What will happen?

Well what to say? After CUJO left for Hockeytown there were loads of dissapointed fans around and the aquisition of Belfour coming off a sub-par season couldn’t in any way make the fans of CUJO happy.On the other hand, Belfour seems determined to take the Leafs deep into the playoffs. He’s already talked a lot about his excitement of coming to a team he grew up cheering for. And he loves to play both for and in his native country. Thinking of that, Toronto is a perfect fit for him.

What about the offence then? The club really got to get Mogilny, Reichel and Hoglund going. The same goes for centreman Alyn McCauley. If he’s put on the second line he’d be more effective than being a fourth-line grinder, and if they pair him up with Mogilny maybe they could get that guy going as well. Add Roberts to that line when he gets healthy and you have a high quality second line.

Hoglund? Well, the guy can score, at least sometimes, but where should they put him? On the first line to reunite “The Swedish meatballs-line” or playing him on the third line together with the likes of newly aquired Fitzgerald and maybe Tie Domi? It’s a pretty tough desicion but I trust in Quinn to make the right chioce there.

The blueline really lost a fan-favorite in Yushkevich while obtaining the hard hitting Svehla. Will Svehla be ready to bounce back into action after announcing his retirement? And how motivated will he be when he already once decided to call in quits? Those are thing only time can tell but Leaf fans around the globe would want to see a great season out of Svehla to heal the wounds left after losing Yushkie.

There should still be enough firepower to get the team equally far in the playoff race but will they proceed further in the playoffs next season? In CUJO they had one of the games’ top goalie. Although many feel he never really could lead a team deep into the playoffs, he’s probably silenced most of the critics with his huge game come playoff time during his years as a Leaf. Belfour has always been a strong playoff-goalie but struggled during last year’s campaign with the Stars. A lot of the team’s success is depending on his play the upcoming season.

Summing it all together, I’d say that the team looks in just about the same shape as at the start of last season. The only thing needed as I see it is a replacement for injured Gary Roberts, as the Leafs definitely need his presence on the second line. I’d replace him with Fleury, whose hard-nosed and agressive style is very similar to Roberts’ game. He does have a major problem in drawing stupid and sometimes game deciding penalties, but, overall, he’d be a good replacement.

With regards

Niklas Borgenvik


33 Responses to What will happen?

  1. Hockeyman93 says:

    Svehla only retired because the Panthers wouldn’t give him the contract he wanted. He still wants to play.

  2. mightylik says:

    i’m a huge stars fan and all i can say is good luck with belfour, i’ve watched him slowly lose it over the past two years and he’s not going to find it again, toronto made no solid moves and got worse in goaltending, good luck with all that…. go stars

  3. Tony says:

    I think the Leafs made a huge mistake with not signing Cujo. Belfour has been garbage the last couple of seasons, while Cujo has shined. Now we get to see what Cujo can do with a good team infront of him, and we also get to see how the Leafs will be without a good goalie to bail them out all the time. I really cannot see the Leafs winning the Cup, but then again Carolina made it to the finals, so anything can happen.

  4. BCoilfan says:

    The only thing I will be sad about is that Belfour will be playing Edmonton less this year. Not as many chants of Bel….four, Bel….four, etc, etc, to get that snobby piece of grease off his shitty game.

  5. Forsberg21 says:

    Belfour could very well continue his downward spiral of a career, but I just have a feeling that he just really needed a change of scenery, and could play some of the best hockey of his career next year. But I don’t blame Leaf fans at all for feeling skeptical. I’m not quite sure why Quinn would give up his most consistent D-man (which is hard to say about any TOR defensman lately) for a guy who will probably retire after next year. Quinn ofered Svehla a multy-year deal, but he only wanted a one year deal.

  6. SecretAgentAiwa says:

    you should get your news right, Leafs offered cujo 8.7 million per year and redwings gave him 8 million yet he signed with the wings because he feels he had a better odds winning in mo-town! Please get your news right!!!

