Time to write the obituary on the season:
1. Defensively (including the forwards)
The problem: Was never good enough from the get go. Not tough enough on the back on the back-end, not enough compete from the forwards both in terms of back-check and battling along the walls. Totally disoriented at times not knowing who to cover and how to get the puck out. It was like they we neither playing a man-to-man style or a zone style, but some kind of odd mish-mash of pond hockey. A collapse game (rather than cover points) will not work for a team that does not actually want to block shots. Was it the coaching or the players, probably a combination of the two, but I tend to blame the players more. Only bailed out by great goal-tending most of the season.
The fix: Won't be easy. Structurally something has to get worked out. Priority number 1. Part of the fix will be Gardiner and Rielly simply get better (and stronger), they need to strength up. I think both made some strides as the season went on, but instead of young guys learning from the vets, they were pretty much being asked at an early stage of development to be the go to guys by the end of it. Doesn't say much for the vets. Hope the Leafs don't sacrifice either one of these guys in the build. Probably stuck with Phaneuf. If Phanuef was a really captain, he'd join that figure skating coach the Leafs hired to work on his skating, particularly his lack of explosive first step. That would show humility and leadership. Ideally would like to see him gone and a new captain, but that's not likely going to happen, so plan B has to be find a stud veteran somewhere (anywhere) to pair with one of the kids in the 1-2 slot and move Phanuef to 3-4 position with the other one of the kids. Gunner, Gleason, Franson and Ranger are all tradeable parts. Need some better two way wingers. Kadri has to improve. I think a full year with Bolland in the dressing room would help both him especially, and Bozak to some degree.
2. Offensively.
The problem: Good for most of the year, but tired down the stretch. More quality depth needed up front. I think the top line simply got tired. Overplayed, Olympics, plus 11-forward, 7-D line up. Not enough contribution from the bottom group. How Orr appeared in as many games as he did is beyond me. Bolland injury and Clarkson a bust did not go according to plan. Bodie was a nice surprise, but there simply wasn't enough of them. I think they really missed a guy like Leo Komarov. Chemistry on second line just didn't see to be there, which was unfortunate. The question there is, can the Leafs find the right guy to play with Lupul and Kadri to make that line really work like Montreal did by adding Vanek to their top line. Or does a trade or line-up shuffle happen.
The fix: More two-way forwards with compete and some scoring touch. A better attacking game that is better in terms of puck possession (shorter passes), ability to dump in AND RECOVER when required, and to cycle better. The Leafs' attack seemed pretty one dimensional this year, a lot of long passes that either hit the mark or often missed or cut off. On the upside, the defense (especially Gardiner and Rielly) really show signs of contributing to the offense.
3. Goal tending
The problem: Bernier's injury. Reimer not much of a back-up under team as currently structured. Could he be good with a structured team, maybe? But he has some glaring weaknesses: goal hand, rebound control, puck handling and a lot of flopping around snow angel style. I think it would be best for the Leafs and Reimer if they parted ways and Leafs found a veteran back-up. I would sign one cheap and let the vet and MacIntyre battle for the job in camp.
The fix: a healthy and signed Bernier, and a decent back-up. Probably the easiest fix this team has.
4. The coaching
The problem: Somehow Carlyle system did not translate on the ice. I actually like Carlyle and tend to think the blame lies more on the players. I am not so sure, however, about all these assistant coaches. Gordon and Cronin have been there since Wilson. Then there is Farrish and Dennis.
The fix: Whether Carlyle remains or not, I'd like to see some top notch players behind the Leafs bench. Assistant coaches that had a lot of NHL playoff experience. Guys who were in the trenches and no what it is like, who the players would say wow, I'd listen to that guy. There have been some really great assistant coaches. Larry Robinson as a defensive coach. What about a guy like Pronger or someone like that? Look at Doug Jarvis with Boston and how well they perform down the middle of the ice, face-offs, defensively. Couldn't the Leafs find someone like that with a lot of NHL experience. Seems like every team in the NHL is putting former star or experienced alumi players into the mix, while the Leafs make its former stars into "ambassadors." And, prefer journeyman players or coaches, with the exception of Carlyle. I just question whether the players are really looking up to their coaches or listening to them.
5. The Management
The problem: A little early to assess Nonis at the helm. I still think Bolland was a good signing, not much you can do about an injury. The Clarkson signing, I think most liked it at the time. No one would have predicted he would have flopped so badly. I hang that more on Clarkson than Nonis. He performed like an $850,000 a year player instead of a $5 million one. On the positive side, there is no where to go on this one but up. If he could even perform next year like a $3 million player, that would be a huge improvement.
I think Nonis's big mistake was under assessing the trade deadline market this year and not improving the team with an extra forward and d-man. The Flyers picked up MacDonald from the Islanders, who's a pretty capable defensive guy. And, obvious there were a number of quality forwards that went for song.
The Fix: Nonis needs to find 2-3 upgrades up front and on defence, and sort out the whole coaching thing. Getting the goaltending situation stabilized should be his easiest fix. How he right's the ship over the next year will show what kind of GM he really is.
Conclusion: Due to cap era, long term signings and limited trade options, most of Leafs improvement will have to come from within. Some by grow and maturing of young players like Gardiner, Rielly, Kadri and Bernier. Some by getting a structured system that the players actually play to. Some by players rebounding from injuries or off-season, Bolland, Clarkson and to a degree Lupul. Some by Nonis replacing low compete players like Gunnerson, Kulimen, Franson, etc with higher compete players.
