Leafs Fan Fest Was Certainly Not Fun Fest

If I had to choose three words to describe my trip on Saturday to the Toronto Maple Leafs fan fest the best words would be; lines, disorganization and more lines. What started out as a simple attempt to thank the fans and bring them more access to the team, ended with many fans being turned off of the organization.

Many fans left the event disgruntled, tired and frustrated after standing in lines for hours on hours on hours and receiving poor treatment from many of the staff.

Normally I wouldn't venture anywhere near an event like this, but since I had never been to a "fan fest" of sorts and a good friend asked me to attend with them, we bought into the Leafs advertisement hook, line and sinker. To say we left disappointed would be an understatement.

I'll go into some detail into what our crazy day at the event looked like.

We kicked off our day at the Air Canada Centre around 10:30 in the morning. We immediately went to

Crazy packed activities section. 

check out the new and improved Real Sports, which was awesome. However, the store was extremely busy and we had to stand around for several minutes waiting for someone to help us.

Once someone finally realized we needed help, they were perfectly helpful and my friend was able to place her jersey order. They told us to come back in an hour and half, so we decided to go check out the autograph line.

There were lines of people everywhere, most of whom had no idea what they were lined up for, but we scooted around them and made our way to the 300 level where the autographs were going down. We expected lines of course, but nothing like what we were met with.

There were waves of people lined up everywhere and it took awhile before we were pointed in the general direction toward the end of the line. We walked for a good 10-15 minutes finding absolutely no end to any line on either side of the building. The line seemed to go on forever and when we heard someone say the wait time was going to be 3.5 hours, we hightailed it out of there.

Getting player autographs was cool and all but not worth spending the entire day trapped in line while likely missing the time slot of the player who's autograph you seek. We made our way down to the Maple Leafs dressing room tour a highlight both my friend and I were excited to do.

Once we got down to the ice level where it was being held, we found our way to the tunnel where the Leafs dressing room was located. Once again we were met with a big line. "How bad can it be?" we thought as we walked towards the end of the line which once again seemed to stretch on forever. When the end was finally in sight we asked a staff if this was the line we were looking for and if we could join it at the end. He looked at us and rudely said "no, come back at 1."

Disappointed we went into the fan interaction zone which was located right on the ice rink. People were packed in the little space like sardines and you could barely move a muscle. People were taking pictures all over and lines stretched everywhere. Once again you couldn't tell which line was for what event and people were complaining about the hour long wait times.

We then ventured into the crowded and disorganized Leafs equipment sale before hitting up the visitors dressing room tour. The visitors dressing room tour was pretty cool and a rare activity that didn't have a crazy line, in fact there wasn't a line at all. It was really fun and I got to put on a pair of pads in Carey Price's stall which was really cool.

Side note, as a big Ryan Miller fan there is a good chance he sits where I got to sit today which is super cool.

We then headed for the second best part of the day, lunch. For once the Leafs delivered on their

promise with reasonably priced food items. Seeing much cheaper and affordable prices on the concessions was truly great, I'll try to remember those when I pay regular price during the season.

After a great and relaxing lunch we went to go check on my friends jersey since they told us it would be ready in an hour and a half. We stood at the pick-up desk for 10 minutes before someone noticed us. When the guy came over he looked at the ticket, shook his head and walked away. No mention of how much longer or anything.

Once again disappointed we chilled in the stands for a bit before heading back to the dressing room tour. We asked what we needed to do to get in and they told us to just find the end of the line, so we did. Once we were at the end of the line we tried to join it but got yelled at by security who told us we needed a bracelet.

We had no clue where these bracelets were and had just swam through a massive mob of people trying to meet Dave Nonis in a crowded hallway, the proposition of going back was not one we enjoyed. The security guard pointed back toward the crowd and we got pretty annoyed. Thankfully the bracelets weren't far away and we didn't have to brace the mob again.

They let our group into the line at roughly 12:50 and we got into the dressing room in roughly 35 minutes. The line went really quick and we were super excited to finally see into the dressing room.  Being able to film and capture photos throughout the tour was even better.

The only downside to the tour was the massive roped off section that severely limited movement. I get not stepping on the Leafs logo, that's a sacred tradition, but getting yelled at for even having a toe on the edge of the big blue carpet? That's a bit much. Never the less the dressing room tour was awesome and really lived up to the advertisement and excitement.

I then went to pick-up a Nikolai Kulemin jersey before we once again went to check on my friends jersey order. Finally around 2 the jersey was ready and she was ecstatic, Real Sports did an awesome job on her first Leafs jersey.

We then headed to the drop the puck station which was an absolute disaster. We started on the 100 level concourse, worked our way down the stairs to the ice surface and waited in three different rows on the ice. For context, I sent a text in the 2nd row on the ice at 3:30 and we didn't finish the puck

I touched the ice!

dropping station till 4:10.

The camera kept breaking, "too many photos" they said, so everyone had to get photo's taken on their phones which was a major hassle. I mean can't a corporation as big as MLSE afford a back-up camera or more memory cards or an extra battery?

After that my friend was fed up and demanded we leave, I wanted to do more stations but the long lines drove both of us away and we left before 4:30. We left tired, frustrated and disappointed, the only comment I could muster was "glad we didn't pay the full $60 for that."

Now before you accuse me of ragging on the event too much, let me just say this. Toronto Maple Leafs fan fest had the potential to be a FANTASTIC event. Unfortunately poor planning, little to no direction, hours on hours of waiting in lines to be turned away and some grumpy staff is a recipe for disaster. I also understand it was the first year for the event but come on.

They were expecting roughly 40,000 people over the weekend but the organization for an event that large was not there. It's not like a normal hockey game where everyone has a general idea of where they're going and an idea of what to expect. No one knew where to go or what to expect and no one was there to help. Whether expecting 40,000 or 10,000 the organization should have been better.

I missed tons of events/activities today, simply because I didn't know where they were located. On twitter there was talk about a fan guide that could be picked up, but I never saw one being offered anywhere.

Now I don't have a big issue with waiting in line, when it's worth the wait. The biggest issue I had was with the autograph line. Let's say you're lining up for Phil Kessel who's signing period is on from 2-3, if you're in line for 3 hours and you line-up at let's say 1, by the time you reach the front Kessel will be long gone. Heck I heard from people who were in line upwards of 4.5 hours only to be turned away. One guy claimed he was told the wait line was at least 6 hours for an autograph! By the time that guy reaches the front the guy he's looking for is long gone.

