So the Leafs find themselves in 10th place in the Eastern Conference Standings. A poor December and an absolutely ugly penalty kill are ruining the Leafs season.
The Leafs seemed poised to make their first post-season debut since the NHL lockout this season, but the early headway they made early in the season has disappeared and the only thing that can save the Leafs season now is another Leafs post January 1st hot streak to end the 2011-2012 NHL season.
Among all the bad news about the Leafs PK and the offense slowing down a bit, there is some good news as well, a silver lining in the cloud if you want to call it that.
The walking wounded for the Leafs are starting to get healthy again. Mike Komisarek and Mike Brown might be in the line-up as early this Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings.
These two players, in my opinion, are very important to the Leafs success going forward.
They both bring a much needed physical element to the Leafs line-up, which is sorely lacking since they have been out. You can also include Colby Armstrong to that list, but it seems as though we will never see him in the Leafs line-up for an extended period of time, which is really a shame.
Komisarek and Brown are two key pieces to the Leafs PK, since it will take Gardiner off which in my opinion is an instant upgrade to the PK. Also since Philippe Dupuis has been waived Brown is the perfect replacement.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I like Gardiner. He has real upside and I’m not blaming the PK on him, but he has no business being on the PK as an offensive defenseman.
135527800_crop_340x234 Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The loss of JM Liles also really shows on the PP and puck movement 5on5. He should also be back sooner rather than later. Probably next week sometime.
I believe all this equates to a healthy Leaf team that at the beginning of the season played some very solid hockey and more importantly was one of the better teams in the NHL.
Phaneuf spent some time today in practice talking to the defense core along with the coaches. The topic of discussion seems to have revolved around talking responsibility for the team’s short comings on the PK and the defense as a whole not blocking shots properly and screening the goaltenders.
If this team makes the playoffs, and I think that they will with a healthy team. The Dion Phaneuf trade will look all that much worse as he will have led the Leafs out of rough times and into the playoffs as a great young and upcoming leader.