  7. r_milley says:

    he has a number of 1 yr options that as long as the team wants him around will get exercised. We’ll get at least 2 years out of Svehla and would have lost Yushky anyway since his retarded agent wants a 7yr contract for him.

  8. zednik says:

    Another Leafs post,

    I can deal with that. I guess I will start on Belfour. He wants to take the Leafs deep into the playoffs, That is noble but I don’t think he could have got up and said “man, my career is over I am just glad I was able to get another 12 million out of it.” No matter what spin you put on it the Leafs signed a goalie with a 89 save percentage. As well as a guy who was only able to become a superstar in front of one of the best defences in the NHL (when he was in his prime). THis is just another Pat Quinn mistake he should have signed Dafoe who is younger and had a better season then Belfour. Cry to me all you want about his playoff performence, it happens and he was at least able to lead his team into the playoffs. As for offence. Am I hearing you right ? a Leaf fan giving Hoglund credit? you mean youa re not pissed off about how he has played all 82 games ever season as a Leaf and has been scoring around 50 points a year season in season out as a Leaf? Hoglund as it sits is the most consistent Leaf, yeah thats right I said it find a Leaf forward who always gets around the same amount of points every year (thats over 30 points)? As a result of this the logical way to do things is make line one

    Renberg Sundin Hoglund

    Hoglund has worked well there and it saves Mogilny to add offence to line two. The next issue is Centers. I have heard over the last few days many Leaf fans saying how many centers the Leafs have and how they don’t need another one. From a quantity standoint yes that is correct from a quality standpoint No. Green, McCaley, Tucker, and I guess to an extent COrson and Fitsgerald.

    Those players are not number two centers,

    Green is not, McCaley is not, Tucker is a better winger and showed it this past season. As for the other two centering Mogilny??? come on. The Leafs need a center and bad. Andrew Cassels is the solution. Why? because of my favorite word consistence. He is good for about 15 goals and 40 assists even when he only plays 60 games.

    My favorite topic: Defence.

    Why does Atlanta and Columbus seem to have more common sence then Pat Quinn? Luke Richardson, Scott LeChance even Uwe Krupp would have fit well on The Leafs blueline. The most common answer to the whole Shvela trade was “If they would have been able to keep Yuski and Shvela the Leafs defence would have been alot better.” SO Leaf fans want a another hardnose defenceman. That is the right answer ! !

    If the Leafs D wants to be at par with some of the better teams in the NHL they need another powerplay STUD and a Craig Ludwig style puck in the face sort of defenceman.

    Suter or SLegr, Even though Suter is older then time he can still put the numbers up and he strikes me as the type of guy who can play till he is 40. maybe even instead of offering the farm for Morris they make a good play for McLaren. well thats my penny and a half.

    If anyone is curious about the title of my post:

    http://www.introducingmonday.co.uk/

    -Z

  9. DOJO says:

    Belfour is washed up once a goalie gets older it doesn’t matter how determined he is, he is too slow doesnt have as quick of a reaction time and can only get worse, so Toronto your in trouble. Belfour should retire now.

  10. Tony says:

    If they were smart they would of signed him before Sundin, which was before the season even started. If they would of tryed to sign him then, Cujo would still be a Leaf.

  11. rumormillman says:

    As far as I can see, the Leafs lines are already set for the upcoming season. But Zednik is completely right. They still need a set-up man for AlMo. So here we go:

    1) Hoglund Sundin Renberg

    2) Tucker McCauley Mogilny

    3) Roberts Reichel Green

    4) Corson Fitzgerald Domi

    1) Kaberle McCabe

    2) Berg Svehla

    3) Lumme Pilar

    Now this being said, a Cassels type player only slightly changes this picture. Cassela slides into the second center position and McCauley drops to third center. And as much as I hate Hoglund there is only one place for him. He can’t do anything at all on any other line. Reichel gets released. Personally I’d like a rough ‘n tumble d-man like Zednik said. Dropping Lumme, Suter would really help groom Pilar if paired together.