The simplest lesson that can be learned is that not everyone can embark on a place at once with the

same goal, it just doesn't work. Next time perhaps tickets to a specific player at a specific time or even spreading out the autograph sessions to different areas might be better.

There needed to be more communication, clearer direction and shorter lines. Not to mention they ran out of their free popcorn!

I only got to do two events today, some didn't even get to do that. All in all Toronto Maple Leafs fan fest was not as advertised and left more people with a sour taste in their mouths. Like I said above, it could have been awesome, but some more planning would have gone a long way.

Here are some tweets that sum up both the event and this article.

@MapleLeafs walked around #TMLFanFest14 for 2 hours getting misdirected, yelled at & told all the lines were being shut down. Refund please!
— Jordanne Hayton (@jhayts) September 7, 2014

and

Did @MapleLeafs think we were Habs fans and that's why we all had to wait hours in line only to get screwed over? 'fan' fest #TMLFanFest14
— Robbie D'Addazio (@RobbieDazz) September 7, 2014

Sorry MLSE, Fan Fest was a joke for the fans and the ones who got it the worst were the kids who were so excited to meet their hero's but got screwed over. On the plus side I did get a cool fan band bracelet that I didn't use once at the actual event.

Dave Nonis and the Toronto Maple Leafs Have Mishandled Cap Space

Dave Nonis and the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in an interesting predicament. With just over a week till training camp there remains two key players who have not been re-signed- Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson. Arguably the Leafs best defenceman and most promising prospect remain un-signed as the Leafs try and find a way to keep both on the roster under the cap.

It's hard to feel sorry for the Maple Leafs who have poorly mismanaged their cap space this offseason. They currently have just under $4.9 million left in cap spca, but they've spent and waisted a lot of money this offseason. It all started with Tyler Bozak who was demanding first line money despite not being worth first line money. The Leafs knew they would have to give Bozak a decent pay day and were determined not to over pay for him, but they ended up handing him a 5 year $21 million deal.

Next we move to David Clarkson. I'm still not entirely sure why the Leafs needed a player like Clarkson, but he can be a valuable comodity and the Leafs decided they wanted that comodity. Problem is they massively overpayed giving him a 7 year deal worth $36.75 million. A $5.25 million cap hit (same as Joffrey Lupul) is a lot for a guy who's likely to be policing the third line and has only scored more than 20 goals once in his career.

 Finally we move to Jonathan Bernier, the goaltender who was brought in to rescue the Leafs Ben Scrivens but a cheap veteran would have done just fine. Instead they went out and acquired a young goaltender, virtually telling James Reimer he's not good enough and in the process screwed themselves with the cap. Without acquiring Bernier the Leafs would have $6,758,433 in cap space, which would have been enough to sign both Kadri and Franson. Instead they have just $4,895,833 left in cap space, not enough to sign both RFA's.

Also don't forget that Phil Kessel will need a new contract after this season, things are about to get real hot for Dave Nonis. The Leafs spent big money to rescue the goaltending which really didn't need rescuing. The Leafs had absolutely no reason to go out and acquire another number one goaltender, yes they needed an upgrade over Ben Scrivens but a cheap veteran would have done just fine.

In a perfect world the Leafs would want to sign both Franson and Kadri, but unless they buyout a contract or one of them caves to accept a horrible contract they won't be able to retain both.

Kadri is looking for deal around 6 years worth roughly $5.5 million a year, while the Leafs are looking at a bridge contract similiar to P.K Subban; roughly 2 years for $2.8 million. Kadri would be wise to accept the bridge contract in order to build up his resume and then demand more money in two years and if he has another year like last season he won't have to worry. But you can't exactly blame Kadri for his asking price. He sees the Leafs hand Bozak, nothing more than a glorified third line centre, $4.2 a year and since Kadri believes he's a better talent than Bozak he believes he's worth more. Truth be told neither player right now is worth anywhere near $4 million a year, but because Nonis has handed out some poor contracts others want the money.

The troublesome thing for the Leafs is they don't seem to even be in the same ballpark when negotiating with Kadri. Franson on the other hand is looking for a 4 year deal at $4 million a year, while the Leafs are looking for a 2 year deal worth $3 million a year. At least the Leafs are a little closer in terms with Franson, but it's looking like both players will want to play hardball.

Both Kadri and Franson played a pivot part in the Leafs return to the playoffs last season. Kadri burst onto the scene and has his best year putting up 18 goals and 26 assists, while Franson was a solid and

reliable defenceman all year long scoring 5 goals and adding 24 assists.

While the Leafs are stuck between a rock and a hard place right now, this was a completely avoidable problem. Nonis threw money around like there was no tomorrow during the offseason and now he's realizing that the money supply is running out and players won't play for nothing. Both Kadri and Franson deserve a respectable salary around $3 million, but the Leafs don't have the room.

With training camp looming closer and closer don't expect both to be there. The Kadri situation smells of what happened with Subban and a holdout may be imminent for Kadri. The Leafs, thanks to Nonis' loose wallet, don't have enough money to make both Nazem Kadri and Cody Franson happy which means a trade will be on the horizon.

Too bad Nonis didn't spend all that money this offseason on a viable upgrade all around. Locking up Kadri and Franson should have been first priority (after Bozak) for Nonis. If the Leafs do end up losing Kadri, they have no one but Nonis to blame for mismanaging the cap.

Why Having Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer Is Great For the Leafs

For many it came as a surprise that the Toronto Maple Leafs traded for goaltender Jonathan Bernier, after James Reimer helped propel the team back to the playoffs and nearly upset Tuukka Rask and the Boston Bruins. But it's really not that surprising that the Leafs were still looking to upgrade their goaltending after they were rumored to be looking at both Roberto Luongo and Miikka Kiprusoff during the season.

James Reimer proved himself to be a solid goaltender, but there are still a lot of questions surrounding the Leafs crease. What happens if, and based on the past, when Reimer goes down with an injury? In the two seasons Reimer has been the Leafs starter, he's been injured for periods of time in both. Can Reimer continue to shine when the Leafs don't? And most importantly can he perform in the playoffs? Reimer is a young goaltender trying to find his way in the NHL. He doesn't play many back-to-back games and can't really be counted on to start more than 50 games. The Leafs needed a better, more reliable and proven second goaltender other than Ben Scrivens, to help when Reimer needs a break.

Whether Reimer or the Toronto fans like it or not, the Leafs needed an update behind Reimer. Sure they didn't have to go and acquire another young goalie looking to become a bonafide number 1, when they had Reimer, but they did. While it may seem like acquiring Bernier was a deterrent for Reimer's confidence, it was actually a brilliant move by the Leafs.

