TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

2005-06 Recap

Record: 41-33-8, 90 pts (4th in Northeast div, 9th in Eastern Conf)

Playoffs: Failed to Qualify

Goals For: 254 (9th overall)
Goals Against: 263 (21st overall)

Power Play: 21.4% (2nd)
Penalty Killing: 80.0% (24th)


2006-07 Preview

Key Additions: G Andrew Raycroft (trade with Bos), D Pavel Kubina (UFA, TB), Hal Gill (UFA, Bos), C Mike Peca (UFA, Edm), coach Paul Maurice

Key Losses: G Ed Belfour (bought out, signed with Fla), RW Tie Domi (bought out,retired), C Eric Lindros (UFA, Dal), C Jason Allison (UFA, unsigned), D Aki Berg (UFA, Europe)

RFA left to sign: none


Offense: Sundin is still the leader, but after him and Darcy Tucker, too much offense comes from the defense. Not much was lost or gained in the off season scoring wise, so any improvement will have to come from within, with the development of Stajan, Wellwood and Steen. Alexander Suglobov appears ready to make the jump from the AHL, where he was a top prospect in the Devils organization until he was acquired in the trade for Ken Klee.

Defense: The key to the state of the Leafs, also the most expensive. McCabe, Kaberle and Kubina eat up $15 million between them, so they will be counted on to run the team. The problem is none of them play great defense. Hal Gill is big, but with the speed of the division with the likes of Buffalo, Montreal and Ottawa, he could be in tough like he was in Boston. The remaining couple of spots will be fought for by about 6 different minor league prospects.

Goaltending: The starting job is Andrew Raycroft’s to lose, but if he falters there are a couple of suitors ready and willing to step in, Mikael Tellqvist and JS Aubin, the latter of whom shone in a late-season audition. Raycroft was the Rookie of the Year before the lockout but was unimpressive upon the return of hockey and was supplanted by a rookie and a 34 year old journeyman. So the jury is still out as to whether he is the answer or not. It might be a job for only one year as Justin Pogge appears poised to make the Air Canada Centre crease his home for a while.

THE BIG QUESTION: Can Paul Maurice make this team take the next step and get back into the playoffs? Maurice is a young coach for a young team and will be polar opposite of Pat Quinn. Maurice won’t be afraid to play young players, and will undoubtedly have a better management of his bench and will realize who should play together and when, something Quinn never appeared to get a handle on over the last few years. Sundin expressed his pleasure playing with Kyle Wellwood last year, so obviously Quinn broke them up after a couple of games.

Synopsis: The Leafs barely missed the playoffs last year thanks to a late season rush, and they no longer have a pairing of Aki Berg and Wade Belak on defense, so that is a step in the right direction. If Raycroft can return to form, then a playoff appearance is likely. They will battle with 4 or 5 teams right until the end. They must get off to a good start as games in October are worth just as much as games in March and April.