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Why The Maple Leafs and Oilers Will Both Make the Playoffs. |
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I will have a rumor update this evening, but let's talk hockey...what do you say?
For all of our logic..for every hockey pundit out there who knows the game inside and out...each season brings with it a few team that shock us with how much better they are than anyone expects them to be...
Last year of course we had Phoenix and Colorado and this year two of the teams I look the most forward to watching are the two teams who finished with the worst records in hockey last year. Yes, my headline wasn't a typo..
The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers WILL make the playoffs. I truly believe this.
On the Leafs...
Start with the Leafs and compare them to Phoenix from a year ago. With the exception of Bryzgalov the 10-11 Leafs are a much more solid team up and down.
However, Giguere's impact this season will measure far beyond the point the Leafs are getting a proven goalie who has a ring. Giguere, like Bryzgalov, is a calming influence to the players in front of him. I know I sound like a broken record, but a goalie a team believes in can often be the difference in how that team plays in all zones on the ice.
Nothing gives a team the momentum it needs in a game then a huge save at a huge time. I wouldn't put Giguere at Bryzgalovs level...but honestly the only goalie I would put at Bryz level right now is Ryan Miller.
Burke builds from the net out, a great goalie can do wonders for a young defenseman. As a D-man, whenever you know you can trust the goalie to have his responsibilities all you need to do is cover your own business. I believe that Giggy will make Schenn a much more of an impact player..
So in goal, a Cup Winner...and on defense, perhaps the best top 6 in hockey...Phaneuf, Beauchemin, Kaberle, Komisarek, Schenn, Lebda/Gunnarsson. Add in Jeff Finger and is there any team in hockey who has 8 legit NHL D-men?
This defense is far superior to the defense put forth by Phoenix a year ago.
Of course we all wonder how the Leafs will find offense....
They are hurting for true firepower, but Kessel, Versteeg, and Kulemin are all talented scores who should push to towards the 30 goal mark.
Nazem Kadri is coming and from all accounts many see him as top 6 almost immediately. I love his game. He reminds me a great deal of Paul Kariya in his fluid movements and quick hocky sense.
Bozak is a year wiser and while he may not be the true #1 center, he is quick and perfect for a team who will play solid defense and find goals off of the counter attack. Bozak/Kessel will truly find their grove this season..
Also add two quality pickups (for very reasonable money) in Armstrong and MacArthur. Colby Armstrong is going to be LOVED in Toronto for the simple fact that he never quits on a puck and loves to spark momentum changes at times when the air has come out of the building///
MacArthur is such the Burke player I can see a time when we are writing "How could a team have ever walked away..."
I will take the Leafs offense over last year's Coyotes forwards as well..
So if the Coyotes could make the playoffs in the Western Conference last year, surely the Leafs can in the East.
On the Oilers...
For years now I have been writing how the Edmonton Oilers are probably the fastest team in hockey. Folks who watched this year's rookie camp with Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (who I shall henceforth refer to as MPS) were emailing me in bunches. Oilers fans have seen their share of talent and are not easily impressed, so when I started getting inundated with messages from those of you watching a rookie camp I took major notice..
If you recall, before getting killed by injuries last season, the Oilers were a very tough team. Penner and Hemsky started the season like they were shot from a cannon and Khabibulin was the team MVP almost every night. Then Khabibulin goes down, Hemsky goes down, and Gagner and Cogliano took steps back...
Attitude is contagious and the Oilers became far too comfortable with losing...
This year, with Renney and the three star rookies you will see a new attitude. Hall, Eberle, and Paajarvi-Svensson all have a history of winning. As good as Hall and Eberle are, it's Paajarvi who many feel is the most ready to play in the NHL...
Add to these three forwards Horcoff and a surging Gilbert Brule and you have three lines who can kill you with offense and dizzy you with their speed.
If you could put the Oilers forwards with the Leafs D you would have a legit contender...'
That being said, the Oilers aren't terrible in their own end. They have a group of great transitional d-men in Whitney, Souray, Gilbert and Smid...but the really strong signing came when the Oil grabbed up Kurtis Foster. Many, and I mean many teams wanted Foster and what he can bring to the line-up.
In many ways, I see the Oilers ad the Avalanche from last year...but better...Of course, it will all have much to do with goaltening if they are to follow in the Avalanche's steps...
Khabibulin has gone to appeal, and many feel he may not end up serving too much time if any... (Remember Charles Barclay served a couple days for this a while back) The questions Khabibulin will have to endure may become the worst part of it all for him.
If things do get crazy for Edmonton I also like Jeff Druin-Deslauriers as well....so i believe the Oil will be able to land more punches than they take...
What say you???
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