When you look at the goaltending situations around the league you start to notice a trend; goalie tandems. Last season saw teams such as the St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins,  Anaheim Ducks and Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, use both their goaltenders throughout the season. All five of the teams listed above not only operated with a 1A, 1B goaltending system- they also all made it to the postseason.

But let's focus on the Chicago Blackhawks use of the goalie tandem. After two rocky seasons with Corey Crawford at the helm and two first round playoff exits, the Blackhawks decided to bring in another goaltender to not only mentor Crawford but to also give him a break. The plan worked perfectly as Crawford led the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup Championship.

Obviously the Leafs didn't go with the veteran back-up route, but they got a young goalie who will help push Reimer to perform his best. If you're looking for someone to compare Reimer to you can look across to Crawford. Both are fairly young, in-experienced goaltenders with just 3 NHL seasons under their belts, have very similar career numbers, and both still have a lot to prove. It helped Corey Crawford to have another goaltender behind him, and it wouldn't hurt to give Reimer some motivation.

Is Jonathan Bernier an immediate upgrade over Reimer? No. It's too early to tell just how good Bernier
is. He's only played in 62 NHL games and while he's shown flashes of greatness during those games, the sample size is too small. Any half-decent goaltender can post solid numbers through 15 games, but until a goalie starts 30 games in a season their numbers don't say much.

With Bernier the Leafs don't know what they have yet, with Reimer on the other hand they know exactly what they have. A solid goaltender that is capable of bailing the team out and backstopping a team to the postseason. Based on experience and Reimer's play last season he should get the key to the crease to start off the year, but with Bernier bitting at his heals Reimer will be forced to play his best hockey. Besides, what's so bad about a little competition for the starting job?

Having both Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer battling for the right to claim the crease is a win-win for the Leafs. Both are solid young goaltenders, which want a starting role in the NHL and will have to play their best to get between the pipes. The Leafs now have two capable goalies that can step up to the plate anytime they're called upon. If Reimer get's hurt, goes through a rough patch of games or needs a rest, they can throw Bernier in without any worries and vice versa.

Having two capable starting goaltenders is a great move by the Leafs and a great strategy to capitalize on the latest NHL trend. If the season starts and both goaltenders are playing well it will also give the Leafs the edge over their competition by not having to ride just one goaltender all the time. If Randy Carlyle plays his cards right and allows both goaltenders time to prove themselves and keeps the media circus away from the goaltenders, the Leafs could ride their goaltending tandem back to the playoffs once again.

The Unsung Hero Of Each Playoff Team

Every team has big name players that are counted on to produce and carry the team. These players like Phil Kessel, Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Corey Perry, get all the glory when the team is successful. But when the stars stop producing it's up to the secondary players to step up and fill in the hole. While the unsung hero of each playoff team may not get the recognition or attention, their team wouldn't be nearly as good without them.

Chicago Blackhawks- Niklas Hjalmarsson

When you look at the Blackhawks blue line the names that pop out are Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Rarely do you immediately think of 25 year-old Niklas Hjalmarsson as one of the team's top defenceman. Despite being a relative unknown, he's paired with Keith on the Blackhawks top defencive pairing and has been given the task of facing the Minnesota Wild's top players.

He's one of the Blackhawks best penalty killers and leads all Blackhawk players in time on the ice while shorthanded averaging 2:45 a game. New this year Hjalmarsson has also added some offence to his game. He put 10 points on the board in 46 games on the Blackhawks blue line.

Pittsburgh Penguins- Matt Niskanen

Much like Niklas Hjalmarsson, when you look at the Penguins blue line Matt Niskanen isn't the first name that comes to mind. But Niskanen had a solid season, putting up 14 points (3rd best for Penguins D) and averaging over 20 minutes a night. To pick an unsung hero for a team like the Penguins is so difficult as they have stars all throughout their line-up but Niskanen is a guy who is a consistent producing defenceman who continually flies under the radar.

Anaheim Ducks- Daniel Winnik

Daniel Winnik has turned himself into a key player for the Ducks. Winnik finds his home on the third line wing with Saku Koivu and Andrew Cogliano. The three of quickly become one of the Ducks most creative and dangerous lines combining for 69 points in the regular season. In addition to the lines offence, they've also become the Ducks go-to shutdown line and have been given the task of shutting down the always-dangerous Pavel Datsyuk.

Winnik has been a fantastic two-way forward this season, focusing on his own end first (+13) and still putting up 19 points. Daniel Winnik is the type of forward that teams win with and right now the Ducks are benefiting from his strong play. Look for him to play a big role in the Ducks Stanley Cup run.

Montreal Canadiens- Brandon Prust

When a guy is voted as the unsung hero of a team, then you can't not put him on the list. Brandon Prust has had a huge impact on the Canadiens. From helping with their physical play to mentoring Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk, Prust has done it all for the Canadiens and he's even had an impact on the scoreboard.

Prust suited up for 38 games in his first season with the Canadiens and put up 14 points and led the team with 110 penalty minutes. He's stepped up as leader for the Canadiens and proved to be a very valuable asset. For the Canadiens to make a deep playoff run they'll need Prust to play his best and by the off-ice leader of the Habs.

Boston Bruins- Dennis Seidenberg

Dennis Seidenberg may be one of the most underrated defenceman in the entire Eastern Conference. He has a Stanley Cup ring, 52 games of NHL playoff experience and is one of the Boston Bruins top defenceman night in and night out. Yet he is continually overlooked.

Seidenberg is the type of player who can do it all. The coach has faith to send him into any situation. He ranked second in the NHL in plus/minus, was 2nd amongst Bruins defenceman in points (17) and he took just 5 penalties all season. He's the type of defenceman who understands just how valuable he is and what it takes to win. He laid his body on the line to block 115 shots this season, that dedication and heart.

St. Louis Blues- Chris Stewart

When I looked at the St. Louis Blues' stats from this season, I was shocked to see Chris Stewart leading the team in scoring. Chris Stewart is not only the Blues unsung hero he's also one of the most under-appreciated players in the Western Conference.

Stewart put up 36 points this season with the Blues, more than he has in any other season and doing so this year in just 48 games. He lead the Blues in goals, power play goals and points, despite playing four minutes a night less than David Backes who put up 28 points. The Blues in general are a pretty under the radar team, but despite that they've managed a 2-0 series lead over the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Teams overestimating Christ Stewart and the Blues can only help the Blues.

