What the Heck…the Leafs are Winning?

I hate the Toronto Maple Leafs. Of all hockey teams there are to watch on this planet, I really don’t know if I’d go to a Leafs game if you gave me tickets. Over the years, I’ve bashed them, celebrated their every misfortune, wrote about why they continued to stink, and how the future didn’t look bright.

But here we are, a month into the NHL season, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are clinging to the metaphorical NHL tree, at a time of year they’re usually already getting raked up, bagged, and thrown out.

So what’s different this year? Well, immediately you could point to the solid goaltending the team has received from James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson. You could look at Phil Kessel who’s been a scoring dynamo, and Dion Phaneuf who has found his game again.

I’m not saying anyone should plan a Stanley Cup parade, because I still believe the Leafs are a step below the NHL elite over an 82 game season and a round or two of playoffs, but hey, at least I’m admitting the Leafs could legitimately be a playoff team this year…maybe.

This may sound skeptical, but I truly think the Leafs are only an injury or two from being the same old mediocre team that fans loved to hate, or is it hated to love? Their recent acquisitions, with the exception of David Steckel, who despite his low point production I think was an absolute steal, are fragile. Tim Connoly and Matthew Lombardi are one hit from a season on the sidelines. The same goes for Joffrey Lupol who played only 77 games the last two seasons combined.

Even worse would be an injury to Kessel or Phaneuf. Take Captain Dion’s veteran presence off that blueline, and I would predict a few holes will be exposed.

Let’s not get all doom and gloom though, the Leafs are winning afterall…

If I were a Leafs fan, I would be asking the more important question, as I don’t believe the Leafs are Cup worthy this season…what does the future hold? Looking at recent Stanley Cup winners, they’ve been loaded with very young Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marc-Andre Fleury, Tyler Seguin types. The Leafs don’t have that.

Don’t kid yourself about Nazem Kadri either. Sure he’ll likely be a solid NHL player, but the guys listed above jumped into the league and made immediate impacts. Kadri has been sent down multiple times now and isn’t lighting up any league yet this season. The debate is about to turn from not rushing, to will he ever get here?

Joe Colborne is doing well in the American League, but the question still begs, where is that Calder Trophy, young star type that will carry them over the edge. Luke Schenn was hyped, but he’s playing his way down the depth chart, and not because others are playing their way up. You could argue that the Leafs are the youngest team in the league, and it’s true, they look to be decent for a few years now. But will Reimer return to form following his “upper body injury,” also known as a concussion? Because you have to believe Gustavsson is a leaking dam.

I’m not in full “Leaf Hate” mode here, I’m just trying to be a realist, something Leafs fans don’t seem to appreciate. Brian Burke just doesn’t understand that trades and free agency will get you into the playoffs, but watching the last four Cup winners (Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit), team’s that win build through the draft.

How long will the Leafs hold on? I’m not sure, maybe this will be the year they crack the playoffs and make some noise. Will they win the Stanley Cup? If they do I’ll eat this article…computer and all.

They are definitely moving in the right direction, but without a few years of refilling the prospect cupboard, I think the team is headed right back to where they came from…the golf course. Think I’m wrong? Let’s hear your opinion, I love a good debate.

Let the games begin.