Since Leafs fans seem to have trouble taking a step back and looking at the overall big picture, I've taken the liberty of comprising a breakdown and posting it all for you, my fellow fans, right here.
* Come playoff time, the best teams in the league-- their top lines will go point for point, probably for about 8 points in a series. Maybe. That leaves the other three lines. *
In a salary cap world it's all about depth. It's about role players. 3 and 4 line scoring. You need to run four lines who are capable of playing multiple roles. You need a 3 line who can play defense, but also, tire out a goal scoring line in their own end, make a solid change, and get the first line out to finish, or finish it themselves. Teams need to have the ability and the confidence that, their depth players can get a dirty goal every game and make a difference, and the Leafs have that. The Leafs have a very solid bottom six.
It is true, you can’t win games with 3 and 4 line scoring. The Leafs don't have a big center who can pick the team up on his shoulders and do it all by himself. (Dion is trying and failing but I’ll save that for later) Kessel is great, best wrist shot since Joe Sakic, but he can't do it himself. He’s a finisher. Again, it’s not something we can fix. We have to rely on our other guys to get one here and there. No one (short of a miracle trade or divorce) is coming to Toronto this year to help this team out, so nothing is going to happen. Get over it.
This is why in Burke we trust. He’s managing this team they way you play the game. He’s taking care of the little things first. He got the goalies, he got guys to work the corners, and he got guys to PK. He got guys who go to the net, and who can create havock. Guys like Macarthur, Grabo, Veersteg-- what do you think?-- they suck. They are useless? Common, the Leafs are a DEVELOPING TEAM. ( This goes back to multiple roles and player development- Versteeg and Macarthur are never going to learn how to score on a fourth line in bible belt USA or a championship team. They are however, forced to in Toronto.) Burke didn’t get these players because of what they’ve done. He got them because of their potential, and anyone, ANYONE who has played the game at any reasonable level knows that heart and hard work beat god-given-talent any day. Doubt me? see the ’98 Canadian Olympic team. Burke's going for pond hockey, go-to-the-net style hockey and it’s what will win games come playoff time. Take care of the little things first and the goals will come.
Kaberle will not, and should not be traded. How much is Bouwmeester making right now? Exactly. Kabby’s the best d-man on the team right now and arguably in the top 5 in the NHL.
Kardi is not ready. What does he bring to the table anyways? Nothing. I typically agree with most of what Don Cherry says, but he’s wrong on this one. If you bring Kadri up, he’s going to have one good game, and then shit the bed. Leafs fans will tear him a new hole, and he’ll become the poster child for all that is wrong in Leafs Nation. Other teams will capitalize on his poor defensive game (Kadri likes to force plays that have no business being forced) and will provide enough fodder for the pundits to last them well into next year, as they troll the blogs making disparaging, non-sensical comments, convincing themselves that they’re smart. He’s too small, too ignorant of the game, and too much of a liability. I'm sure one day he'll make a great centre, but right now he can't help this team. Leave him in the minors, and throw him a game here and there for good behavior.
Poor Dion. He’s trying so hard. That man has got to stop holding his stick so tight and get a lucky bounce. He keeps throwing himself out of position by trying to make a big hit to swing momentum in his teams favour. It’s what he should be doing but he can’t be sacrificing his positing like that. He’s got to relax and let things come to him instead of forcing everything so much. It’s hard though when your the captain of a cornerstone franchise team that’s sucked for years. He wants to make a difference and you can see the frustration on his face. I was also disgusted to hear the Boo-Birds out at the ACC on Saturday. I’m going wait more than 10 games before I start evaluating his captaincy, but as of now I think it’s still a good choice.
Wilson doesn’t suck. He brought a team one goal away from beating Team Canada in the Olympics. Who on Team USA would make Team Canada? Miller as a third string, sure. Other than that, Zach Parise maybe? Bobby Ryan, Phil Kessel, Patty Kane? Great players, but better than the likes of Towes and Crosby, I think not. Wilson has a good plan, and it is nice to see the players finally buying into it. (They don’t have a choice. It’s really the end of the road for them because on most teams they’re on waviers riding the bus, so they better do what Wilson says.) The goals will come, just give it some time.
If we make the playoffs great, but this season's success will be dependent on whether or not the team battles hard every night and builds some (pardon the french) FUCKING CHARACTER. This team has been a joke for years, but it finally now has some direction and youthful talent, something thats been missing since.. well.. a long time.
As of this post the Leafs are still above .500. Thats not bad considering they had 1 point by this time last year. For one, I am a happy Leafs fan, though I have no illusions about the talent depth and potential for this year. I remain cautiously optimistic, and am certainly not claiming the sky is falling 10 games in to the season or throwing anyone under the bus. Not yet anyways.
For those of you who are curious, I haven’t fully finished the parade route, but I know, that when I do, it’s going lead to, and climax on Falko’s front lawn with blue and white fire works and plenty of fan club application forms. I’ll even bake a cake for it!
PS. Way to go Giants. They just won as I was prof-reading this!
No comments:
Post a Comment