Los Angeles Kings- Trevor Lewis

Anytime your own teammates crown you the unsung hero of your team you know you're doing something right. Trevor Lewis plays wing on a line with Jarret Stoll and Dwight King, the line was a key part in the Kings Stanley Cup win last season. Once again the three will show what they can do in the playoffs. Dwight King was the surprise last playoffs scoring 5 goals and finishing 3rd on the team in playoff scoring and this post-season many are expecting Trevor Lewis to play the same role.

“He’s got the skill, he’s got the shot, he’s got the speed. Just a matter of not only our line but every line coming together and ramping it up an extra notch or two." ~ Jarret Stoll

Lewis finished with 14 points through 48 games while averaging 15 minutes a night and was one of the Kings best penalty killers. If the Kings are to come back from being down 2-0 in round one, Trevor Lewis will need to start scoring again.

Vancouver Canucks- Jannik Hansen

Jannik Hansen finished the season as the 4th leading scorer for the Canucks behind the Sedin twins and Derrick Roy. Hansen put up 27 points in 47 games this season and continued to prove just how valuable he can be- despite being the 10th highest paid forward. Hansen kills penalties, spends time on the power play and uses his great speed for both offence and defence. He plays a great defencive game and was +12 on the year. He's one of the most versatile Canucks forwards as he can play either wing and fit in on any line.

Toronto Maple Leafs- Jay McClement

At the beginning of the 2013 season no one expected the Leafs to even come close to the playoffs. But thanks to a break out season from Nazem Kadri, stellar goaltending from James Reimer and great coaching from Randy Carlyle, the Leafs are in the playoffs. But aside from the big names on the Leafs another player who deserves some major credit is Jay McClement.

The biggest turnaround for the Leafs has been their penalty killing. Last season they were the 3rd worst penalty killing team in the league, this season they're 3rd best. Who's been killing all these penalties- Jay McClement. If you're questioning the impact that McClement could have had on the PK, just remember he was the cornerstone of the Avalanche PK that went from 30th to 12th once he joined.

McClement is a versatile forward who can fit anywhere in the line-up and take key face-offs when Tyler Bozak needs a break. He wears an A his jersey and provides solid veteran leadership for this young Leafs team. Picking up Jay McClement may have been one of Brian Burke's best moves.

Washington Capitals- John Carlson

Time to put another defenceman on the list. When you think of the Washington Capitals you don't exactly think of a shutdown defencive team, you think of the highflying Alex Ovechkin. Even the Capitals defenceman have exceptional offence and a prime example is John Carlson.

But Carlson's defence is extremely underrated. Carlson ranks 7th on the Capitals and 2nd in defenceman with 22 points. But aside from the offence Carlson is 2nd on the blue line with 59 hits and leads all Capitals defenceman with 17 takeaways. He ranked 3rd in the NHL with 123 blocked shots. Adam Oates also trusts John Carlson on the penalty kill and as a result is the Capitals best penalty killer averaging 2:53 on the power kill. Not bad for an "offensive-minded defenceman".

San Jose Sharks- TJ Galiardi

Galiardi is a player who has struggled to find his place in the NHL and at the beginning of this season it looked like he still hadn't found his place. But Galiardi picked up his play near the end of the season and began to look like the player of the future that the Sharks thought he was. He but up 14 points in 36 games with the Sharks and was a +1.

New York Rangers- Derek Stepan

It's easy to get over-looked in New York City. With all the bright lights, big names and sports teams there is so much happening in the city. The Rangers stars include the king Henrik Lundqvist, Rich Nash, Ryan Callahan and Brad Richards, but one player who's managed to fall through the cracks is Derek Stepan. For a player whoes coach was worried about centering the 2nd line, Derek Stepan has silenced all his critics.

The 22 year-old had a break-out season that saw him lead the New York Rangers with 44 points and 18 goals. He had a stellar end to the season, notching 3 game-winning goals and recording 7 multi-point games insuring his Rangers a spot in the Playoffs. John Tortorella has gone from being worried about the youngster to using him in any situation- Power play or penalty kill.

Detroit Red Wings- Justin Abdelkader

Aside from Red Wings fans, how many of you have heard of Justin Abdelkader? Now how many of you have heard of Pavel Datsyuk? Well Abdelkader is a winger on the Pavel Datsyuk line. He brings a strong net presence and is one of the Red Wings best Penalty killers. He put up 13 points in 48 games this season.

Ottawa Senators- Patrick Wiercioch

Senators rookie defenceman Patrick Wiercioch put up 19 points from the blue line, ranking him 2nd amongst Senators defence. Wiercioch has been brought up through the Sens program and has transformed into a solid offencive defenceman.

Minnesota Wild- Mikko Koivu

After a big offseason all the focus this season was on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, someone who was overlooked was the guys wearing the C- Mikko Koivu. To the surprise of many Koivu actually out-scored James Neal, Corey Perry and Jarome Iginla, not bad for the Wild captain who was overshadowed. These numbers are typical for Koivu yet he still doesn't get the recognition he deserves around the league; Hopefully the playoffs will be his coming out party.

New York Islanders- Frans Nielsen

The Islanders this season were carried by the play of John Tavares and Evgeni Nabokov, but those two got a little help along the way. Frans Nielsen finished 4th on the team in scoring with 29 points, now while Nielsen has never lead the Islanders in scoring or even made an all-star appearance he's still a key member of their team. He's become a key member of the penalty kill and often generates short-handed chances based on his creativity. While Tavares may lead the way, without the help from players like Nielsen it would have been another year without a post-season birth for the Islanders.

Why the Leafs Stand A Chance Against the Bruins

Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs played their first playoff game in 9 years. What was supposed to be a happy moment for Leaf fans, turned into a nightmare when they found out just how good the Boston Bruins are.

Despite the fact the Leafs got manhandled during the opening game of this series, there's still a lot of hockey to be played and the Leafs still have a shot against the Bruins. There was no question heading into this series that this would be a tough match for the Leafs, but every match-up in the playoffs is tough.

My biggest pet peeve is many Leafs fans' started counting the Leafs out before the puck even dropped on this series. I understand that the Bruins have won 9 of the last 10 games against the Leafs, but the playoffs are a different story, everything else gets wiped away. Yes the Bruins destroyed the Leafs last night, but a bounce or two in favour of the Leafs and it's a different hockey game. If James van Riemsdyk had buried the puck instead of hitting the crossbar, then the Leafs are up 2-1 instead of down 2-1 after the first.

