Toronto Mapleleaf Season Review




What happened?



So lets review what we do know....



---new management came in to take over a talented team right at the 3/4 mark of the season.

--- Team finished the year very strong, even with the new owner at the helm, with 108 points and 3rd overall in the league, 4th in team scoring, 4th in team defence, 4th in shots for, 2nd shots against and momentum going into the first round of the playoffs.

---V.LECAVALIER , G. Murray, and E Nabakov all having outstanding seasons. 3 of the top 6 dmen were wearing the Blue and white.

--- GM made a trade deadline push to solidfy the defence by signing

a veteran dman who has experience who came very cheap ,

77 Lubomir Sekeras D L OK 60 66 56 69 77 73 60 79 71 68 71 81 61 77




and an 11 million dollar allstar rental in Leetch.

2 Brian Leetch D L OK 45 75 56 82 80 72 69 90 77 70 74 86 82 79

On the surface, you would think with limited tinkering and adding a superstar dman, that the Leafs playoff chances of success had increased. However, the results were nothing like the Leaf brass expected having being swept 4 straight in the first round by the Devils, who then got swept 4 straight themselves in the following round.


So what gives here? Was the new GM just that inadequate? that green? That bad? I was going to defend the new GM, since they didnt change the lines the previous gm was successful with. He did make a move on 3rd and 4th games, inserting Leetch into the lineup, and it didnt make a difference.


Then something strange took place. There was a situation where a game needed to be replayed in the sim. During this re-simming, the Leafs actually won the East outright, sweeping teams along the way. ***please keep in mind that these games didnt count, they were just needed for resimming purposes for the 2 teams involved ONLY.***



So, id say then maybe the GM really is that bad and has no clue what hes doing. Sure leaves Leaf fans wondering what the heck is going on?

Is this John Brophy/Mike Smith all over again?



((sorry to be so graphic))



They do have a couple of top 10 draft picks in the upcoming draft but have their work cutout for them resigning some of their top FA's, while keeping under the cap. Who knows if this teams scouting staff is even any good. God only knows the Real life Leafs havent had a great pick since what??? Gary Nylund?




If I was the GM, Id take all of the positives that happened this year, and work with those going forward. Last thing this team needs is to worry about the past.



Think pleasant Blue and White thoughts....go Leafs go!