The days of what has not been a great summer at all tick down and NHL training camps are just around the corner, yes folks September is five weeks away. The Leafs have made quite a few roster moves over the last four weeks with the draft, free agent signings and trades as Brian Burke looks to turn the Maple Leafs around and get the team back into the playoffs, which hasnt happened since before the lockout of 2004. We decide to take an early look at what might be the Maple Leafs starting 23 man roster come opening night October 1st versus our arch rivals the Montreal Canadiens. Coach Ron Wilson will have quite a few tough decisions to make especially on the back end where the Leafs boost at least 9 NHL ready defensemen. Here is what we think the roster will look like on opening night baring any other signings or trades by Burke and players avoiding injury.
Goaltenders
Vesa Toskala
Johan Gustavsson
Defensemen
Tomas Kaberle
Mike Komisarek
Francois Beauchemin
Luke Schenn
Jeff Finger
Ian White
Mike Van Ryn
Garnet Exelby
Forwards
Mikhail Grabovski
Alexei Ponikarovsky
Nikolai Kulemin
Niklas Hagman
Jason Blake
Matt Stajan
John Mitchell
Lee Stempniak
Colton Orr
Jamal Mayers
Rickard Wallin
Jiri Tlusty
Colin Stuart
The Leafs would be silly not to trade one of their NHL defensemen for a forward but at the moment with the current roster the Leafs look to carry eight defensemen with Ian White capable of playing both the back end and forward positions.
The Maple Leafs forward lines could look something like this:
Ponikarovksy-Grabovski-Kulemin
Tlusty-Mitchell-Stempniak
Hagman-Wallin-Blake
Mayers-Stajan-Orr
This will be a harder team to play this season with the added toughness but the Leafs could definetly use a bonafide scorer among the forward corps but an interesting team to watch never the less.
Do you agree with the roster or prefer to see someone else on the 23 man roster come opening night?
I would like to see the Maple Leafs give a few more of the kids a shot up front like Nazim Kadri, Tyler Bozak or Dale Mitchell.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see 2 first and 3 second round drafts in both the 2010 and 2011 drafts and dump whatever veterans needed to accomplish this and to hell with who plays next year and whether we qualify for the post season or not. Keep signing fringe free agents to short term or entry level deals and move whatever is moveable til we 5-7 high quality young players and watch them grow into true contenders.
ReplyDeleteI really think Colin Stuart will be in the lineup to start the season.
ReplyDeleteI recall Wilson saying he expected as many as 6 first year players this year. One in goal already, and no rookies on the D, so the following may go to make room, maybe in this order....Stepniak, Mayers, Finger, Van Ryn, Stajan, Blake. Maybe Kaberle, but I'm not so sure he will be moved. Just as much as Grabowsky, the new tough guys will get Kaberle more room and less being mugged. I look for him to improve more than anybody with Komisarike, Orr et al having his back.
ReplyDeleteAT LEAST 2 of Bozak, Hanson, Stahlberg, Tlusky, Stephanovich(my dark horse surprise at camp) to make the big club out of camp, I think 3 will start with the big club myself. Not to mention Khadri, Ryan, Dale Mitchell, as long shots.
The Muskoka 5 are history, this year it's out with the rest of the deadwood. We lost with them, we can lose without them.
So here are my 6 new Leafs, by Xmas...
Gustavson, Tlusky, Stephanovich, Stahlberg, Wallin, Stuart, with Bozac and Hanson ready to push for a spot by the trade deadline.
TRADE STAJAN FOR A BAG OF PUCKS AND GET THOSE TWO LITTLE AMERICANS (BLAKE/STEMPNIAK)OUTTA HERE
ReplyDeleteunless there are contract restrictions, I don't think Mayers or Stempniak will make the roster this season. Based on how they played last year, I think you could try out your kids all season and be better off.
ReplyDeletestempinak 2nd line no why he does not desever it he and mayers should be put on waivers let some rookies fill those spots like bozak stfavoich mitchell hanson stallberg ect
ReplyDeleteMy Opening Night Roster ( I Have a Feeling)
ReplyDeleteBlake Kessel Ponikarovski
Kulemin Grabovski Hagman
Hanson Stajan Bozak
Primeau Mitchell Orr
Komisarek Kaberale
Schenn Beauchemin
Exelby Finger
Toskala
Gustavsson
With Wallin, Stempniak, and White On The Bench
Let Them Fight For Jobs
And I Know The Kessel Thing Is Premature, But Like I Said I Have a Feeling About This
I Must also Mention I Am A Die Hard Leaf fan and I Think Burke Is The F***ing Man!!