Follow us on FACEBOOK and Twitter
Some exciting times for the youth in the Maple Leafs organization. Many players have been plugging away the AHL level for a few seasons now and with the implosion and subsequent tear down beginning with the Leafs we are left to ponder who steps up and who gets promoted.
As we know there will be some tough times ahead in the next couple seasons as the Leafs "scorched earth" plan is put in motion. The losing will continue but the excitement will build as we watch the Leafs prospect ranks continue to improve. Prospect site Hockey's Future has the Leafs sitting 19th out of the 30 teams in the league.
Cody Franson was moved yesterday opening up the first blue line spot. Today the Swedish born Petter Granberg was recalled for the 3rd time in the last week. I had the pleasure of being in attendance for the 22 year old's first game as a Leaf which was final game of the 2013-2014 season again a game in which the Senators won 1-0 in what proved to be a boring game. Neither team got much going and it was the defense and goaltending that won the night. Granberg showed incredible poise and leadership on the ice directing team mates who were out of position and generally being tough to play against he played a very sound defensive game and left few openings to exploit. It looks as though Granberg will finally get a chance to stick on the Leafs blueline.
You can be sure the Leafs are still looking to deal. Captain Dion Phaneuf is rumored to be garnering interest from the Anaheim Ducks and the Dallas Stars. Phaneuf is no stranger to the Western Conference and had a Norris caliber season in his early days with the Calgary Falmes. Out west is the man who initially acquired Phaneuf in Brian Burke who is the current President of the Flames organization. Is there a desire to bring him back Alberta?
I am a big fan of gritty defender Roman Polak. He has been a vocal leader for the club and while his numbers this season look bad he's been anything but that. The Leafs have been brutal in the last 25 or so games and it's going to make everyone look bad after such a rough stretch. That said other teams are aware and you can be sure there are some playoff bound teams quietly inquiring about his availability as the push for the Stanley Cup.
With Phaneuf and Polak gone and Korbinian Holzer showing very little in my opinion it opens up spots for the likes of youngsters like recently recalled Petter Granberg who is expected to fill the hole left by Cody Franson's departure and also late bloomer Andrew McWilliam who is having a good season with the Marlies brings a hard nosed style and also shoots right. Another Swede who could get a look as the season winds down is the fleet footed Viktor Loov who has 16 points in 47 games for the Marlies but he'll likely be given another season of big minutes with the Marlies. Stuart Percy has struggled since having a big run at Leafs training camp. It may be a confidence issue but Percy is likely spending another season in the AHL. He's still only 21 years old and if he can get his game together Percy will be given every chance to take a spot with the Maple Leafs.
Jake Gardiner continue to mature at a pace some are getting frustrated with but his abilities are clearly evident on a nightly basis. Many of Gardiner's plays are a fast breakouts that puts people on the edge of their seats or the flip side where he often circles back into his own zone and loses the puck trapping the Leafs in their own end. When he does this Gardiner is not doing himself any favors. After a big showing in the playoffs against Boston and signing a contract that some could argue is the reason Cody Franson was traded... He's been stagnant. I wouldn't say worse but he hasn't taken that big step. I'll always give Gardiner the benefit of the doubt and I don't think he's going anywhere so the hope in Leafs Nation is that with time he can put his game together and if he can start making better decisions he could really breakout and become a staple on the Leafs blueline for years to come.
Follow us on FACEBOOK and Twitter