The Leafs, at least for the first period were in the game and competing hard against the Bruins. If you call yourself a Leafs fan and are saying they don't stand a chance, don't call yourself a Leafs fan. You're not being a realist, anything can happen in the playoffs and Leafs match up just fine against the Bruins.

The good news for the Leafs is players like Nazem Kadri, James Reimer and Tyler Bozak who didn't have any NHL playoff experience, now have an NHL playoff game under their belt. They got their first taste of playoff hockey and now they know what's it's like and what it takes to be successful in the playoffs. Using what they learned in the last game, not just the rookies but all the Leafs, can now come out better prepared for game two.

Here's my three reasons why the Leafs stand a chance and if they utilize these aspects, could defeat the Bruins.

1. Goaltending

As inexperienced James Reimer is in the playoffs, Tuukka Rask is also pretty inexperienced. Rask was the backup in 2011 and 2012 and was responsible to the Bruins mega collapse in 2010. Last night Rask did not look good. He looked shaky and frustrated early on and if the Leafs had managed some sustained pressure they would have been able to beat him early.

While this may not be a popular opinion, I think the Leafs have better goaltending this year  in James Reimer than the Bruins do in Rask.

Reimer has something to prove, he wants to show the Leafs brass that he can get the job done and be the number one goalie for the Leafs in the future.

If James Reimer can find his game and hold the Leafs in games where they're being outplayed the Leafs will have the edge between the pipes.

2. Special Teams

The Leafs have a very skilled roster. With players like Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak. Aside from Tyler Seguin the Bruins don't have any young skilled forwards.

The Leafs also boast the 2nd best penalty kill in the league. While the Bruins also have a solid penalty kill heir power play is horrendous ranking 26th in the league. If the Leafs can make the most of their opportunities with the extra man and limit their time spent in the box, they'll win the special teams battle.

3. Leafs aren't afraid of the Bruins

For the Leafs to go into this series thinking they're going to beat the Bruins physically is just wrong. You can't beat the Bruins at their own game. Many have tried and all have failed, the Bruins WILL ALWAYS win the physical battle. There's not one player on their roster who won't beat the crap out of an opposing player.

But the Bruins count on hard-hitting and intimidating their opponents to win games. The good news is the Leafs aren't intimidated or afraid of the Bruins. They know what to expect from the Bruins and they know they're going to get hit and beat up in this series. You saw Mikhail Grabovski get assaulted several times last night but he never shied away.

So while the Leafs can't be more physical than the Bruins, they can frustrate them by not giving up or joining them. The old saying- "If you can't beat them join them", is what the Bruins count on. They coax their opponents into an intense physical battle and strike when their opponents are off their game plan. The Leafs need to play tough but stick to their game plan and not roll over. If the Leafs can hang tough and keep coming back for more punishment, they'll frustrate the Bruins and likely force them into taking dumb penalties.

Here's an interesting tidbit for all you Leafs fans out there. The last time a 5th seed won the Stanley Cup was the New Jersey Devils after the last lockout shortened season. Guess who the Devils beat in round one? The Boston Bruins.

While it isn't going to be easy and it wont be likely, if the Leafs can get stellar goaltending from James Reimer, make the Bruins pay for taking stupid penalties and force them into taking stupid penalties, there is a chance the Leafs can take this series.

 

Having said that I still stick to my prediction of Bruins in 6 games.

 

Why the Toronto Maple Leafs Stand A Chance Against the Boston Bruins

Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs played their first playoff game in 9 years. What was supposed to be a happy moment for Leaf fans, turned into a nightmare when they found out just how good the Boston Bruins are.

Despite the fact the Leafs got manhandled during the opening game of this series, there's still a lot of hockey to be played and the Leafs still have a shot against the Bruins. There was no question heading into this series that this would be a tough match for the Leafs, but every match-up in the playoffs is tough.

My biggest pet peeve is many Leafs fans' started counting the Leafs out before the puck even dropped on this series. I understand that the Bruins have won 9 of the last 10 games against the Leafs, but the playoffs are a different story, everything else gets wiped away. Yes the Bruins destroyed the Leafs last night, but a bounce or two in favour of the Leafs and it's a different hockey game. If James van Riemsdyk had buried the puck instead of hitting the crossbar, then the Leafs are up 2-1 instead of down 2-1 after the first.

The Leafs, at least for the first period were in the game and competing hard against the Bruins. If you call yourself a Leafs fan and are saying they don't stand a chance, don't call yourself a Leafs fan. You're not being a realist, anything can happen in the playoffs and Leafs match up just fine against the Bruins.

The good news for the Leafs is players like Nazem Kadri, James Reimer and Tyler Bozak who didn't have any NHL playoff experience, now have an NHL playoff game under their belt. They got their first taste of playoff hockey and now they know what's it's like and what it takes to be successful in the playoffs. Using what they learned in the last game, not just the rookies but all the Leafs, can now come out better prepared for game two.

Here's my three reasons why the Leafs stand a chance and if they utilize these aspects, could defeat the Bruins.

1. Goaltending
As inexperienced James Reimer is in the playoffs, Tuukka Rask is also pretty inexperienced. Rask was the backup in 2011 and 2012 and was responsible to the Bruins mega collapse in 2010. Last night Rask did not look good. He looked shaky and frustrated early on and if the Leafs had managed some sustained pressure they would have been able to beat him early.

While this may not be a popular opinion, I think the Leafs have better goaltending this year in James Reimer than the Bruins do in Rask.

Reimer has something to prove, he wants to show the Leafs brass that he can get the job done and be the number one goalie for the Leafs in the future.

If James Reimer can find his game and hold the Leafs in games where they're being outplayed the Leafs will have the edge between the pipes.

2. Special Teams
The Leafs have a very skilled roster. With players like Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak. Aside from Tyler Seguin the Bruins don't have any young skilled forwards.

 The Leafs also boast the 2nd best penalty kill in the league. While the Bruins also have a solid penalty kill heir power play is horrendous ranking 26th in the league. If the Leafs can make the most of their opportunities with the extra man and limit their time spent in the box, they'll win the special teams battle.


3. Leafs aren't afraid of the Bruins
For the Leafs to go into this series thinking they're going to beat the Bruins physically is just wrong. You can't beat the Bruins at their own game. Many have tried and all have failed, the Bruins WILL ALWAYS win the physical battle. There's not one player on their roster who won't beat the crap out of an opposing player.

