The Leafs finished their 2009/10 season with a victory over the Habs on April 10/10 and after taking a few weeks to asses the Leafs season. I am now taking a look at how each player performed in a Leafs uniform this season, this will include players that were traded to and from the team and have played in a minimum of 25 games for players and 15 games for goalies.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed a rookie European netminder for the second year in a row as Brian Burke has signed Finnish keeper Jussi Rynnas. The Leafs GM had made a trip to Finland over the last few weeks with assistant Dave Nonis to meet the Finn and then made another unexpected visit to the keeper in Montreal as he was touring NHL cities last week. The soon to be 23 year old keeper was considered to be the best available goalie in Europe this season, which makes Burke, two for two the past couple of seasons after acquiring Jonas Gustavsson last off season. Rynnas played 31 games for Finnish club Assat Pori where he posted a .929 save percentage and 2.50 goals against average. There has been no official announcement from the Leafs on contract but it is rumoured to be a 3 year entry level contract and Rynnas should start the season with the Toronto Marlies next season. Francois Allaire is said to have been a major influence in Rynnas signing with the Leafs, as he is regarded as the best goalie coach in the world at the moment.
The NHL playoffs are on and us Leafs fans are sitting back and enjoying the hockey that is being played now as our team sits on the sidelines once again for another season. Brian Burke pulled off another great move last week signing restricted free agent Jonas Gustavsson to a two year deal for $2.7 million as the keeper continues his growth under the tutelage of Francois Allaire.
Burke now has turned his attention to winger Nikolai Kulemin and since the Leafs dont have a pick until the third round of the NHL draft at the moment, I have decided to take an early look at some of the key unrestricted free agents that Burke may want to go after as he looks to get the Maple Leafs rebuilding plan on fast track but before we get their we need to take a look at the clubs current cap structure.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have wrapped up yet another disappointing season, as they miss the NHL playoffs for the fifth year in a row. Leafs Nation famous we will get them next season is starting to sound like a sour note in Leafland. Brian Burke will make changes this off season, not being in the post season eats at him. The Leafs did show some promise after the Olympic break but it is nothing new as all Leafs teams have played better through March and April every year since the lockout only to not be in the post season. This organization must be better, the fans demand it.
This is just about done for our current Toronto Maple Leafs and all but what spot the Leafs will finish in the standings is all but decided. The Leafs will miss the playoffs again and have not made the post season since before the lockout. Brian Burke will have a bit of work to do as he continues to rebuild this team in the right path. The club has once had a strong finish to the season as seems the norm the last few years and with younger players on the roster accomplishing the streak this time around, there is a sense of hope and not some mirage we have been accustomed to in seasons past.
Brian Burke's team will look very different then the team that started the 2009/10 season, it already does but will be much more so as some UFA's will be let go and others signed from around the league. The Leafs will trade some players and receive some back in return.
We take a look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs 23 man roster should look like in 2010/11.
Goalies
Jonas Gustavsson
J.S. Giguere
Defensemen
Dion Phaneuf
Francois Beauchemin
Mike Komisarek
Carl Gunnarsson
Luke Schenn
Keith Aulie
Free Agent/Trade Acquisition
Forwards
Phil Kessel
Tyler Bozak
Nicolai Kulemin
Viktor Stalberg
Nazem Kadri
Christian Hanson
John Mitchell
Luca Caputi
Fredrik Sjostrom
Rickard Wallin
Colton Orr
Free Agent/Trade Acquisition
Free Agent/Trade Acquisition
I know some of you are wondering where Tomas Kaberle is and I feel Kabby will be traded this off season, possibily for a 1st rounder and prospect, especially if he signs with the team he is traded too. I'm sure you also notice Jeff Finger is missing from the list, I feel he will be bought out or sent to the Marlies next season to get that big cap hit off the teams roster. Then you have Mikhail Grabovski his contract may be harder to get off the books but since we managed to do it with Jason Blake's I'm sure Burke will be able to move Grabo, his welcome has worn out and he does not fit on the top two lines. The other more shocking player that some see on the roster is Rickard Wallin, I know Wallin cant score but he and Sjostrom have been terrific killing penalties and he does do the little things right, like block shots and check hard, he would cost the team little to re-sign. I feel that Garnet Exelby, Wayne Primeau, Jaime Lundmark will be allowed to walk as they are pending UFAs. The only player I have a hard time making my mind on is Mike Van Ryn when he played for the Leafs last season he did look good and may be a welcome surprise if he stays healthy and signs for alot lower salary then he is getting now. Well there you have it Leafs Nation a look at the 2010/11 Leafs roster have fun dissecting it.
