Just when I think I'm out...

...they keep pulling me back in!

These Toronto Maple Leafs might have dug themselves into a deep hole in October, but they are determined to remain relevant and interesting. Sure, they spotted the Florida Panthers an early two goal lead in the first period. Unlike earlier in the season, however, the blue and white managed to battle back and eventually grab the win. It was very refreshing to see Toronto hold the lead late and defend it without the opposition creating one amazing scoring chance after another.

The Maple Leafs are 5-4-3 in the month of November. 13 points in 12 games is in no way a great month, but for a team that won once in October, it is a vast improvement. The players have not given up yet, and that gives me at least a small amount of hope that this team can battle back and compete for a playoff spot.

As Greg Millen said tonight, the puck just seems to find the good goal scorers sometimes. The second Kessel goal definitly follows that adage. The first goal by Kessel was just a supreme effort by a talented player. I could watch that goal for days and not get bored of it. Hagman continued his excellent play with two goals. Both came from his willingness to go to the net and fight for space. His backhander through a crowd had eyes and I was very suprised to see the puck even reach Vokoun.

The star of the game, in my eyes, was Ponikarovsky. People always bash him, but he has been a key contributor for this team for years now. To see him involved in four goals tonight was not a suprise. When he decides to compete, he has both the size and strength to bully the defence and he has enough of a scoring touch to be a threat around the crease. With Mats Sundin, he was a force, and last season he scored a career high 23 goals without Mats. I believe Alexei is a free agent at the end of this season, and I wonder if he will go the way of Antropov and be moved.

This was a good game for the Leafs. To come back on the road is always a strong statement. Hopefully, the Leafs can keep this little streak going and inch their way back into the race.

The Hagman Question

The Leafs beat Tampa Bay tonight, and it was a bit of a wild affair with sloppy play by both teams allowing some excellent scoring chances and some big hits. Garnett Exelby's low (but not dirty) hit on Steve Downie early on was a treat to see.

Nikolai Kulemin and Matt Stajan both scored, while Niklas Hagman had two goals. His play tonight and over the course of the season has raised a question - what does Brian Burke do with him?

Hagman has 2 more years after this season left on a contract that pays him $3,000,000. That is a very good price for a player who can score and be used in all situations including the penalty kill. Hagman's 11 goals so far leads the Toronto Maple Leafs and he is always working hard on the forecheck. When you add everything together, Nik Hagman is a very attractive forward.

So, what does Brian Burke do with him? The Leafs are not out of the playoff race yet and a hot streak could come at any time, but the odds are that they will be on the outside looking in come playoff time. With his reasonable contract and his abilities, Nik Hagman could bring the Leafs a good prospect and a pick in trade. However, if Burke thinks this team will be able to bounce back and compete next season, then holding onto a player who can produce on the second line would be a good idea.

Personally, I like Hagman. There are some players who seem unwilling to battle for the puck and play a hard-nosed game. Hagman battles. He pushes and shoves more then he dekes before finishing a play, but he also has the hands to score some beautiful goals. He is not a Phil Kessel or a Alex Ovechkin, but he is a capable and reliable player who will be an important part of this team this season and next. I would keep Hagman with the Leafs.

What do you think? Do you think Hagman should stay, or do you think he should be moved for picks and/or prospects?

EDIT - Here is another beauty by Hagman.

Toskala is out, MacDonald and Hanson are in.

During the second period of the Leafs 4-3 loss to the Islanders yesterday, it looked as if Vesa Toskala took himself out of the game after letting in the last of 3 goals. Joe Bowan and Greg Millen speculated that Toskala was probably injured. Now we know that he is.

Vesa Toskala has been placed on IR with a groin injury, while John Mitchell has also been placed on injured reserve. Mitchell hurt his knee during the Islanders game. To fill the holes in the line-up, goaltender Joey MacDonald and forward Christian Hanson have been recalled from the AHL Toronto Marlies.

We have seen MacDonald already in the NHL this season for the Leafs. The interesting name to see is Christian Hanson.

In the AHL, Hanson has been producing at a point per game pace with 8 goals and 18 points in 18 games. Last season, Hanson played 5 games for the Leafs and scored a goal and added an assist. Signed out of college by Brian Burke, Hanson looked good in the preseason along with Tyler Bozak and Viktor Stalberg. With good numbers in the AHL and a big frame, could Hanson be the power forward the Leafs have been missing since the opening of the season?

I don't know if Hanson is ready for prime time yet, and I don't think it would right to expect the world from him. If he is ready to play at the NHL level (and at 23 years old, he could be) then Hanson would definitly fill a void for the Leafs. Toronto lacks a big bodied skill player that will go to the net.

