cpac47
10-11-2009, 08:03 AM
Hindsight is always 20/20 but who cares ... here is my two cents on the season so far
1) After four games a logical record would be 2-2 (beat Montreal and Ottawa and lose to Pittsburgh and Washington). So minimal expectations have not been met. Blowing the lead in game one against Montreal may be a negative benchmark for this team as hard as it may be to believe.
2) Kadri should have remained with the team after playing well in the pre-season. Quite frankly I don't see how allowing him to be part of the team for the first 9 games would have a negative impact on his future development. If he struggled he goes back to London if he plays well then he stays.
3) Special teams are certainly special in a negative way. The penalty killing was terrible last season and isn't any better this year. The power-play has not been any better.
4) Outside of Kaberle and to a lesser extent White the Leafs lack offensive flair and puck movement mobility from their blueline. Yes, a physical presence is always needed on the backline but in today's game defenders who can generate offense are very much needed as well. This element is clearly lacking. Could Stralman or Carlos C. have helped in this area?
5) Kessel trade ... I did not like this trade at the time. Quite frankly I think Burke had tunnel vision on this issue. Since Kessel was going to be out until mid-November there was no need to make the deal at the time it was done. Let Boston sweat it out. I realize that dealing for Kessel represents a long term investment, however giving up two first round picks and a second represents a long term investment as well. I'll tell you one thing given the Leafs start the Kessel deal would not have been made at this time. Burke fell in love with Kadri, Bozak, Hansen and Stalburg...none of whom except for Hansen had played a regular season NHL game. This in my opinion was one reason behind the Kessel deal. Trading three draft picks (one which will likely be a high pick this year) is not the way to build a Cup contender. Why do I have a feeling this deal is going to be a disaster for Toronto?
6) Accountability ... that was a word used quite a bit by Burke and Wilson. This team played more pre-season games then any other team. Why? Likely because there were jobs (supposedly) on the line and the Leafs brass wanted to give everybody a shot. Well, Wilson has said that some players made this team because they were on last year's roster. What an absurd concept given the performance of the team last year. Enough is enough. If Kadri and Bozak were indeed two of their better players in pre-season then both should have been in the opening line-up and lets see how they perform ... What a message to send right off the opening face-off of game one. We are going with the players who performed the best in pre-season. So much for accountability ...
7) All that being said ... looking down the road if Kadri, Kessel, Stalburg and Bozak emerge as top flight top six forwards and Gustafsson develops into a legitimate number one goalie than things will be looking up.
I STILL DON'T LIKE THE KESSEL TRADE BUT I HOPE HE PROVES ME WRONG
1) After four games a logical record would be 2-2 (beat Montreal and Ottawa and lose to Pittsburgh and Washington). So minimal expectations have not been met. Blowing the lead in game one against Montreal may be a negative benchmark for this team as hard as it may be to believe.
2) Kadri should have remained with the team after playing well in the pre-season. Quite frankly I don't see how allowing him to be part of the team for the first 9 games would have a negative impact on his future development. If he struggled he goes back to London if he plays well then he stays.
3) Special teams are certainly special in a negative way. The penalty killing was terrible last season and isn't any better this year. The power-play has not been any better.
4) Outside of Kaberle and to a lesser extent White the Leafs lack offensive flair and puck movement mobility from their blueline. Yes, a physical presence is always needed on the backline but in today's game defenders who can generate offense are very much needed as well. This element is clearly lacking. Could Stralman or Carlos C. have helped in this area?
5) Kessel trade ... I did not like this trade at the time. Quite frankly I think Burke had tunnel vision on this issue. Since Kessel was going to be out until mid-November there was no need to make the deal at the time it was done. Let Boston sweat it out. I realize that dealing for Kessel represents a long term investment, however giving up two first round picks and a second represents a long term investment as well. I'll tell you one thing given the Leafs start the Kessel deal would not have been made at this time. Burke fell in love with Kadri, Bozak, Hansen and Stalburg...none of whom except for Hansen had played a regular season NHL game. This in my opinion was one reason behind the Kessel deal. Trading three draft picks (one which will likely be a high pick this year) is not the way to build a Cup contender. Why do I have a feeling this deal is going to be a disaster for Toronto?
6) Accountability ... that was a word used quite a bit by Burke and Wilson. This team played more pre-season games then any other team. Why? Likely because there were jobs (supposedly) on the line and the Leafs brass wanted to give everybody a shot. Well, Wilson has said that some players made this team because they were on last year's roster. What an absurd concept given the performance of the team last year. Enough is enough. If Kadri and Bozak were indeed two of their better players in pre-season then both should have been in the opening line-up and lets see how they perform ... What a message to send right off the opening face-off of game one. We are going with the players who performed the best in pre-season. So much for accountability ...
7) All that being said ... looking down the road if Kadri, Kessel, Stalburg and Bozak emerge as top flight top six forwards and Gustafsson develops into a legitimate number one goalie than things will be looking up.
I STILL DON'T LIKE THE KESSEL TRADE BUT I HOPE HE PROVES ME WRONG