Nik Antropov Returns

GP W L OT PTS GF GA
12 5 4 3 13 40 47


What a week, it ending up being a bad one but with plenty positives to build off of. Ottawa is not worth mentioning yet, if this happens and we are past game 60 I will comment. Saturday night showcased the return of Nik Antropov. Antropov is a highly underrated player who has been negatively branded because of his inability to remain healthy. Over the past 6 seasons, a career that began as a 20 year old in the ‘old bash em’ crash em’ NHL, Nik has honed his skills on becoming a very creative and knowledgeable NHL player who is now a physical force on the ice. More so, Antropov has incredible vision, his ability to find open teammates is one of his many assets, proven during last years final 14 game stretch, being a key component to the wins, as well as Mats Sundin’s 4 goal game. Antropov has much more to offer as well. He is everywhere on the ice, his skating ability does not flow as well as a Spezza, but with his 6’6 statue, reach and knowledge, puck position is his by forcing numerous turnovers and plenty interceptions. Antropov I believe is a perfect fit to eventually find himself back aside Sundin. By uniting Antropov, Sundin, and Wellwood, this will put the teams top three offensively creative forwards in on one unit. With Antropov’s turnover ability, these players will obtain puck possession instead of chasing it around the ice as has been the case in games past. Although Wellwood is a great digger (surprising for his size), his reach limits his ability to win pucks on the defensive side. Antropov is still working his way into the lineup under a new coach, I feel after time it will reveal that he is a perfect fit that will help both Wellwood and Sundin.

The Montréal game was a beauty, I can not remember seeing a faster Leaf team forcheck in my 20 Leaf years. At one point of the start of the third, the Leafs had the Habes pinned for the opening 3 minutes. However, after blowing another big lead, questions still remain on the defensive end, the Leafs are continually being burned by the NHL elite, and are unable to breathe on most breakouts. I have already spoken on McCabe, my question is now is who is the other anchor, White or Gill? This is one question that can’t be answered until they are separated, and in which case they may both improve as the experimentation will be over and a healthy Leafs D will include both Kubina and Colaiacovo.

Let The Good Times Roll

GP W L OT PTS GF GA
6 3 1 2 8 22 19

I am a firm believer that good things are contagious to a club throughout a season. These are Special on ice moments that grip a club, last night was one of those nights. Lead by none other, Capitan, Mats Sundin. Game winner, in overtime, shorthanded, hatrick for his 500 career goal, Leafs Win 5-4. For myself, seeing this was something special being a leafer now for over 20 years. One of the Greatest Leaf Performances I have ever seen. Sundin was brought here in place of a Great Captain Wendel Clark, then slowly pushed my other all time favorite Leaf Doug Gilmour aside and asserted himself as the greatest talent. In which case Leaf faithfully put forth an immense amount of pressure on him to win, although his numbers were good, like the ones before him, no cups.
The countless Ot winners. The 2000 playoffs vs New Jersey. The 14 game stretch including his 4 goal game. These were flashes of Sundin Greatness, there should be more but playoff injuries have cost this Captian several chances at the Cup.
Sundin Greatness, Last night was one of those nights.

The Leafs after playing 6 games have only lost in regulation once, and have gained 8 of a possible 12 point start. Which means things are working out of the gate, a good sign it was able to build off the success of the final 14 games of last season, a time when the youth was officially asked to shoulder the load. With key roster injuries, more young D will be asked to step up. Brendan Bell is one of those players. Being paired with Harrison vs Calgary, I felt Bell was limiting his game. Harrison with mistakes in Jersey on Madden, and again on Calgary's first goal, ending the night a minus 4 in 3 games played leads me to think that more time is needed on Jay then Bell, at least in this early going. The next shift out Bell was placed with McCabe, and did have a jump to his step, sharp passes and smart decisions up the ice, his trademark along with a mischievous shot that finds it way to the net makes me believe that Bell will not only surpass Jay, but jump into 3/4 spot in the rotation, he has the talent to do so, will he and in doing so keep that puck out of the net, it will be fun to watch.

With our lowered expectations --- 4 games In - Great Start

GP W L OT POINTS
4 2 1 1 5


I have neglected the site. On the good side it was done for many reasons. The first of which to fully grasp this new Leaf squad. With the many new acquisitions, Razor, Gill, Kubina, ect., not to mention the new Wellwood, this team has shown a new side since its first win in Ottawa.

I'm about to watch the Leaf/Jersey game while keeping a couple things in mind. First in the building that Scott Stevens help build, Wade Belak will step into a Defensive position, the D spot is one I think he is best suited, I believe he could be the Stevens of the New NHL. Tonight he will be paired with rookie Jay Harrison, look for lots of bangin and crashin from both big D- both looking to carve out their own niche of this new Leafs club.

J.s. is getting the nod, and he only brings positive memories of last season, undefeated as a Leaf, he can keep it going.

Suglobov is back in the lineup vs his old team, slowly but surely I see him fitting in, but it could start rapidly tonight with the history.