I think Hanson will be a solid contributor for the Leafs one day. That day could be now if Ron Wilson is willing to give Hanson the opportunity. I think that Hanson would be a good player for the Leafs on the powerplay. Putting his 6'3, 203 lb frame in front of the goaltender could help, and having Hanson cleaning up after Phil Kessel's scoring chances would be good to see.

Of course, this all assumes he is up for the challenge now.

Talking Trades

Despite the win on the weekend over the Washington Capitals, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in a very tough spot. They are in last place and already 10 points back from the final playoff position. They aren't out of the race yet, but their odds continue to fall every week. The game tonight against the New York Islanders will give us a strong indication of whether this team will fight for a spot or if they are going to roll over.

This team needs a change both in the locker room and on the ice, and it needs some new blood. That is why the trade rumours continue to surround this hockey club. Could a trade be coming in the next few days or weeks?

One rumour making the rounds involves Chicago and Toronto. With Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane all due for new contracts, Chicago needs to shed some salary. Toronto is close to the cap, but is willing to move an expiring contract. One name that is thrown about is Brent Sopel. With a modest $2.3 million hit, moving Sopel would give Chicago the room they need moving forward to extend the contracts of their three young players. Sopel is not a poor player, though. He has struggled with injuries, but is a solid defensive defender who has shown some offensive ability. His 42 points in 2003/04 are proof of that. He is also a career plus player over the course of his NHL career. According to rumour, going the other way would be Garnett Exelby. "X" has a reputation as one of the better open ice hitters in the league, but he has looked only average so far this season. His salary and expiring contract make him very tradeable. Toronto would recieve a draft pick in compensation from Chicago is the deal, as well.

Would this be a trade Toronto should explore? I believe it is. Losing Exelby is not a loss, and Sopel's salary would not hinder the Leafs going forward as they shed a ton of salary in the off-season. Sopel would be a solid 5-6 defenceman for the Maple Leafs and would be a good depth player. Also, getting any draft picks would be a plus for the Maple Leafs after giving up their 1st and 2nd round picks in the Kessel deal.

There are other trade rumours involving Brian Campbell moving for Kaberle, and trading with St. Louis. I have only discussed the deal I feel is the most realistic and likely at the moment.

What do you think? Post a comment below and tell me your opinion!

Well, shit.

I don't know what to say. I honestly thought this team was better then October showed. I really thought that Ron Wilson would turn this team around and that the month of November would be a good one for the Leafs.

Sadly, after two great wins, the team has sunk back into the hole they started to climb out of. It looked promising. Seeing the Leafs beat the Red Wings in the way they did was very encouraging. Then, the Leafs were stomped on by Minnesota and Calgary and lost close games to Ottawa and Chicago.

The most recent loss is the straw that broke the camels back for me. The Leafs had a 3 goal lead over a struggling Hurricanes team and let them come back. Then, the Leafs had the lead late and allowed Carolina to tie the game with just 2.9 seconds left - another recurring theme in this NHL season for the Blue & White.

Phil Kessel has been a spark for the team, but no one around him has ignited. Jonas Gustavsson is looking less like a monster and more like a human, while Toskala is still Toskala.

I am still going to watch, but I am starting to feel like this season is a wash.

The "C"

One month in to the 2009/10 campaign, and the Toronto Maple Leafs do not have a captain. Francois Beauchemin, Mike Komisarek and Tomas Kaberle all wear the "A" on their chest and that makes them front runners to inherit the captaincy. That does not mean they will become the next captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, however.

Mike Komisarek has definitley improved his level of play from the first weeks of the season. He has become a steady, reliable defensive partner for Tomas Kaberle and has thrown several huge hits. His hit on Montreal's Glen Metropolit is an example of how Komisarek has improved as the season has gone on.

Francois Beauchemin seems to still be adjusting to playing with his new team. He does not have Scott Niedermayer next to him and is just now rounding into form. I think he is a good addition to the team, but I do not believe he is a leader who can make others step up when the game gets difficult.

Kaberle has exploded offensively in the last few games and now has 2 goals and 18 points to lead the Maple Leafs. His impact on the powerplay is huge, and with Kessel and Stempniak each sitting on the wings waiting to unleash one-timers, Kaberle has more time and more open ice to work with. However, I would not make him the captain of the hockey club. He is the longest serving Leaf, but I do not think he enjoys being in the spotlight. This could be seen last year when, surrounded by trade rumours and being constantly hounded by the media, his play fell off. Even with his impact on the team, I do not believe Kaberle is the captain the Leafs need.

