moon111
New member
#1. Randy Carlyle. Can Carlyle get this team playing a system that will finally tighten up the goals-against? Could he get more out of players like Kadri?
#2. James Reimer. His success came when the team was playing it's heart out. Some opponents were already in the playoffs. Come to the grind of the regular season, with a weak defensive system, he failed. Not one to make wild saves, he'll be much better off if the Leafs stop turning the puck over.
#3. Mike Komisarek. Komisarek is a tank. An awesome weapon, but one that's not designed at all to run around. If Carlyle can implement the X's and O's right, Komisarek won't be left alone to hold the defensive line on the battlefield. A single tank cannot stop the enemy from outflanking. Make the opposition have to go through instead. With Luke Schenn gone, a new coach, and maybe a new game plan, now is Komisarek best chance to shine.
#4. Nikolai Kulemin. Kulemin looked like a guy with a broken heart. He played in a fog. Was it the Russian plane crash? Perhaps it was Ron Wilson? Whatever the reason, even a drop of Wendel Clark motivation might return him to 30+ goals.
#5. Tyler Bozak. What? Bozak? Thought we all wanted him gone or at least off the top line? Well for one, he's constantly improved. And for two, who is his competition? Van Reimsdyk really hasn't shown anything throughout his career that he's any better. Yes he's two inches taller, but they're about the same weight. If size is really needed on the first line, a more serious threat would come from Joe Colborne.
#6. James Van Riemsdyk. Although his .27 assists per game (.10 in the playoffs) make me think he's not the right choice to make the #1 center position at all, he still comes in as an added boost on the forward lines.
#7. Jake Gardiner. Is this guy for real? Might be the stand-out for 2012-13, but one doesn't want to put too much optimism on a sophomore defenseman. Compared to Phaneuf, his numbers don't compare. But his impression of Bobby Orr joining the rush puts the opposition on their heels.
#8. Ben Scrivens. The guy has posted some serious save percentage numbers throughout his career. But coming to the NHL, he was a .974 one game, a .643 the next. At 25, he's allot further along then Tim Thomas was playing for the Oulun K?rp?t or something. He might be able to become the #1 goalie, with the only difference being mentally tougher the Reimer.
#9. John-Michael Liles. Last season he was a -9 in games against Boston. Maybe the Leafs shouldn't play him in games against the Bruins! He's a good defenseman who sees success when he's contributing to the offense, but otherwise can end up hurting the club. Hopefully a new system will have him able to make a positive impact in games he doesn't get on the score board.
#10 Brian Burke. Without notice, Burke can pull a rabbit out of the hat. Doesn't do anything just for the sakes of it, he'll stand pat rather then do something on a whim. Still looking over the roster, it starts feeling a little crowded in some positions where no one player stands out above the others.
#2. James Reimer. His success came when the team was playing it's heart out. Some opponents were already in the playoffs. Come to the grind of the regular season, with a weak defensive system, he failed. Not one to make wild saves, he'll be much better off if the Leafs stop turning the puck over.
#3. Mike Komisarek. Komisarek is a tank. An awesome weapon, but one that's not designed at all to run around. If Carlyle can implement the X's and O's right, Komisarek won't be left alone to hold the defensive line on the battlefield. A single tank cannot stop the enemy from outflanking. Make the opposition have to go through instead. With Luke Schenn gone, a new coach, and maybe a new game plan, now is Komisarek best chance to shine.
#4. Nikolai Kulemin. Kulemin looked like a guy with a broken heart. He played in a fog. Was it the Russian plane crash? Perhaps it was Ron Wilson? Whatever the reason, even a drop of Wendel Clark motivation might return him to 30+ goals.
#5. Tyler Bozak. What? Bozak? Thought we all wanted him gone or at least off the top line? Well for one, he's constantly improved. And for two, who is his competition? Van Reimsdyk really hasn't shown anything throughout his career that he's any better. Yes he's two inches taller, but they're about the same weight. If size is really needed on the first line, a more serious threat would come from Joe Colborne.
#6. James Van Riemsdyk. Although his .27 assists per game (.10 in the playoffs) make me think he's not the right choice to make the #1 center position at all, he still comes in as an added boost on the forward lines.
#7. Jake Gardiner. Is this guy for real? Might be the stand-out for 2012-13, but one doesn't want to put too much optimism on a sophomore defenseman. Compared to Phaneuf, his numbers don't compare. But his impression of Bobby Orr joining the rush puts the opposition on their heels.
#8. Ben Scrivens. The guy has posted some serious save percentage numbers throughout his career. But coming to the NHL, he was a .974 one game, a .643 the next. At 25, he's allot further along then Tim Thomas was playing for the Oulun K?rp?t or something. He might be able to become the #1 goalie, with the only difference being mentally tougher the Reimer.
#9. John-Michael Liles. Last season he was a -9 in games against Boston. Maybe the Leafs shouldn't play him in games against the Bruins! He's a good defenseman who sees success when he's contributing to the offense, but otherwise can end up hurting the club. Hopefully a new system will have him able to make a positive impact in games he doesn't get on the score board.
#10 Brian Burke. Without notice, Burke can pull a rabbit out of the hat. Doesn't do anything just for the sakes of it, he'll stand pat rather then do something on a whim. Still looking over the roster, it starts feeling a little crowded in some positions where no one player stands out above the others.
