Toronto Maple Leafs:
The Rebuild
Since the midway point of the 2008-09 season, Toronto Maple Leafs, GM-presedent, Brian Burke has been trying to make this team a Stanley Cup contender.
The problem is that the players there were used to mediocrity being acceptible. Then it all started.
First the Kessel trade in the off-season of 2009 where Toronto sent a first and second round 2010 draft pick to Boston for Phil Kessel.
Then January 31st, when Toronto first, sent Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Ian White, and Jamal Mayers to Calgary for Dion Phaneuf, Fredrick Sjostrom, and Keith Aulie.
Then Burke sent out Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake to Anaheim for J-S Giguere. These trades were probably some of the best ones any leaf fan has seen in years. The reason being that after these trades Toronto's record changed compared to before them. Before these trades their record was 17-28-11, 30th in the league, but after it was 10-6-2 from then till the end of the season, 7th in the east.
Then even more changes happened, Burke signed Francois Beauchemin and Mike Komisarek, blueliner veterens, and NCAA stars Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson, as well as Swedish goalie Jonas Gustavsson.
These changes on the roster seem to have a great impact on this teams record and might just put the Leafs into the playoffs. There is a very strong defense, good goaltending, and an OK offense. May this team be the next Stanley Cup Champs? May they even make the playoffs? Has all these roster changes even done something good to the team?
This game tonight against Ottawa may reveil some of these answers. Let's see what'll happen.
The problem is that the players there were used to mediocrity being acceptible. Then it all started.
First the Kessel trade in the off-season of 2009 where Toronto sent a first and second round 2010 draft pick to Boston for Phil Kessel.
Then January 31st, when Toronto first, sent Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Ian White, and Jamal Mayers to Calgary for Dion Phaneuf, Fredrick Sjostrom, and Keith Aulie.
Then Burke sent out Vesa Toskala and Jason Blake to Anaheim for J-S Giguere. These trades were probably some of the best ones any leaf fan has seen in years. The reason being that after these trades Toronto's record changed compared to before them. Before these trades their record was 17-28-11, 30th in the league, but after it was 10-6-2 from then till the end of the season, 7th in the east.
Then even more changes happened, Burke signed Francois Beauchemin and Mike Komisarek, blueliner veterens, and NCAA stars Tyler Bozak and Christian Hanson, as well as Swedish goalie Jonas Gustavsson.
These changes on the roster seem to have a great impact on this teams record and might just put the Leafs into the playoffs. There is a very strong defense, good goaltending, and an OK offense. May this team be the next Stanley Cup Champs? May they even make the playoffs? Has all these roster changes even done something good to the team?
This game tonight against Ottawa may reveil some of these answers. Let's see what'll happen.
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