    Great post Zednik, you are definetly one of the most knowlegable people here. Time and time again. Although I don’t agree with all your posts, I truly respect them. Keep it up!!!!

  12. devilfan says:

    Toronto will do very well in the regular season like they have done in the past, but once the playoffs come theyll be eliminated falling a game or two short of the next round, whatever that will be.

  13. bruinsfan12 says:

    Another Leafs post surprise surprise

    I think Belfour will be good next year, just not as good as he used to be. But not as bad as he was last year.

  14. edmontonrules says:

    They should have decent offence if they take Hoglund off of the first line. I can’t stand him screwing everything up all the time. Did anybody notice how the leafs were cruising along with Roberts being the leader on the team during the first part of the playoffs. Then Sundin came and they lost. Roberts should be made captain and then Sundin and McCabe can be assistants. This is how the lines should look like.

    Roberts Sundin Renberg

    Hoglund McCauley Mogilny

    Corson Reichel Tucker

    Green Fitzgerald Domi

  15. zednik says:

    Thank you for the kind words !

    I am glad to see that not every Leaf fan wants my head on a pike !

    After reading your post I realized something, Robert Reichel had a very similar season to that of Andrew Cassels so this would not be an upgrade just a replacement and perhaps a more expensive one. so my message to Pat Quinn

    DON’T SIGN CASSELS ! ! !

    (Unless Reichel leaves and a spot needs to be filled ASAP)

    I think the key may be go younger and do something via trade maybe a guy like Vaclav Prospal, Viktor Kozlov or since they are talking to Calgary anyway maybe Marc Savard? My point is this if you can’t get a guy with better stats get someone younger you is entering their prime. This is the way good ol’ Zednik would have the Leafs looking if he had a Pat Quinn mask:

    Goal: Byron Dafoe

    Back-up: Jamie McLeanen

    They are 30 and 29(I think) Dafoe best season of all the free agent goalies, McLeanen because he has proven he can play a few games at an NHL level and look like he belongs

    Defence:

    Yuski Kaberle

    McCabe Berg (or Berard)

    Lumme LeChance/Richardson

    7th Pilar: let him get his feet wet it would take maybe 30 games for him to get Lumme’s job.

    Forwards

    Renberg Sundin Hoglund

    Mogilny Oates (See Below)

    Corson Green Tucker

    Domi McCalley Fitzgerald

    There are guys in the farm that should get a spot but you can budget for that what if they pull a Mikeal Tilquest?

    People right now are saying Oates ! ! he signed with Anahiem 15 mins into the free agent period, thats because their GM picked up a phone and called his agent something that Quinn should have done, No matter how old he uis he has the best hands in hockey could you imagine him feeding pucks to Mogilny? As for the Forward Roberts is gone half the season grit aside you need to fill that scoring void.

    Ruchinsky and Dalhen are still out there that hole needs filling !

    So in closing I will leave my Pat Quinn shopping list

    Back-Up Goalie (Someone who can carry the ball if Belfour drops it) Seems to be that Barrasso is the man to be talking to.

    like I said before Ego’s and Cocaine win Championships.

    Two COUNT EM TWO blueliners:

    With what is left and what is on the block I would say McLaren and Berard (if he will comeback to Toronto) Youth is the key Pat !

    The Bruins want something that can play in the NHL they have looked into Antropov in the past passed them maybe Berg and ANtropov 2nd rounder for McLaren and maybe Rob Zamneur and a 5th rounder(who knows I have no idea what To and Bostons needs are and who they are looking to dump), Berg and McLaren are the same height same weight and around the same age. But McLaren is punshing and thats what TO Needs.

    Winger: to fill in for Gary Roberts for a while I like Ruchinsky but Zamneur may fit as well if my Fantasy trade happens !

    LOL

    Again thanks for the kind words !

