Leafs Nation Report (Toronto) - The Toronto Maple Leafs entered their third season under general manager Jason Yu with great optimism having made the playoffs one season earlier. With the additions of veterans such as Darcy Tucker, Philippe Boucher, and Gary Roberts, anticipation couldn’t be any higher. New head coach Tom Renney was brought in to provide a calculated and methodical approach to the team. However, the season ended with much distaste and bitterness as the team failed to reach the playoffs for the second time in three years. Despite a winning record, they failed to improve on their performance as much as their rivals in a much improved Eastern Conference, finishing 11th in the conference – their worst finish yet.
What added further distaste to Leafs faithful was the fact that management was unable to re-sign unrestricted free agent Ed Belfour who eventually signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and backstopped them to their first Stanley Cup.
The true bitterness laid in league’s veto on one major trade involving the Blue and White. It became notorious to Leafs fans when a supposed blockbuster deal that would have sent one of the league’s premier center, Pavel Datsyuk, to Toronto was turfed aside twice despite numerous restructuring of the deal. What was the rubbing of the salt into the wound was the fact that Datsyuk was traded to New York Islanders only days later, in what will forever be an infamous black mark on the league, as they failed to realize that that trade should have been void due to a no-trade clause in one of the player’s contract, namely Teemu Selanne. Huge outcries of foul play raged on throughout the streets of Toronto that fueled riots leading to several unfortunate deaths and numerous injuries. Yu and the organization refused to comment publicly in hopes to lessen the tension and avoid further embarrassment to the league.
This distraction perhaps may have diverted enough of heat wave that is the micro-scrutiny of managing a beloved team in hockey-crazed town away from Yu. Since day one of taking the reigns over from the departure of popular OTHL GM of the year Brian Blake, there has been nothing but harsh criticism for the young manager who has re-modeled the team for the future, which is usually a big no-no for a city that does not tolerate patience and demands immediate results.
Nevertheless, there have been some bright spots from season. Tucker who was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings at the beginning of the season led the team in all offensive categories with 29 goals and 43 assists for 72 points, all career highs. Same could be said for young budding star Nathan Horton with career highs in goals (27), assists (34), and points (61). Nik Antropov, Brad Boyes, and Stephen Weiss along with Brendan Shanahan also had career seasons. In addition, the team is slowly becoming an offensive force with eight different 20-goal scorers.
On defense, newly acquired Boucher had a career year with 15 goals and 42 points in only 70 games. 22 year old Andrej Meszaros is slowly becoming a reliable anchor on the blueline with some offensive potential. Tom Poti, Kim Johnsson, and Bryan Allen provided as the supporting cast with an experienced blend of skilled offense with physical defense, while there was a rotating door of Garnett Exelby, Luke Richardson, and Matt Greene at the 6th defenseman position. This has been an improvement since years past where defense remains the team’s Achille’s heel.
Nevertheless, the team has been able to mask most of this weakness with superb goaltending. This season marked a changing of the guard with Marc-Andre Fleury succession as the man between the pipes that was vacated by veteran Belfour. The young 23 year old netminder proved his value to the team with 83 star points, behind only Dominik Hasek and Olaf Kolzig among goaltenders. With a respectable record of 34-28-8 to go along with his 2.82 GAA and .900 SV PCT, it will be expected that Fleury will be in Blue and White silks for years to come.
Perhaps the team’s biggest bright spot is the emergence of the team’s youth. They have an abundance of riches in terms of their prospects, both in quality and quantity. With the likes of Derick Brassard, Alexei Cherepanov, Michael Frolik, Marc Staal, and Loui Eriksson to only mention a few, the team’s future appears to remain bright as ever, if not brighter. The additions of Niklas Bergfors and Brendan Smith at the trade deadline only further strengthen an already impressive list of prospects.
Despite all the optimism, it has not translated into success thus far, with the Leafs having only reached the big dance once in the past three seasons since Yu has taken the helm. The team’s failed efforts to land a marquee player still rings in many pundits’ ears. Datsyuk can now be added onto the long list which includes the names of Jarome Iginla and Chris Pronger. Though Yu appears to have escaped unscathed for the most part from the general public thanks to the league’s embarrassing debacle this time around, he may not be so lucky next time around especially if the team fails to make the playoffs next season. He will definitely feel the weight of the world upon his shoulders as all eyes will be focused on him this upcoming off-season.