NHL Season Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs


Last Season's standings: record- 41-33-8 for 90 points. The Maple Leafs gfinished last season in 4th place in the Northeast Division and in 9th place in the Eastern Conference.

In: Hal Gill D (prev. team: Boston Bruins); Pavel Kubina D (prev. team: Tampa Bay Lightening); Andrew Raycroft G (via trade w/ Boston Bruins); Ben Ondrus F; Erik Westrum F (prev. team: Minnesota Wild); Kyle Wellwood F; Brendan Bell D; Carlo Colaiacovo D; Jay Harrison D; Kris Newbury F; Matt Stajan F; Paul Maurice HC; Michael Peca F (prev. team: Edmonton Oilers)

Out: Eric Lindros F (new team: Dallas Stars); Ed Belfour G (new team: Florida Panthers); Owen Nolan F (new team: Phoenix Coyotes); Tuukka Rask G (via trade w/ Boston Bruins); Pat Quinn HC

Season Outlook: Fair. Ah, the Toronto Maple Leafs, theone team in the NHL with a curse. This team has not made the Stanley cup final in 40 years and it doesn't look like it will happen this year either. The key reason for this is because their goaltending is inexperienced and relatively unproven. Their defensive unit is young and inmexperienced after McCabe, Kabrele and Gill. These three will have to carry the bulk of the load while the other three rookies and sophomores who make this years squad learn to play in the NHL. Up front, their biggest weapon is Mats Sundin, who suffered his own eye injury arly last year and missed significant time. Darcy Tucker should continue to be a thorn in the oppostions side. I expect this Leafs team to have a lot of misadventures trying to score and keep the puck out of their net.

Season Prediction: The Leafs will finish the season in 4th in the Northeast and 10th in the Eastern Conference.