Why the Maple Leafs Will Make the Playoffs for the First Time in 7 Years

May 4th 2004 was the last day Leafs fans really had something to cheer about. I was only 10 years old when the Leafs were playing the Flyers and Jeremy Roenick ended the Leafs post season hopes. To put in prespective here are a few things that have happened since: NHL Lockout, Sidney Crosby being drafted, Youtube and Facebook were both created, Sadam Hussein was executed, Brett Favre retired for the 1st time, Barack Obama became president and Sidney Crosby scored the overtime winner to give Canada Olympic gold on home ice (Everything else Steve Dangle found out that happened since May the 4th ). A lot of historic hockey and world events have happened since. But I have reason to believe Leaf fans we be able to relax this season and we won't see after every Leaf loss fans demanding Ron Wilson to be fired, Burke to step down and silly trade request for Kessel after he a 3 game drought of scoring. I'm not saying the road to the playoffs wont be bumpy, but it is going to happen; and here's why.

-"Double" Dion Phaneuf



09/10 12g 21a 32pts
10/11 17g 23a 60pts

If there is one trade in the Burke era not every Leaf fan likes is the Phil Kessel trade; the one everyone does like is the Phaneuf trade (unless you were a big Ian White fan). Leafs bascially went into the Bank of Calgary Flames and stoll Phaneuf. Now they didn't completely steal Phaneuf but they didn't pay full price. Trading two mediocer forwards with Stajan and Hagman. A goon in Jamal Mayers, and the only player Calgary fans can be excited for Ian White. Leafs also stoll a little extra in a good shoot out guy Freddy Sjostrom and future shutdown defenceman Keith Aulie (played on the same Kelowna Rockets team as Luke Schenn)

Phaneuf is league renowned name, because of his fierce hits, competitiveness and also his scoring ability. Phaneuf only finished with 32pts and only 10 pts in 26 games with the Leafs. Phaneuf is perenial 45-60 pts kinda guy. Something must have been wrong with Phaneuf this year which lead most to believe was the reason why he was trade out of Calgary (or stolen). Even though he didn't dimalish the scoreboard, he really changed the team. After the trade, the Leafs started competing like a playoff team. Players would hit harder and players who didn't hit that often would, to model Phaneuf. Those are the reason why he is the new captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Had the Leafs kept pace with their record after Phaneuf throughout the season they would have been facing the Capitals, or New Jersey in the 1st round. And we all know what happened to those guys in the 1st round. Kaberle was paired with Phaneuf on the powerplay on the regular once he came in, Kaberle finished with 49pts.

Had Burke made the traded for him early in the season or before it, we could have seen Kaberle rack the assists from a Phaneuf one-time powerplay bomb from the point. I know Phaneuf didn't rack up the points after his arrival, but he definatley took the trade hard. For a guy as manly as Phaneuf, I thought he could never cry. But in the interviews after the trade he was. So their definatley was a problem with Phaneuf this season; but a long offseason the think about and a declared captaincy should boost his confindence and bring back that all star defenseman.

-Naz"um" Kadri



OHL 09/10 35g 58a 93pts
NHL 10/11 21g 24a 45pts


I mean no disrespect to Kadri, but I find it funny how he frequently says "um" over and over again in interviews. You would have to go way back to find a star forward drafted by the Leafs. The best in recent history Sundin, Clark, Gilmour all were not drafted by the Leafs. You may have to go all the way to Darryl Sittler to find the best purebred Leaf. Well after a long wait, Leaf fans now have something to get excited about; Nazem Kadri. The past season Kadri ammassed 93pts compared to a still impressive 78pts the previous season. Kadri even had an exceptional post season, scoring 9g and 18a through first 2 rounds in 14 games.

Kadri was oh so close to cracking the Leafs roster with impressing the fans and the coaches with his play. But he could not pull off a Luke Schenn. But it proved succesfull to add some seasoning to Kadri since he was in the top 5 in OHL scoring. He did manage to play one emergency call-up game when the Marlies were on a west coast road trip. He didn't look out of place. You could tell he was a rookie on the ice because of his size, not his height but his weight. I think the only reason he didn;t make the roster was the fact he would have been throw around on the ice. Kadri has shown he can score, him playing next year hinges on him gainging some muscle so he doesn't get thrown around. I see Kadri fitting in as a rotating 2nd and 3rd line centre that will also be the go-to guy in the shootout, which is hasn't been the Leafs best area of expertice. In fact they were the first NHL team to loose in the new NHL shootout format. But as everyone know he can dangle and he has all the tools to be the next Darryl Sittler for the Leafs. Here's some of what you're going to see next season.

-The Duo of Jonas "Goose" Gustavsson and J.S "Getting Giggy With It" Giguere For The Whole Season



Gustavsson - 09/10 16W 15L
Giguere - 09/10 6W 7L (with the Leafs)

Now I really can predict with confidence the stats of these goaltenders. It is harder than predicting players cause goalie only play certain amount of games, and their are wins, losses and overtime losses that factor in. Also goalies can go down to injury and other goalies get called up. If I have to guess I think Goose will get around 28-33 wins and Giguerre about 15-18 wins.

Back to buissness; these to goaltender really showed some solid goaltending towards the end of the season. It is hard to judge Goose for his play throughout the season because of the fact he had 2 heart procedures, and the passing of his mother before the season. It is just unbelieveable he was able to play the way he did throughout the season. He definatley showed potential. Giguere showed great promise in his first showing with the Leafs but later tailed off in March. I really think with these goalies knowing the team was bound for the bottom seller of the standings by February; they didn't have much to play for. It's not like a proffesional should play like that, but when you know you have a legitimate chance of playing in the playoffs you play better. So with a good offseason and pre-season with these two goalies who cover up a tremendous amount of net, we could see the best goalie tandom since Nabokov and Tosakala (Remember Toskala was good once).

-Phil "The Thrill" Kessel



09/10 30g 25a 55pts
10/11 41g 32a 73pts

Phil Kessel trade is arguably the most controvesial Maple Leafs trade ever, because of the amount and quality of draft pick given out. The Boston Bruins received the 2nd overall pick and selected Tyler Seguin. Oh yeah also the Leafs 1st round selection in 2011. But as Brian Burke overly states "We would make the trade again tomorrow". I think this trade will always be hanging over Kessel's head. Even if he ammasses a 80 point season and Seguin get say 90 or 100; the rabid outrageous Leaf fans will scrutinize Kessel as a bad player. Which shouldn't be, because Kessel is no Aki Berg, he is a real pure scorer.

He has the potential to be a star in Toronto, as long as he receives a player that can pass the puck like Marc Savard or better. Even if he doesn't receive a star centre he can still rack up 70 pts in a season with the roster the Leafs have; even if the season started tomorrow. Kessel didn't show up to the Leafs lineup till november and missed 12 games. So there's so much potential for Kessel, with a full and healthy season we can see Leafs Nation agreeing with Burke on this controversial trade.

.........................................................................................
All of my speculation of the Leafs stems on three important things: how the new players will gel together through an entire season, players having career and bounce back season. I am sure this will happen!

Steve Dangle
Almost forgot the most important reason why the Leafs will make the playoffs. If you are a true Leaf fan you watch Steve Dangle's LFRs. And there is no way Leaf fans can go another season without seeing the first LFPR (Leaf Fan Playoff Reaction) without rioting.


http://www.youtube.com/user/SteveDangle