Mogilny: the Leafs' most dangerous man? |
2002-03 RECORD
44-28-7-3 (98 pts.)
5th in East
9th overall
NEW FACES
Jeff Daw, C (T-Car) ; Harold Druken, C (T-Car) ; Bryan Marchment, D (FA-Col) ; Joe Nieuwendyk, C (FA-NJ)
MOVED
Shayne Corson, LW (FA) ; Doug Doull, LW (FA-Bos) ; Doug Gilmour, C (Retired) ; Paul Healey, RW (FA-NYR) ; Jonas Hoglund, LW (FA-Fla) ; Allan Rourke, D (T-Car) ; Robert Svehla, D (Ret-Europe) ; Morgan Warren, RW (FA-Europe) ; Glen Wesley, D (FA-Car)
GOALTENDING
Vindication. That's how Ed Belfour must feel after rebounding from an awful 2001-2002 season to Vezina Trophy contention last year. After watching Curtis Joesph bolt for Detroit, Leafs fans weren't exactly ready to embrace Belfour, but he won them over with a stellar seasons.
With 13 seasons under his belt, Belfour isn't a spring chicken. But he avoids wear and tear because he's a master technician. He relies on positioning and angles, rather than reflexes, to block the pucks.
OFFENCE/DEFENCE
Unless the Leafs plan on winning every game by a score of 9-8, they'll need to bolster their blue line to remain as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
As long as the forwards stay healthy, goals won't be a problem for the Leafs. With the recent acquisition of Joe Nieuwendyk, they now boast two dependable scoring lines.
Keeping the pressure off Belfour and the puck out of the zone is going to be their biggest challenge. The Leafs picked up Bryan Marchment in the off-season, but they still lack a big physical presence on the blue line. As it is right now, the defence is too soft and won't be able to push any big defenders out of the slot. When Aki Berg is penciled in as the No. 4 on the depth chart, there's a lot of work to do.
GAMEBREAKER: ALEXANDER MOGILNY
With all due respect to captain Mats Sundin and Belfour, Mogilny is simply the most talented player on the Maple Leafs. He has a habit of disappearing some nights, but when he's on his game the 34-year-old Russian can do almost magical things with the puck. He still possesses a lightning-quick wrist shot and is probably one of the most underrated playmakers in the league. Paired with the right linemates, he has the talent to hit the 50-goal, 100-point plateau.
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