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Maple Leafs 2010-11 Projected Lines

September 8, 2010, 3:54 PM ET [ Comments]
Ken Beckett
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
At the annual Leafs and Legends Golf Classic at Angus Glen Golf Club in Toronto on Tuesday, Leafs GM Brian Burke was asked if there were any more additions to come to the Leafs roster.

“No, we’re going with this group,” Burke insisted. “Unless something miraculous happens, this is the group we’re going to start with.”

With that being the case, and with the Leafs home opener against long time rivals the Montreal Canadiens now less than a month away, the speculation now begins on who will take the ice for the Leafs on opening night and where they will play.

The possibilities for different line combinations are endless. And there will undoubtedly be heated debate amongst Leafs Nation as to what the right line combinations could be. There is also the chance that a player will have a great training camp and earn a spot that nobody expected him to.

That being said, here are my predictions on line combinations for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Forwards

First Line
Kris Versteeg - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel

The first line of Kessel, Bozak, and newcomer Kris Versteeg is pretty straightforward.

Kessel and Versteeg are undoubtedly first line talents for the Leafs. Last year in a crowded group of Blackhawks forwards, Versteeg scored 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points. Expect those numbers to go up with first line minutes in Toronto.

Tyler Bozak as Toronto's first line centre is not an ideal choice. On most other teams, he would be on a lower line. The Leafs are however soft up the middle and Bozak did have a decent rookie year in 2009-10. With more experience under his belt, and with two very skilled wingers, he should see an increase in his point totals. Not to mention his plus/minus.

Second Line
Clarke MacArthur - Mikhail Grabovski - Nikolai Kulemin

This second line has a lot of potential, and if all things click, could be quite the scoring threat when on the ice.

All three players had similar point totals in 2009-10. Both MacArthur and Grabovski had 35 points, while Kulemin had one more with 36.

Big things are expected from both MacArthur and Kulemin after having impressive sophomore seasons last year. The wild card is of course Grabovski. He can show flashes of brilliance on the ice. But as Leaf fans know from watching him the past two years, he is prone to making mistakes and can go through a bit of slump.

Third Line
Luca Caputi - Nazem Kadri - Colby Armstrong

While some may argue that Kadri belongs on the second line and that he should not play alongside another inexperienced player like Caputi in his first year, there is no denying that this would make for an explosive energy line.

With the talents of all three players, especially Armstrong, it is possible that any of them could see a promotion to a top six role should they excel this season, or should one of the previous top six forwards struggle.

Fourth Line
Mike Brown - Christian Hanson - Colton Orr

Truculence or sand paper, whatever you want to call it, this line would be tough to play against.

This would be the Leafs blue collar, lunch bucket, fourth line featuring three guys who are not afraid to mix things up, lay the big hit, and drop the gloves should they need to.

Colton Orr could be moved to the press box to make room for Fredrik Sjostrom. That all depends upon when Sjostrom returns from shoulder injury, or if he will be ready to play in time for the start of the season.

UPDATE It's been pointed out that no 13th forward was listed. Depending upon injury and performance, I think it could be one of three people. John Mitchell, Colton Orr, or Christian Hanson.

Defence

Tomas Kaberle - Mike Komisarek
Dion Phaneuf - Luke Schenn
Francois Beauchemin - Brett Lebda
*Jeff Finger

The Leafs blue line is arguably one of the best in all of the NHL. However there are questions to be asked.

Will Kaberle and Komisarek click on the first defensive unit? Can Schenn bounce back from a difficult sophomore year? And who will reign supreme in the battle for the final defensive spot.

The most interesting of all those questions is the last one. Since signing Brett Lebda to a two-year contract in the off-season, what happens to Jeff Finger or Carl Gunnarsson.

Speculation is that Jeff Finger's salary would be buried in the minors and Ginnarsson would be left to battle it out with Lebda for the final spot on the blue line.

I don't see that happening for a few reasons.

While Jeff Finger is overpaid, he is not as bad a defenceman as everyone seems to think. He could of course be moved down to clear some salary cap space should that be needed.

Also, I find it hard to believe that Leafs management would sign Lebda just to have him sit in the press box. Or have a young prospect with great skills like Gunnarsson go unused and not play.

That's why I think that Lebda gets the final spot, and Jeff Finger watches the game from up top. While Gunnarsson is sent down to the Marlies, where he can fine tune his game and is advised that should anyone suffer an injury, he is the first one called up.

Goaltenders

Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Jonas Gustavsson

On Tuesday at the Leafs golf tournament, head coach Ron Wilson stated that going into camp, Giggy was the one number one guy. And with 12 seasons under his belt and a Stanley Cup ring, it is easy to see why.

The Leafs do have a very capable back-up in The Monster, should things not pan out with Giguere. One of the possible outcomes being that with Giguere in the final year of his contract, he could be traded. That would then thurst Gustavsson into the number one role, with Jussi Rynnas called up from the Marlies to take over the back-up position.

So what say you Leafs Nation? What would your lines be? Let your voice be heard in the comments section, and let the debate begin!

For up-to-the-minute Leafs news and updates, be sure to follow Ken Beckett on Twitter @KenBeckett
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