
Curtis McElhinney	Phoenix Coyotes	$625,000
Al Montoya	New York Islanders	$601,000
Ray Emery	Chicago Blackhawks	$600,000
Curtis Sanford	Columbus Blue Jackets	$600,000
Brent Johnson	Pittsburgh Penguins	$600,000
Brian Elliott	St. Louis Blues	$600,000	Re-signed with the Blues. 2 years, $3.6 million.
Evgeni Nabokov	New York Islanders	$570,000
Nathan Lawson	Montreal Canadiens	$550,000
Mike McKenna	Ottawa Senators	$550,000
Drew Macintyre	Buffalo Sabres	$525,000
David Leggio	Buffalo Sabres	$525,000
Jason Bacashihua	Philadelphia Flyers	$525,000
Scott Munroe	Pittsburgh Penguins	$525,000
Matt Climie	Vancouver Canucks	$525,000
Dany Sabourin	Washington Capitals	$525,000
Peter Mannino	Winnipeg Jets	$525,000

The Leafs are a big bucks franchise and can also afford to bid on restricted free agent goalies in a sign and trade deal, and to take a high-priced goalie from a team looking to shed salary. Look for a veteran signing, likely from the above list, as that allows us to retain assets. The free agent and Reimer battle for the #1 spot, Scrivens and Owuya beginning 2012-2013 with the Marlies, with one caveat. If Scrivens leads the Marlies to a Calder Cup and is a significant contributor to the cause, he could elevate himself into the mix. He's had 5 victories and 3 shutouts in his last 6 games, so don't count Ben out.

Sources: http://www.sportscity.com/nhl/2012-nhl-free-agents-unrestricted-listed-by-position/#Goalie,

25 BEST Maple Leafs 25 and Under

To qualify for this list, a player's NHL rights must be owned by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and he must be born in 1987 or later. Although overall potential is considered, the rankings are biased in favour of older prospects who have a significant chance of contributing playoff-calibre performances over the next 3 to 5 years.

The final bias would be toward players in the NHL, AHL and OHL, as it is harder for me to access and assess US college and foreign statistics.

Top 25 Young Toronto Maple Leafs

1. D: Jake Gardiner

2. RW: Phil Kessel

3. G: James Reimer

4. RW: Matt Frattin

5. C: Nazem Kadri

6. D: Luke Schenn

7. RW: Carter Ashton

8. G: Mark Owuya

9. D: Cody Franson

10. RW: Tyler Biggs

11. C: Joe Colborne

12. D: Jesse Blacker

13. LW: Brad Ross

14. LW: Josh Leivo

15. C: Greg McKegg

16. C. Josh Nicholls

17. RW: Sam Carrick

18. RW: Jerry D'Amigo

19. D: Korbinian Holzer

20. G: Jussi Rynnas

21. G: Garret Sparks

22. D: Stuart Percy

23. D: Simon Gysbers

24. LW: Marcel Mueller

25. LW: Nicolas Deschamps

Summary: Leafs need help on Left Wing and at Centre. Trading for 27 year old RW Rick Nash, a $7.8 mil player, may not be as wise as signing 27 year old LW Zach Parise for the same amount of money as a free agent, without having to give up anything.

28th in NHL scoring:

Zach Parise - 62 points

76th in NHL scoring:

Rick Nash - 48 points

Now, if Burke were to arrange for both of them to come to Toronto, most fans would be willing to give up a few names from the above list, especially below the top dozen.

Altogether now:

BB, please be a hero...