    -Z

  16. zednik says:

    I am not a Leaf fan or a Flames fan as everyone on this site should know I live and breath the Montreal Canadiens.

    That being said I have no bias for liking certain players no on my team, but the amount of people who rag on Jonas Hoglund blows my mind ! Leaf fans no less ! Most fans in Toronto want his traded for a bag of pucks or some late round picks and all I can say to that is do you watch hockey? Hoglund is by no means a superstar they guy was cut loose by the Habs when they were awful.

    The guy signed with the Leafs for 600,000 and played 82 games and had almost 30 goals ? and after that AWFUL season he got a raise (fire Pat Quinn now) and turned around and scored 50 points. Then in season three he gets the big raise a whopping 1.4 million ! (The NHL Average)

    At this point most Leaf fans are screaming how this guy is soooo awful that Pat Quinn trys to trade him (broken fax machine) so he gets stuck in TO. Then they try to change his role from a scoring guy to a set-up man did he fall on his face no he did what he was told and poted a career high 34 assists.

    I have heard “he always screws up” yeah I know! I watched many of the games but he didn’t screw up as much as Tucker did during the playoffs, He doesn’t take stupid pentalties, he plays 82 games season in and season out, he always pots around 50 points and he makes the NHL average. If he was making 3-5 million I could see the issue Leaf fans have with him

    So he turns over the puck, no more then the Leafs golden boy defenceman Tomas Kaberle.

    Lets look @ other players doing what he does and what they make:

    Bobby Holik GP 81 G21 A29 P54

    9 Million

    So he is getting paid that extra 8.5 million because he is tough and is a defencvie forward. I understand !

    Keith Primeau: GP 72 G19 A29 P48

    5 Million

    Being a Captain is hard work ! Average out his Career stats and you have a guy who scores about 50 points a season just like Jonas.

    I can go on with this foolishness forever but the point is this he makes little in compared to others in the NHL and for that price you can’t extpect perfection but for that price you are getting one hell of a bargin. Other teams don’t have high standards for players in his earning bracket such as Jaroslav Spacek, John Madden or Marty McInnis so why do Leaf fans have such a hate on for the poor guy? Larry Murphy I could see he wasn’t earning his pay but 50 points for 1.4 is more then earning his wage and sadly if you lose him who are you going to find to produce those numbers? Tom Fitzgerald? Alyn McCally? Bob Wren?

    But I want to know, its driving me nuts?

    Did he go thru TO sleeping with everyones wife or robbing banks or putting razor blades in Halloween Candy? I need to know ! so let me have it !

    -Z

  17. leafwatcher says:

    Zednik, people give Hoglund a hard time because he plays 82 games a year on a line with one of the best players in the world, and yet he capitalizes on so few of the many chances he gets. How many times a game have I seen Hoglund miss perfect set ups from Mats. It’s so irritating and that when he does put up points everyone is like, “well it’s about damn time”. And if it wern’t for Mats, he’d get about 20 points a year.

    Also, it’s not fair to compare him to players such as Holik and Primeau as they bring more to the game than just points (plus Primeau just had a bad year).

    Now I don’t dislike Hoglund as much as some other Leaf fans, but I understand why they do. He got a lot higher in my books when he actually put up some points in the playoffs without Mats.

  18. clarky says:

    I have seen Hoglund score a highlight reel goal one night than miss 2 open nets the next; he’s inconsistent. As a Leaf Fan it’s just so frustrating to see him miss opportunities handed to him on a silver platter by virute of being the on the first line. That’s why he’s hated.

    He’s not a big-game player. Sure, he bangs in his 50 points a year by sitting in front of the net collecting garbage. Put me on a the number 1 line with Sundin and throw me on the power play and even I could get 50 points with that much ice time. But how many big goals does he score? And where is he in the playoffs? Guys like Holik turn it up a notch and almost carry their teams on their backs during the playoffs, guys like Hoglund fill water bottles.

