The month of September marks the end of summer and usually means three things to sports fans in Toronto, Southern Ontario and Western New York; the start of another disappointing Buffalo Bills season, the Blue Jays out of contention and playing meaningless games and the start of Maple Leafs training camp.
The Labor Day weekend will be the last until next April that there will be little or no news, as the Leafs hold their inaugural Fan Fest on September 5-7 at Air Canada Center, the Rookie Tournament takes place September 13-16 in London, ON and training camp commences immediately afterward.
Here are some of the questions you submitted questions to my Twitter account and in the comments section of my Hockeybuzz column.
A – The assumption is that David Clarkson will be the second line RW with Lupul and Kadri, but that unit did not play well for the short time they were together last season. With Lupul and Kadri’s speed and offensive ability, the best compliment to them would be Matt Frattin(who played with Kadri when both were with the Toronto Marlies) or David Booth. Booth plays left wing, which would necessitate Lupul moving to the right side, but he played the right side exclusively until Ron Wilson shifted him to play with Phil Kessel in 2012.
A – The Leafs did not change the core group of their club and that was what many thought needed be implemented to move forward, but to say that everything is the same when they will likely have eight new players on their opening night roster is not accurate. Whether the results will be the same is something that only the season will reveal.
A – Of the names you mentioned, Holland is the one most likely to have a more prominent role. The Leafs are high on the 23-year-old center and were encouraged with how he played in an offensive role when Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland were out injured, as well as scoring regularly with the Marlies during their Calder Cup playoff run in May.
Kontiola and Santorelli are fits in the bottom six and both can play center and wing, which gives Randy Carlyle more flexibility than he had last season.
A – We will start doing Leaf Buzz in mid-September with the beginning of training camp. It will either be done as a podcast or webcast. I will keep everyone updated.
A – The Leafs will likely carry 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders this season. My suspicion is that Leafs GM Dave Nonis will move Colton Orr before the start of the season or place him on waivers to be sent to the AHL and will not risk trying to send down someone like Frattin or Kontiola, who would likely be claimed.
As for Franson, I see a trade happening later in the season, closer to the trade deadline. The Leafs like their young blueline prospects in Petter Granberg, Stuart Percy and Matt Finn, but all may not be ready to jump into the NHL at the start of the season. Franson’s trade value should stay the same or even go up as the deadline approaches and waiting till February or March gives the prospects more experience in the AHL.
A – The criticism of the Leafs top six is more about consistency and two-way responsibility than just talent. The top line of Kessel, van Riemsdyk and Bozak played very well until the burden of averaging over 20 minutes a night wore them down after the Olympic break. Lupul and Kadri both scored over 20 goals, but were streaky and at times complete non-factors. It is unreasonable to expect Lupul to be healthy for 82 games(because he never has been), but they need Kadri to improve at both ends of the ice and score regularly to take some of the offensive burden off of the top line.
A – I don’t see the Senators making any kind of meaningful deal with their division and provincial rival and would cost the Leafs probably a top prospect or their 2015 first round pick. Ryan is rumored to want to play in the U.S. and will be able to choose his destination as a UFA at the end of this season, so he would be nothing more than a rent-a-player.
Q - From “Fruitcakenipple” in the comments - After winning the October Cup and the Leafs go in the December tank who gets fired first...Caryle or Nonis??
A – A very optimistic question here…….but if that scenario occurs, Carlyle is likely the one to be fired first. Nonis has four years left on his contract and is working well with Team President Brendan Shanahan, whereas Carlyle was given a two year extension, but has to win this year to keep his job.
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