But the Bruins count on hard-hitting and intimidating their opponents to win games. The good news is the Leafs aren't intimidated or afraid of the Bruins. They know what to expect from the Bruins and they know they're going to get hit and beat up in this series. You saw Mikhail Grabovski get assaulted several times last night but he never shied away.

So while the Leafs can't be more physical than the Bruins, they can frustrate them by not giving up or joining them. The old saying- "If you can't beat them join them", is what the Bruins count on. They coax their opponents into an intense physical battle and strike when their opponents are off their game plan. The Leafs need to play tough but stick to their game plan and not roll over. If the Leafs can hang tough and keep coming back for more punishment, they'll frustrate the Bruins and likely force them into taking dumb penalties.

Here's an interesting tidbit for all you Leafs fans out there. The last time a 5th seed won the Stanley Cup was the New Jersey Devils after the last lockout shortened season. Guess who the Devils beat in round one? The Boston Bruins.

While it isn't going to be easy and it wont be likely, if the Leafs can get stellar goaltending from James Reimer, make the Bruins pay for taking stupid penalties and force them into taking stupid penalties, there is a chance the Leafs can take this series.

Having said that I still stick to my prediction of Bruins in 6 games.

Year Of the Goalie Tandems

Good goaltending is the key to any successful hockey team. A team is only as good as their goaltending and will only go as far as their goaltending will take them. Just ask the Los Angeles Kings who wouldn't have had a shot at the Stanley Cup Finals, let alone the Stanley Cup without Jonathan Quick. Or the Philadelphia Flyers who lost in the finals because of poor goaltending from Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton. Goaltending makes or breaks a championship team.

For most teams relying on one goalie to come up big night after night is tough enough. Teams will usually ride their starter all year, plugging in the backup only when the starter is dead tired. But this year has been a different story for many teams. On any given night you don't know who you'll see between pipes.

With the season shortened due to the lockout, it was obvious teams would need to rely on their backup goalies more. Backup goalies everywhere are rejoicing as they're playing more games in this shortened season then they would in a normal 82 game season.

With the gruelling and compact 48 games season, more and more teams are using goalie tandems. Not only are we seeing more goalie tandems this season, but the teams who are utilizing both goalies are amongst the best in the NHL this season.

Chicago Blackhawks

Corey Crawford (25 games played) 17-4-4 and Ray Emery (19 games played) 15-1-0.

The Blackhawks are the prime example of this season's goaltending tandems. They've used both Crawford and Emery during various stretches this season. As a result both goalies are fresh and playing well in the final games before the playoffs.

By using both the veteran and the younger goaltender it helps relieve the pressure from the younger Crawford and also allows him to learn from the veteran Emery.

Using the goalie tandem this season has proven to be a great idea for the Blackhawks. Both have been stellar at times this season and as a result they're currently in first place in the entire league.

Toronto Maple Leafs

James Reimer (27 games played) 16-5-5 and Ben Scrivens (18 games played) 7-8-0.

Remember when everyone was freaking out about the Leafs inexperienced goaltenders? Then when the Leafs were going to acquire a goalie at the trade deadline everyone was against that notion? Good times in Toronto.

Both James Reimer and Ben Scrivens have played well for the Leafs and have them currently inside the playoff picture. Having two young goalies battle to become the starter, has forced both Scrivens and Reimer to elevate their game. The Leafs finally have a competitive goalie tandem and as a result they're having a great season.

Now that the Leafs don't have to worry about their goaltending holding them back, they're able to focus on offence. Leafs sit 5th in the Eastern Conference.

St. Louis Blues

Brian Elliott (17 games played) 8-7-1, Jaroslav Halak (16 games played) 6-5-1 and Jake Allen (14 games played) 9-4-0.

The St. Louis Blues don't have a goalie duo, they have a goaltending trio. While Elliott has struggled at times this season the Blue have been able to call on other goalies to step up and carry the load while their "number one" goalie was off his game.

Halak and Elliott combined to carry the Blues last season and won the William. M. Jennings trophy for their efforts. They became the first goalie tandem in NHL history to both record at least 6 shutouts in a season.

After their strong performance between the pipes last season everyone expected the same again this season. Unfortunately that didn't happen. Both netminders lost their job to the rookie Jake Allen and Brian Elliott even found himself in the AHL by March.

With the last handful of games before the playoffs both Halak and Elliot have re-found their game and are ready to prove critics wrong. The Blues are a team on the prowl. Sitting 6th in the West- they're a scaring team heading into the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Marc-Andre Fleury (29 games played) 21-6-0 and Tomas Vokoun (18 games played) 11-4-0.

In the first round of the playoffs last season goaltending was the Penguins downfall. They played their rivals in the Flyers and let their
emotion's get the better of them. To insure that wouldn't happen again they brought in Tomas Vokoun to hold down the fort when Fleury isn't playing well.

The Penguins have arguably the best goalie tandem in the league right now. Both goalies have been stellar this season posting Save Percentages above .910. It's been an up and down season for Fleury who has struggled at times but Vokoun has stepped up and shut the door while his counterpart was struggling.

While Vokoun likely wont win any accolades for his performance between the pipes this season, he's been huge for the Penguins. By sharing some of the load Fleury will be rested for the playoffs and if he has some rough patches Vokoun can step in.

The Penguins goaltending is a big reason they're the Stanley Cup favorites and why they're currently first in the East.

Anaheim Ducks

Jonas Hiller (23 games played) 13-5-4 and Viktor Fasth (22 games played) 14-5-1.

The Ducks, much like the Blackhawks, have utilized their goalie tandem for the best. Hiller faltered this season and battled injury, during that time Fasth came in and proved he's ready to be an NHL goalie. Instead of letting their situation turn into a controversy they've used their tandem to propel them into 2nd in the West.

The Ducks have had a remarkable turnaround from last season and their goalie tandem deserves a lot of credit for carrying the load.

In addition to the teams listed above who have fully utilized their goalie tandems and are benefiting in the standings, at least a third of all NHL teams are playing their tandems more and more often. The Vancouver Canucks have used both Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo at times this season, the Ottawa Senators were forced to use both Craig Anderson and Ben Bishop, The New Jersey Devils have used both Martin Brodeur and Johan Hedberg and the Lightning have also used multiple netminders.

When you look around the NHL this seems to be the year of the goalie tandems. Some of the teams atop of the NHL have been utilizing their goalie tandems to the fullest and as a result their dominating the NHL.