    And Hoglund’s a big guy put he has no physical presence on the ice whatsoever. Guys like Holik hit and instill fear into the opposition (just ask anyone who has taken a faceoff against Holik-hello butt end), cause traffic in front of the next, and cause turnovers. Hoglund doesn’t do any of that and defensively he often looks lost; he’s the antithesis of a two-way player.

    But your right, for 1.4 M you cant complain. He’s good value for the money and he’s good enough right? Maybe that’s the problem, he’s good enough for the money he’s being paid but not good enough to be playing on the first line. Maybe everyone hates Hoglund because his existence on the first line is another example of the Leafs doing just enough to keep filling the building and turning huge profits but not actually making the extra commitment to make a run for the cup.

  19. Forsberg21 says:

    I agree with everything you said but come on man, Belfour only became a superstar in front of one of the best defences? I hate Belfour as much as anybody but the guy played well for the Hawks and played outstanding for the Stars. Remember the year they won the cup, and especially the year after. Eddie was unstoppable in the 2000 playoffs. I remember watching the Stars-Avs series and thinking, how the hell are we gonna score any goals on this guy. He just stopped everything. We were getting in there with great scoring chances and he made some of the best saves I have ever seen, and it wasn’t the defence because they were giving up all kinds of chances. The Avs outplayed the Stars that year, but Eddie stood on his head and outplayed Patrick. It’s only been one season since then, the guy still has a chance.

  20. clarky says:

    I have seen Hoglund score a highlight reel goal one night than miss 2 open nets the next; he’s inconsistent. As a Leaf Fan it’s just so frustrating to see him miss opportunities handed to him on a silver platter by virute of being the on the first line. That’s why he’s hated.

    He’s not a big-game player. Sure, he bangs in his 50 points a year by sitting in front of the net collecting garbage. Put me on a the number 1 line with Sundin and throw me on the power play and even I could get 50 points with that much ice time. But how many big goals does he score? And where is he in the playoffs? Guys like Holik turn it up a notch and almost carry their teams on their backs during the playoffs, guys like Hoglund fill water bottles.

    And Hoglund’s a big guy put he has no physical presence on the ice whatsoever. Guys like Holik hit and instill fear into the opposition (just ask anyone who has taken a faceoff against Holik-hello butt end), cause traffic in front of the next, and cause turnovers. Hoglund doesn’t do any of that and defensively he often looks lost; he’s the antithesis of a two-way player.

    But your right, for 1.4 M you cant complain. He’s good value for the money and he’s good enough right? Maybe that’s the problem, he’s good enough for the money he’s being paid but not good enough to be playing on the first line. Maybe everyone hates Hoglund because his existence on the first line is another example of the Leafs doing just enough to keep filling the building and turning huge profits but not actually making the extra commitment to make a run for the cup.

  21. meetak says:

    I see Toronto repeating their performance from 2 years ago in the regular season, except with the difference being they don’t make the playoffs this time because the other lower half teams(Montreal, Washington,The Rangers etc..) have improved, and/or have already gone through their adjustment season with new faces(ie Jagr in washington).The East will continue to be more competetive, and i think the Leafs will be on the outside facing in this year.I think they will sorely miss Yuskevich by years end.Roberts may be out of the picture for too long to help as well.Watch for the leafs to be in 10th or 11th pace by the all star break.That may be too big a hole to climb out of.

  22. zednik says:

    Shame on me for speaking to quickly !

    As for the regular season his numbers were good and have been when he was in his prime, Let me rephrase my complaint with Eddie the Eagle, He is alot like Jonas Hoglund in the sense that the players around him excel his preformance. Look at his playoff records with weaker defencive teams such as Chicago and San Jose he was a choker of sorts in the playoffs and his stats were Good with Chicago and San Jose but not AMAZING. With Dallas he had one of the best defences in the NHL as well as a great Offence. To quote Robert Carmicael “Excellence breeds excellence”. Now enter Eddie the Eagle now, The Stars as a team started to fad and he fell right off the planet. Now he is with a team who lacks a great defence or for that matter even a good defence who have one very good line of scoring and are missing Gary Roberts half the season. A guy like Cujo was able to show that he could win and play hard no matter what Eddie hasn’t shown that and I think it will be hard for him to get better on a team with a weaker defence then the team he posted a 89 save % with.

