The season isn't over, and I'm already looking forward to the next. When you don't make the playoffs for six years, it happens.
But the Leafs have given me reasons to be excited. I am stoked for the potential defensive pairings. Komisarek and Phaneuf could be a dominant pair if the former plays defensively responsible and the latter finds his lost cannon. Schenn and Kaberle are playing well down the stretch and should have good chemistry by the start of the season... if Kaberle is still with us, which I hope he is. Gunnarson has impressed while Beauchemin has something to prove next year, but like the rest of the corps, these two have been solid since the Olympic break.
I'm cautiously optimistic for our young offense. Optimistic because they play an uptempo brand of hockey that has been missed throughout the years. The likes of Bozak, Stalberg, Hanson and Caputi have all proven they are better offensive threats than ex-Leafs Matt Stajan, Alex Steen and Alex Ponikarovsky. For one thing, it's the feeling. If we're down late in the game, I no longer hope they MIGHT score. I know they CAN. I'm cautious because these are all rookies, and sophomore slumps are a proven fact -- they're as certain as existence. White elite-calibre players like Steven Stamkos or Drew Doughty might skip it, more often than not second-year players find it difficult to get the same success as the previous year. You don't have to look farther than Luke Schenn, who only recently got the ACC faithful off his back. Brian Burke needs to plant veteran guys into the line up, or face a bunch of young men with huge confidence issues.
The most exciting change for me is not personnel, though -- it's in the uniform. To understate it, I have a love affair with hockey team jerseys. I love the rich history of bold lines and the simple, recognizable logos of the Original Six; I can't stand the piping on some of the Reebok jerseys, particularly on the digs of the Atlanta Thrashers, Colorado Avalanche, and Buffalo Sabres. They look like floss sewn onto the seams. Anyways, I've been hoping the Leafs organization would hear my plea to add something on the shoulder of the jerseys, much like the ones of the early 1990s. Caputi would be one step closer in emulating his idol, Doug Gilmour, and I would be ever so tempted to buy my fifth Maple Leaf jersey to go with my four Team Canada sweaters.
Overkill? Consider it beefing up the bench.
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