So, it sounds like Mike Komisarek should be the next captain, right?

It might sound like that is what I am saying, but I am not. The captain of your hockey team needs to be a fighter. He cannot be afraid to fight for his position and battle every game. He also needs to lead by example, whether he can help his team offensively or defensively. I think Mike Komisarek fits this criteria, but I think someone else fits and has done more and battled more.

If it was my choice, I would make Ian White the captain and leader of the Toronto Maple Leafs - and not just because of his wicked facial hair.

Last season, Ian White started the season as a healthy scratch. He managed to fight his way onto the team and since then has been a stalwart on the Leafs blueline. His tenacity and ability shows in his stats. White scored 10 goals and led the team with a +6 rating despite missing 11 games. What he lacks in physical size he makes up in his willingness to battle. It seems like White never takes a shift off, and that is the kind of example you want your captain to set.

This season, White is one of only 4 Maple Leafs without a negative +/- rating and even when the team was playing poorly in October, Ian White was putting in a competitive effort each night. He has 3 goals and 9 points this season while recieving minimal powerplay time. His play in his own end has been very good and he has helped ease the burden of generating offence from the forwards.

I believe Ian White should wear the "C". All that is needed is a contract extension for Mr. White.

Monster Performance

After a horrible start to the season, who thought the Maple Leafs would be able to play so well against the Detroit Red Wings?

Sure, the Wings are missing some key people, but they have been playing well despite their losses and are still a dangerous team in the Western Conference. Tonight, the Leafs were able to take the lead and hold it with good defence and some great goaltending from "The Monster".

Seeing the Leafs score 5 is great. In all of their overtime loses, they have struggled to put the puck into the net. With Phil Kessel in the line-up, the Leafs just seem to be better at finishing their chances. The powerplay continues to be a positive for the Leafs and the penalty kill is slowly improving.

I expect Jonas Gustavsson to start on Tuesday against Minnesota and on Friday in Chicago. Depending on how the Chicago game plays out, he could also play on Saturday against Calgary. Really, this team needs to ride "The Monster". He is playing very well and is the reason why the Leafs have seemingly found their groove.

Out Of The Basement!

The Toronto Maple Leafs are no longer sitting in last place! Wooo!

Of course, it really wasn't something they did. The poor play of the Carolina Hurricanes has seen them only earn 7 points (like the Leafs) with one extra game played. Their best players (Cam Ward, Eric Staal) have not been their best players so far, and they have suffered in the standings for it.

So, tonight, the battle for last place takes place. Somebody has to win. Can the Maple Leafs finally win a second game this year?

The Leafs need to start quickly. Carolina, like the Leafs, have been outplayed in the first period this season. If Toronto can score an early goal, the Hurricanes may struggle greatly to get back into the game. As long as Toronto stays out of the penalty box, they should be able to pick up two points tonight and start a charge towards getting back into the playoff race.

Phil Kessel was exciting to watch on Tuesday. Can he continue to play well and add some firepower to the Leafs lineup?

A New Beginning

So, October was a fun month, eh?

Everything pointed towards the Leafs being a better team then this before the season began. The defence was supposed to be tougher. The goaltending was supposed to improve. The penalty kill was supposed to be somewhat effective.

With one month done and only one win, the Toronto Maple Leafs have looked worse then the team from last year. Losses to Washington and New York stick out in particular as moments this Leafs team would like to forget. Vesa Toskala was absolutely terrible and has lost his starting job. Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin have had a difficult time fitting in. Finding goals has been difficult.

Looking forward, there is some hope still for this Maple Leafs team to turn things around. The last four games have seen a huge improvement in all aspects of the game. Jonas Gustavsson has been fantastic. The defence has done a better job in front of the net. The powerplay has started to perform at a high level, mostly because of Tomas Kaberle.

The Leafs have recieved points in all of their last four games, but only won the game in Anaheim. They deserved better against Dallas, Buffalo and Montreal.

Despite the terrible start, Toronto is only 7 points back of a playoff spot. With "The Monster" in goal and the addition of Phil Kessel to the line-up, the Leafs will begin the long climb back into contention tomorrow night when the Tampa Bay Lightning come to the Air Canada Centre.

I personally believe Kessel will make a difference for the Leafs. Although some say Marc Savard is the reason Kessel scored 36 goals, the majority of Kessel's goals actual come from his powerful wrist shot. His ability to put a hard, accurate shot on goal from all angles will be a big help to a Leafs team that sometimes fails to even hit the net.

This is a new beginning for the Leafs. Hopefully it is a good one.