Leafs Have James Reimer No Need For Kiprusoff

It's that time again when trade rumours are flying all around, often it's hard to decipher between which ones are legitimate and which ones are a hoax. The one rumour surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs all season is their need for a veteran goalie and once again with deadline less than 24 hours away a veteran goalie is all everyone in Toronto wants to talk about.

Talks have heated up again after Dave Nonis said he wouldn't rule out adding a veteran goaltender for the playoffs. News broke that the Leafs have been talking with the Calgary Flames about acquiring Miikka Kiprusoff. Here's the kicker, James Reimer and Ben Scrivens have played just fine and sit 8th and 11th respectively in Save Percentage amongst goalies who have played half their teams games. While James Reimer doesn't have a lot of experience under his belt he's established himself as the Leafs starting goaltender for the future.

Sure Reimer's numbers have been a little shaky this season and he's battled some injuries but he's starting to heat up at the perfect time for the Leafs. In his last 11 games he's 6-1-4 and has posted 2 shutouts (against the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators). What that proves is that James Reimer has been winning hockey games and that's all you can ask for from your goalie. Through his 22 games this season Reimer owns a 13-4-4 record with a .920 S% and a 2.52 Goals Against Average. Even more impressive is his even strength S% of .926 which is amongst the best in the NHL.

By the way the Leafs are tied for 5th in the Eastern Conference and are going to end their playoff drought in large part thanks to their goaltending, whats the issue? Whether you want to admit it or not James Reimer is establishing himself as an NHL starter and he gives the Leafs a bright future.

The major concern for the Leafs brass is the fact that James Reimer and Ben Scrivens have a combined 0 NHL playoff games under their belts. But let's not forget Scrivens led the Toronto Marlies all the way to the Calder Cup Championships and James Reimer was named the most valuable player throughout the ECHL playoffs in 2009. So they do have a little bit of experience playing in high-pressure situations such as the playoffs. Here's a brilliant idea, if you want James Reimer and Ben Scrivens to get some playoff experience, stick with them and let them get that experience!

The next question you need to ask is with acquiring Miikka Kiprusoff are the Leafs now favorites or contenders to win the Cup and the answer to that is no. With his poor attitude, threatening to nullify all trades by not showing up and his weak play this season, is he really that much of an upgrade over James Reimer?

By bringing in a veteran goaltender with playoff experience you're only slowing down James Reimer's development and not allowing him the experience you're upset at him for not having. What happens when you bring in that veteran goalie for the playoffs and then he leaves next season- you're right back in the same boat with two goalies with no playoff experience. Also if you think the Leafs goalies are inexperienced take a look at their blue line and then we'll talk inexperienced.

Bringing in an experienced veteran like Kiprusoff or Roberto Luongo would have huge ramifications for the Leafs in the future and would likely end Ben Scrivens' days as a Leaf, not only that but it could ruin James Reimer's confidence. Reimer admitted today during practice that all this trade talk about bringing in a veteran goalie to take over for the playoffs is bothering him, and he has every right to be upset about it. Reimer has been fantastic this season and gotten the Leafs wins all season long, no you're suddenly going to replace him because you don't think he can get the job done?

Now the fact that Leafs want a veteran goalie to come in and mentor Reimer and Scrivens is understandable and I've even said James Reimer could use a veteran mentor. But bringing a guy like Miikka Kiprusoff in as a mentor would be a big mistake! First of all Reimer numbers over the last three season have been better than his mentors. Yes Kiprusoff has playoff experience and a run to the Stanley Cup Finals, but he's been eliminated in the first round in 4 out of 5 playoff appearances. Also at the age of 36, missing the playoffs the last 3 seasons and posting an atrocious .868 S% and 3.64 GAA, there's some debate on whether or not he's past his prime.

The Leafs are going to end their playoff drought and that's great but let's face it they still don't have what it takes to compete with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins of the East. Adding Kiprusoff really doesn't change that fact, so is it worth ruining Reimer's confidence, losing prospects to still possibly getting knocked out in the first round?

The Leafs don't need another goalie, they have two very capable goalies already. Heroes are born in the playoffs- instead of wondering if James Reimer will flop in the playoffs maybe it's time to start wondering if he'll become a star and make a name for himself.

The Toronto Maple Leafs Will Make the Playoffs in 2013

Take a deep breath you're not seeing things, the title really says that the Toronto Maple Leafs will make the playoffs this season. If you listened to the debut episode of "Caitlin's Corner" around the 20 minute mark, I said that the Toronto Maple Leafs will end their playoff drought this season.

Through 24 games the Leafs sit 6th in the Eastern Conference 1 point up on the Ottawa Senators and just 4 points behind the Boston Bruins. With 15 wins and 31 points the Leafs have started off the shortened season on fire and look to be poised to end their long post-season drought. Despite the great start to the season for the Leafs, there's still not a lot of optimism surrounding this team yet and a major reason why is last seasons major collapse. The Leafs went from playoff contention before the all-star break to a top 5 draft pick by the end of the season- the good news this season, there's no all-star break!

As Steve Dangle points out saying the "P" word is almost too difficult for Leafs fans who have suffered through so many close calls. But because of the fantastic start by the Leafs (and the 48 game season) the Leafs just need to play .500 hockey to have a valid shot at being in the top 8 in the East and thus entering the playoffs. Now that Brian Burke is no longer controlling the Leafs and Randy Carlyle has taught them how to play hockey there's a different feel to the 2013 Leafs than past teams. They don't seem to be as fragile- they've yet to lose back to back games, they've survived injuries to Joffrey Lupul, Jake Gardiner and James Reimer and most importantly they never seem to be out of a game. Despite losing 5-4 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the shootout, the Leafs never gave up in the game being down 3-1 after 1 period and then 4-2 later on. They showed great grit and determination and managed to drag out a point in a game they were badly outplayed.

What the Leafs and their fans should be proud of is the fact that other teams are finally starting to consider them a legitimate team.

"They've difinitely tightened up their game. I'm one of those guys who believe they are a legit contender!" ~ Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien.

To get a complement like that from a divisional rivals head coach is huge and speaks volumes for how far the Leafs have come under Carlyle. Now when teams are getting ready to face the Leafs they no longer think it's an "easy 2 points" they know it's going to be a hard fought battle right to the end. The Leafs have a shot to win against any team in the East right now and are no longer getting blown-out by powerhouses like the Penguins and Bruins.

Perhaps what's most remarkable about the Leafs 15-10-1 record, is the fact Phil Kessel hasn't hit his stride yet! Kessel has just 7 goals through the first half of the season but because Nazem Kadri (11 goals) and James van Riemsdyk (14 goals) have picked up the slack the Leafs don't have to worry. Even Matt Frattin who has only played 11 games is tied for 4th on the team in scoring with 7 goals.

