MID TERM REPORT

For my midseason review, I will be looking at the Maple Leafs post lockout era, I have come to one simple conclusion, they have steadily gotten worse with each passing year. This makes little sense seeing as how younger players have gotten older, more experienced, and ultimately better through this 3 year period, there have been many talented assets added to the team no longer hindered by a cap. However, with the enhanced capacity of players, the overall team has not been evidence for that same growth. Ultimately, 2005 should have been the worst of the past 3 seasons due to the player personal and inexperience. That argument does not hold water because of how competitive that 05 team was in comparison to the rest of the league, and how little improvements have been made in the following seasons. My readers know where I am going with this, we all love the person, but as a coach of this particular team;

Paul Maurice has got to go.

For a year to year comparison, these blowouts are a good way to gage a teams confidence, chemistry, cohesiveness, character, culture of loosing, effort level, and of coarse a comparison to top teams.


2005

The Leafs found themselves in a bind trying to adapt to the new rules of a salary cap, as well as a working in a rookie GM. Players like Jason Alison, Eric Lindros, were additions to help deal with the lack of cap room, and need for quality players. The only time this team really played their best hockey was when these players were out of the lineup at the end of the season. That said, an injured Belfour could do little to stop the bleeding when they were in the lineup. Overall, for what they had, Pat Quinn was able to rally the youngsters, give them quality roles and they flourished to gain much needed experience. This injury riddled team made it a point from the playoffs, and through that season only had 7 blowouts, the 8th game was meaningless because the Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs at that point.

Sat Oct 29, 2005 Senators vs Maple Leafs 8 – 0
Sat Dec 17, 2005 Maple Leafs vs Senators 2 – 8
Sat Jan 21, 2006 Maple Leafs vs Senators 0 – 7
Thu Jan 26, 2006 Sabres vs Maple Leafs 8 – 4
Fri Mar 3, 2006 Maple Leafs vs Sabres 2 – 6
Thu Mar 23, 2006 Maple Leafs vs Canadiens 1 – 5
Sat Mar 25, 2006 Maple Leafs vs Canadiens 2 – 6
Sun Apr 16, 2006 Maple Leafs vs Sabres 0 – 6


2006

Enter Paul Maurice, with a fresh start and a better team on paper then last season, things looked promising. A healthy goalie was brought in with a Calder Trophy on his resume. Size, strength and experience on the Blue line with Gill and Kubina, as well as another year of experience for the young players that had stayed. Like in 2005, this season was again riddled with injury, but, unfortunately, overall, this team had regressed in many team categories; PK, PP, to name a few. Improving on nothing but trading PP offence for 5on5, but the greater team depth and experience likely improved their 5on5 play. While goal scoring was up by only a handful of goals, almost every other team stat was down. As far as blowouts went, there were plenty, 14 to be exact. Although they were again a point from a playoff, these results speak for themselves.

Thu Oct 5, 2006 Maple Leafs vs Senators 6 – 0
Tue Oct 24, 2006 Senators vs Maple Leafs6 – 2
Thu Oct 26, 2006 Maple Leafs vs Senators 2 – 7
Wed Nov 22, 2006 Maple Leafs vs Sabres4 – 7
Thu Nov 30, 2006 Maple Leafs vs Thrashers0 – 5
Sat Dec 9, 2006 Maple Leafs vs Red Wings 1 – 5
Tue Dec 19, 2006 Panthers vs Maple Leafs 7 – 3
Sat Jan 13, 2007 Canucks vs Maple Leafs 6 – 1
Sat Jan 20, 2007 Maple Leafs vs Penguins 2 – 8
Tue Feb 27, 2007 Sabres vs Maple Leafs6 – 1
Thu Mar 8, 2007 Maple Leafs vs Senators 1 – 5
Fri Mar 16, 2007 Maple Leafs vs Capitals 1 – 5
Sun Apr 1, 2007 Maple Leafs vs Rangers2 – 7
Thu Apr 5, 2007 Maple Leafs vs Islanders 2 – 5


2007

Finally this season, it has got progressively worse then even last seasons debacle. Much attention was put on team speed with the addition of a Jason Blake, Goaltending got even more help then last year with Toskala. More size and talent added in Mark Bell. Youngsters stepping up big time, Antropov, Stajan, Steen have been playing their best hockey to date. Injuries have again been a factor, but no where near the man games lost in the past two seasons. The major problems that HAD to be addressed were PP, PK, and GOALS AGAINTS. Team defence was a clear cut problem from day 1, and at the start of the season Maurice proclaimed that it will be addressed. As we stand here midway through the season, all three categories that the “TEAM” was too improve on, rank among the leagues worst. So we have all this regressions with a better, more experienced, healthier, faster, team of bigger players, and better goaltending. Blowouts to date, 6, on pace for 12

Tue Oct 9, 2007 Hurricanes vs Maple Leafs 7 – 1
Mon Oct 29, 2007 Capitals vs Maple Leafs 7 – 1
Tue Nov 6, 2007 Maple Leafs vs Senators 1 – 5
Sat Nov 24, 2007 Maple Leafs vs Coyotes 1 – 5
Sat Dec 29, 2007 Rangers vs Maple Leafs 6 – 1
Thu Jan 3, 2008 Maple Leafs vs Penguins 2 – 6


All this while not including mental breakdowns in the waning moments of a game resulting in points lost, Leafers know that there are plenty of those in the last two seasons.



Check out the Leafs Team Stats/Rank from the past 3 seasons

2005
POINTS
90 18th
W%
.549 18th
GPG
3.1 9th
GA
3.21 21st
PP%
21.4 2nd
PK
%80 24th

2006
POINTS
91 18th
W%
.555 18th
GPG
3.1 8th
GA
3.2 25th
PP%
17.7 16th
PK%
78.4 27th

2007 (On pace)
POINTS
80 26th
W%
.488 26th
GPG
2.85 11th
GA
3.2 26th
PP%
14.2 26th
PK%
80.3 24th