Leafs captain Mats Sundin can't get mired in a scoring slump like he did last season. (Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
Backgrounder | 2007-08 NHL season
Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Updated Thurs., Sept. 20, 2007
Scott Morrison, CBC Sports
2006-07 RECORD: 40-31-11 = 91 points (3rd in Northeast, 9th in Conference).
MOST IMPRESSIVE: They have depth on defence, which gives them assets to deal in order to fill other holes.
MUST IMPROVE: They ranked near the bottom of the league in defence (25th) and penalty killing (27th).
NEW FACES: W Jason Blake, G Vesa Toskala, W Mark Bell, G Scott Clemmensen.
LEFT TOWN: C Michael Peca, W Jeff O'Neill, C Yanic Perreault, G J.S. Aubin, F Travis Green.
Jason Blake gives Toronto some added grit. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
OUTLOOK: It's make the playoffs or the front office makes for the door. It's that simple. The Leafs almost did make it last year and have, on paper, made their team better this season.
Toskala gives them an option in goal they didn't have. Blake will improve the grit and the offence and, they hope, the penalty killing. Bell could be a sleeper if he can regain his earlier form. But they will still need the stars and moons to align just right, meaning they need career years from a handful of players and fewer key injuries.
They also have to hope the scoring slump by captain Mats Sundin down the stretch isn't the sign of bad things to come. Finding a way to beat teams beneath them more often and to win the odd shootout would go a long way towards improving their lot in life.
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Leafs captain Mats Sundin can't get mired in a scoring slump like he did last season. (Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
Jason Blake gives Toronto some added grit. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)