The Leafs have been getting production from everywhere. Tyler Bozak has 6 goals and has been winning face-offs like a mad man winning 54.5% of his face-offs. Kadri has 25 points in 26 games, JVR is turning into a great power forward playing on the first line, Clarke MacArthur has netted 7 goals and Colton Orr has put up 3 points and 62 penalty minutes proving he's still a valuable player. Michael Kostka and Mark Fraser have both been solid on the blue-line combining for 12 points after making the team after starting the year with the Marlies.

On top of the offence stepping up to the plate and doing their job you also have to credit the goaltending. Coming into the season everyone thought the tandem of Ben Scrivens and James Reimer would be weak and the downfall of the team. But through the first 24 games both have been solid between the pipes, giving the Leafs a chance to win every night. Even though Reimer was a little shaky against the Penguins, he got his game under control and came up big late in the game for the Leafs.

As I mentioned earlier the Leafs just need to finish off the year playing .500 hockey and in all likely hood they wont, they'll finish above .500. This is a proud Leafs team, they know the skill that they have, they've become more accountable and they're not going to limp into the playoffs. Carlyle will keep them focused and accountable, if they start to slack he'll replace them with players who really want to battle hard.

Everything seems to be clicking for the 2013 Toronto Maple Leafs and with Lupul returning from his injury soon they're about to get another offencive weapon back. It seems that despite the hockey crazy market of Toronto not giving the Leafs much credit yet, (picking apart their every move), the Leafs are able to keep rolling on- almost like they play better when people have no faith in them. The Toronto Maple Leafs embrace the roll as the underdog and this year their never give up attitude will earn them a spot in the playoffs.

4 Reasons For the Leafs Early Success

On paper the Toronto Maple Leafs don't look like real contenders in the Eastern Conference. They don't have veteran goaltending, their blue line is filled with a bunch of "no names", Nazem Kadri didn't seem capable of making the jump and Tyler Bozak is the first line center. But the great thing about sports is a team on paper means nothing once that team hits the ice and starts playing. 20 games into the 2013 season and the Leafs sit 7th in the Eastern Conference only 3 points out of first and the way they've been playing they can easily make up that ground.

Without Brian Burke at the helm there is less traction surrounding the Leafs and for the first time in years a sense of optimism around the team. Is this the year they make it back into the playoffs? Although it's still early I say yes! So why have the Leafs done so well to start off the year?

1. Randy Carlyle has changed the atmosphere of the team

Although the Leafs aren't in first in the East and no-one outside of Toronto is singing Carlyle's praises just yet, I believe that Carlyle deserves some consideration for the Jack Adams award for coach of the year. How he's managed to turn the Leafs around in less than a year and doing so with a non existent training camp is pretty impressive. Carlyle has managed to turn the Leafs from the joke of the NHL to a team that has a chance to win every night. 

He's gotten rid of the "sense of entitlement" that many if not all the Leafs of the past had. The perfect example of this is when he chose to send Tim Connolly to the Toronto Marlies. Right there in that one simple move Carlyle said to the team that "No one is safe, if you don't perform you will be replaced." Now the Leafs know they have to play, if they don't they'll be moved and you're seeing a motivated Leafs team on the ice who doesn't want to get cut.

Along with getting rid of entitlement he's also protecting players in the media by shouldering some of the blame for when they lose. He's also started an "open door policy" where players who are scratched or un-happy with their ice time can come and talk to him and learn what he wants them to do. By being willing to talk to the players he's earned their respect whether they agree with his decisions or not they respect him.

2. Goaltending

The biggest concern for the Leafs heading into the season was how James Reimer and Ben Scrivens would fair between the pipes considering both are pretty inexperienced at the NHL level. Reimer was coming off a concussion and this would be Scrivens first shot at playing full-time in the NHL. There was lots of speculation the Leafs would go after Roberto Luongo but decided not to in the end and the decision is paying off as Reimer and Scrivens are getting the job done. Even when Reimer went down with a knee injury Scrivens stepped up and has provided the Leafs with solid goaltending, giving them a chance to win every night and being fantastic when needed- that's all you can ask for from a young rookie goalie.

Through 12 games Ben Scrivens has won 6 games, has 2 shutouts and is posting a .928 Save Percentage and a 2.18 Goals Against Average. James Reimer has played 10 games winning 6 and posting a .929 Save Percentage and a 2.31 Goals Against Average. While they may not be winning any Vezina trophies in the near future, Reimer and Scrivens have done their job this season and as a result the Leafs are winning.

3. Marlies Stepping up

A major reason the Leafs have enjoyed such success early on is the play of Nazem Kadri and Matt Frattin who together combine for 27 points. They've broken into the Leafs line up nicely and proven they belong in the NHL. Part of the reason they've enjoyed success together is due to their time with the Marlies during the lockout. They had the added benefit of playing together and playing competitive hockey while their teammates were separated. As the season goes on and once Frattin comes back from injury the two will continue to grow as hockey players and play a bigger role for the Leafs and the success of the team.

Kadri is leading the team in points with 17 (5 goals and 12 assists) and Frattin has a solid 10 points (7 goals and 3 assists) and they both stepped their game up early on when Phil Kessel went goal-less. Also worth noting Frattin has 3 game winning goals, without those 6 points (3 wins) the Leafs would be sitting outside the playoff picture. Mix in Michael Kostka who has played with Dion Phaneuf on the blue line and put up 6 points, the Leafs have a lot to thank Dallas Eakins for.

4. Team Toughness

Leaf fans are tired of hearing about having a tough and truculent team but the Leafs team toughness is a major reason why they've been successful. There's only 1 reason to have players such as Colton Orr and Mike Brown playing regular minutes and that's for toughness- the two frequent fighters both have 55 penalty minutes this season and have been able to spark their team with fights and stand up for their teammates. The Leafs have 345 penalty minutes, which is 2nd most in the NHL, they also lead the league in hits. This is a team that is not easily intimidated- hence Colton Orr fighting John Scott.

For whatever reason Randy Carlyle has gotten the Leafs to play good hockey, they're buying into his system and as a result they're enjoying a 12-8-0 start to the season. For the first time in a decade I have confidence the Leafs have a solid chance of reaching the postseason. Only time will tell if the Leafs can stay the course or will once again fall off the cliff, but right now it's bright skies ahead for the Toronto Maple Leafs.