    -Z

  23. zednik says:

    BUt keep in mind he was moved off the first line for a large part of the season and his roll changed from “score” to “Pass” and he was able to adapt and put up a career high in assists then they put him back on Sundins line. Its not fair to compare Hoglund to guys like Holik and Primeau but I wanted to show the ridiculas expectations on Hoglund and point out that he is scoring at a similar levels to players that make more and are not under as much fire.

    But I am glad to get a Leaf fans perspective.

    -Z

  24. zednik says:

    You hit the nail right on the head !

    “He’s good value for the money and he’s good enough right? Maybe that’s the problem, he’s good enough for the money he’s being paid but not good enough to be playing on the first line”

    He is a very diverse player like I said in my post he was moved off the top line for a large part of the season and his roll was changed from “score” to “pass” and he did and scored a career high in the assists colum. I was also very unfair in comparing Holik to Hoglund I know but I wanted to show that a guy like Hoglund makes the NHl average and is under more fire then a guy like Priemau.

    But thanks for the imput !

    -Z

  25. r_milley says:

    Yes they’ve improved but NJ and Boston have taken steps back. IMO there will be 12 teams still in contention going into the last month of the season(maybe 13 if Lemieux stays healthy) but only 8 make it so it should be interesting. Even with Roberts out till January I think it’d take another key injury for the Leafs not to make it.

  26. zednik says:

    I wouldn’t count in Jersey making steps back the trade with Dallas will pay dividends and the deal with the Ducks will also help them out, I have a feeling Lou has his finger on the trigger again.

    -Z

  27. amok says:

    Rumormill was right; your posts are some of the best and most intelligent on here.

    Oates and Mogilny would look great together, but I’ve gotta disagree about Cassels. He did have similar numbers to Reichel, but Reichel played 25 more games and only had one more point. Cassels could help the Leafs out. He’s got great hands and with his pass first attitude he could help Mogilny hit 40 again.

    That said, if I were Quinn, or Zednik with a Quinn mask, I wouldn’t give Cassels a Lang-salary contract or anything more than two years (or three if the option was management’s).

    I’m not sure what Cassels is asking for. Some people keep mentioning Lang-level dollars, but I’m not so sure if that’s the case. There have been quite a few Vancouver media reports saying that Burke wanted Cassels to take a paycut on his $3.2 million salary. So maybe Cassels would accept something similar to what he’s making now, Oates level money. Just a thought.

  28. Coldwar says:

    “but I trust in Quinn “

    Why?

  29. mulligan says:

    i think svehla is a much better player yhan yuskevitch, he is more complete and will leaf fans will be suprised, he is good!

  30. mulligan says:

    i think svehla is a much better player than yuskevitch, he is more complete and will leaf fans will be suprised, he is good!

  31. Tradedude says:

    Hoglund Sucks! end of story

  32. Modano_Fan says:

    Big Stars fan here to,and i know what you mean. Seems like every year since they won the cup,they’ve gotten worse.

    From the Cup,to the finals,to a 2nd round exit to missing all together,i figured it was just the team that was getting weak.But i really think that they team Dallas has least year would have and should have made the playoffs with some decent goal tending,which Belfour can’t delived anymore.

  33. Aetherial says:

    He is partly the victim of Toronto fans’ long-time disappointment in the team’s unwillingness to provide Sundin with a true top-quality winger (or two, heaven forbid).

    Hoglund is bearing the brunt of the blame because people who watch Sundin closely know that he is one of the absolute best players in the game today and it’s a crime that the Leafs have surrounded him with the people they have.

    Most people in Toronto figure they could play in running shoes and score 50 points on a line with Sundin.

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