1. Defensively (including the forwards)
The problem: Was never good enough from the get go. Not tough enough on the back on the back-end, not enough compete from the forwards both in terms of back-check and battling along the walls. Totally disoriented at times not knowing who to cover and how to get the puck out. It was like they we neither playing a man-to-man style or a zone style, but some kind of odd mish-mash of pond hockey. A collapse game (rather than cover points) will not work for a team that does not actually want to block shots. Was it the coaching or the players, probably a combination of the two, but I tend to blame the players more. Only bailed out by great goal-tending most of the season.
The fix: Won't be easy. Structurally something has to get worked out. Priority number 1. Part of the fix will be Gardiner and Rielly simply get better (and stronger), they need to strength up. I think both made some strides as the season went on, but instead of young guys learning from the vets, they were pretty much being asked at an early stage of development to be the go to guys by the end of it. Doesn't say much for the vets. Hope the Leafs don't sacrifice either one of these guys in the build. Probably stuck with Phaneuf. If Phanuef was a really captain, he'd join that figure skating coach the Leafs hired to work on his skating, particularly his lack of explosive first step. That would show humility and leadership. Ideally would like to see him gone and a new captain, but that's not likely going to happen, so plan B has to be find a stud veteran somewhere (anywhere) to pair with one of the kids in the 1-2 slot and move Phanuef to 3-4 position with the other one of the kids. Gunner, Gleason, Franson and Ranger are all tradeable parts. Need some better two way wingers. Kadri has to improve. I think a full year with Bolland in the dressing room would help both him especially, and Bozak to some degree.
2. Offensively.
The problem: Good for most of the year, but tired down the stretch. More quality depth needed up front. I think the top line simply got tired. Overplayed, Olympics, plus 11-forward, 7-D line up. Not enough contribution from the bottom group. How Orr appeared in as many games as he did is beyond me. Bolland injury and Clarkson a bust did not go according to plan. Bodie was a nice surprise, but there simply wasn't enough of them. I think they really missed a guy like Leo Komarov. Chemistry on second line just didn't see to be there, which was unfortunate. The question there is, can the Leafs find the right guy to play with Lupul and Kadri to make that line really work like Montreal did by adding Vanek to their top line. Or does a trade or line-up shuffle happen.
The fix: More two-way forwards with compete and some scoring touch. A better attacking game that is better in terms of puck possession (shorter passes), ability to dump in AND RECOVER when required, and to cycle better. The Leafs' attack seemed pretty one dimensional this year, a lot of long passes that either hit the mark or often missed or cut off. On the upside, the defense (especially Gardiner and Rielly) really show signs of contributing to the offense.
3. Goal tending
The problem: Bernier's injury. Reimer not much of a back-up under team as currently structured. Could he be good with a structured team, maybe? But he has some glaring weaknesses: goal hand, rebound control, puck handling and a lot of flopping around snow angel style. I think it would be best for the Leafs and Reimer if they parted ways and Leafs found a veteran back-up. I would sign one cheap and let the vet and MacIntyre battle for the job in camp.
The fix: a healthy and signed Bernier, and a decent back-up. Probably the easiest fix this team has.
4. The coaching
The problem: Somehow Carlyle system did not translate on the ice. I actually like Carlyle and tend to think the blame lies more on the players. I am not so sure, however, about all these assistant coaches. Gordon and Cronin have been there since Wilson. Then there is Farrish and Dennis.
The fix: Whether Carlyle remains or not, I'd like to see some top notch players behind the Leafs bench. Assistant coaches that had a lot of NHL playoff experience. Guys who were in the trenches and no what it is like, who the players would say wow, I'd listen to that guy. There have been some really great assistant coaches. Larry Robinson as a defensive coach. What about a guy like Pronger or someone like that? Look at Doug Jarvis with Boston and how well they perform down the middle of the ice, face-offs, defensively. Couldn't the Leafs find someone like that with a lot of NHL experience. Seems like every team in the NHL is putting former star or experienced alumi players into the mix, while the Leafs make its former stars into "ambassadors." And, prefer journeyman players or coaches, with the exception of Carlyle. I just question whether the players are really looking up to their coaches or listening to them.
5. The Management
The problem: A little early to assess Nonis at the helm. I still think Bolland was a good signing, not much you can do about an injury. The Clarkson signing, I think most liked it at the time. No one would have predicted he would have flopped so badly. I hang that more on Clarkson than Nonis. He performed like an $850,000 a year player instead of a $5 million one. On the positive side, there is no where to go on this one but up. If he could even perform next year like a $3 million player, that would be a huge improvement.
I think Nonis's big mistake was under assessing the trade deadline market this year and not improving the team with an extra forward and d-man. The Flyers picked up MacDonald from the Islanders, who's a pretty capable defensive guy. And, obvious there were a number of quality forwards that went for song.
The Fix: Nonis needs to find 2-3 upgrades up front and on defence, and sort out the whole coaching thing. Getting the goaltending situation stabilized should be his easiest fix. How he right's the ship over the next year will show what kind of GM he really is.
Conclusion: Due to cap era, long term signings and limited trade options, most of Leafs improvement will have to come from within. Some by grow and maturing of young players like Gardiner, Rielly, Kadri and Bernier. Some by getting a structured system that the players actually play to. Some by players rebounding from injuries or off-season, Bolland, Clarkson and to a degree Lupul. Some by Nonis replacing low compete players like Gunnerson, Kulimen, Franson, etc with higher compete players.
