WHEN TRYING YOUR BEST JUST ISN'T ENOUGH...
Despite their best efforts, despite them getting 18 out of 20 possible points in their last ten games, and despite whupping Ottawa 5-1 tonight, my Leafs are now officially out of the playoffs
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Hell, most people pretty much said the Leafs were done after the losses to Montreal.
What was the difference between this team and the team that couldn't buy a win during January?
We've waited a while for a cup and can wait a while longer, so it might be time to take a look at the good things that have come into play with the Leafs over the past 10 or so Games.
Sundin has been a force. There's always going to be folks saying he's not a leader, nor should he be captain, and I think even if he had a 9 point night like Sittler they'd still say that. To me, over these past few games, he's shown he is the Captain, he's not willing to give up on the team, and he'll even pick them up and carry them when he needs to. Despite missing how long due to his eye injury he has retaken the team lead in scoring, we missed Mats alot, and the Olympics helped him find a new level to his game. Can't wait to see what he'll bring next year.
Aubin has come out of obscurity and shown that he's a pretty damned decent goalie. I doubt 10 games is enough to start planning on him backstopping the Leafs to the playoffs next year, but he's been solid enough, and more then a pleasant surprise. I'd like to see the Leafs pick up Raycroft... but only if he starts spelling his name properly.
Youth is the Future, and we've seen it start in Toronto. Alex Steen, Mat Stajan, Kyle Wellwood are all looking like some hard working, hard playing forwards. The past few games I've really noticed Stajan's work effort improve, he just keeps going after the puck, and never quits. Our young defenders are looking very good out there, and I give credit to Luke Richardson for coming in and taking up a mentor role. I wasn't thrilled with what went on during the trade deadline, but picking up Richardson will probably greatly benefit our defense in years to come. We've got a few other young players down in the marlies itching to get up, like Pohl, Sugablov (or however you spell it).
O'Neill, Antropov, and Ponikarovski have all stepped it up in recent games too. For the first time in a while I was GLAD we had Jeff O'Neill signed to a 2 year contract, because it looks like after playing far below his ability for most of the season in the past month he's started to be his oldself. Antropov still has some growing to do, and he's still not close to my favorite Leafs, but solid defensive play, a nice scoring touch and his ability to now use his big size certainly took him out of Cory Cross territory in my books... now if he could not get injured next year, I might even "like" him! Poni also broke out this year, and I see good things for him in the next few.
Rask and Pogge. We have in our future perhaps two of the best young goalies there are in Rask and Pogge. Realisitcally, only one will be playing for us in the big leagues, so I see one of the two being dealt, but not for a while. WE still have to see how they play, but having two good young goalies are definitely a big plus for the future of the Leafs.
It was a dissappointing season, but showed good potential for the future.
Just so long as we don't sign Roenick... Oh please, no Roenick in Toronto!
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The the fact a team would have to play a Domi-Roenick-Tucker line might just have the "OH fuck, I don't want to have to deal with this shit" factor to make us start planning the parade route!
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