I Beleaf!
October 19, 2002

Courtesy of On The Wall
Story by: Navin Vaswani

Another season.
Success?

A visit by Lord Stanley?

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for the 2002/2003 NHL season, they’re surrounded by the same questions. Opening night is right around the corner, Oct. 10 to be exact. I couldn’t be any happier.

As most of my readers probably know, I’m a die-hard Leafs fan. I bleed blue and white. It’s not hard to figure out. There’s a reason why the license plate on my car reads “EYEBLEAF”, and the tears that flow from my eyes when Toronto is eliminated from the playoffs are very real. Trust me.

As an optimist, I’m very excited for this Leafs team. Heck I still get excited watching last year’s playoff highlights. Led by Gary Roberts and Alyn McCauley, this team took the city on an unbelievable ride.

Yes, we fell short, but by a hair. If Toronto was healthy, there’s no doubt in my mind they would have been playing Detroit for the Cup.

But the Leafs weren’t healthy. As much as I don’t want to accept it, that was the reality.

However, the truth is, this team is intact, and now relatively healthy. Toronto came within a game of the Stanley Cup final last season, and there’s no reason to beleaf they won’t make it this year.

Unfortunately, when Cujo left town, he didn’t take his fans with him. They’re all still bitching and moaning about how the Leafs screwed up and how the Leafs won’t make the playoffs this year.

Obviously, these people don’t know what they’re talking about. I wish they all had hopped on the Red Wings bandwagon with Joseph himself. As I’ve said over and over since that ungrateful twerp signed his contract with the Red Wings, GOOD RIDDENCE!

Folks, beleaf me, this Leafs team will be just as good, if not better, than it was last year.

As soon as Cujo left town, the critics were been all over the Leafs, and Pat Quinn. Why didn’t the Leafs sign Bill Guerin, Tony Amonte, Bobby Holik or Darius Kasparaitis? Why hasn’t a trade been made?

And my favourite comment: The Leafs won’t make the post-season.

* cough * bullshit * cough *

How quickly we forget.

This is a 100-point team that sports one of the deepest line-ups in the entire league.

This is the same team that scored the most goals in the Eastern Conference.

The team that had the most players with 10 goals or more.

The Leafs’ defense averaged only 23 shots against per game, third lowest in the league.

This is the same Leafs squad that battled incredible adversity in the playoffs, and succeeded despite losing, at one time, 10 regulars from their line-up.

I could go on, but there’s no need. All is well in Leafs-land. There’s really no need to worry so much.

Mark my words. Ed Belfour and Trevor Kidd will do the job. Curtis Joseph’s save percentage, the stat most goalies pride themselves on, wasn’t in the top 15 in the NHL last season. Well no wonder he couldn’t bring us a cup. He’s garbage. Toronto played more than 35 games without Joseph in goal last year, and were a .500 team. If Corey Schwab can do the job, Ed Belfour can. The Leafs have absolutely no issues in goal. Both Belfour and Kidd have something to prove. Enough said.

Obviously, adding players like Holik and Kasparaitis would have helped, and the Leafs did try to land them, but they were after the money, and are now grossly overpaid in New York.

Mats Sundin will continue to evolve into the best centre in the NHL. With a healthy Mikael Renberg, he should once again be in the top five in league scoring.

Alyn McCauley is set for a break out year. This kid was tremendous in the playoffs, and if he can carry over his confidence to the regular season, the Leafs will sport a tremendous line-up rich with centres. Sundin, McCauley, Green and Reichel will make life hell for the opposition.

Alex Mogilny. Eight goals in the playoffs to lead the team. Better playmaker than most of us could have ever imagined. He’ll score more than the 24 goals he potted last year.

Darcy Tucker, the man everyone loves to hate. I hated him when he was on Tampa. He learned that the key to his success is to stay out of the box. Look for another great season.

Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle will represent the Leafs at the all-star game.

Karel Pilar could get serious consideration for rookie of the year. Yes, he’s that good.

Robert Svehla will show he’s even gutsier than the beloved Dmitry Yushkevich. Another great trade by Pat Quinn.

The loss of power forward Gary Roberts will undoubtedly hurt the Leafs up front. However, the Leafs’ farm system for once has some talent. Look for Nik Antropov, Josh Holden and Aaron Gavey, who have been strong in training camp and exhibition games, to make the team.

Tom Fitzgerald will become one of the most popular Leafs around. This guy works so hard, its impossible to hate him.

On the downside, some things never change. Trade Jonas Hoglund. I’m beggin ya Pat.
Aki Berg, Shayne Corson, Jyrki Lumme, Travis Green, Wade Belak and Tie Domi will do exactly what they did last year. Play consistent, under-rated hockey.

Many are concerned about the Leafs’ defense, now that Belfour is in the cage. Toronto sports a group of five that is talented and cover every aspect of the game. Svehla, McCabe, Kaberle, Berg and Pilar will prove the critics wrong. This defense is more than capable.

Quinn has options when it comes to the sixth and seventh spots on D. Belak and Lumme will get their shot. Rick Jackman has turned some heads in camp with his physical play. Anders Eriksson, who was thought to have the position on lock, has struggled, and should be sent down to St. Johns, where he belongs.

In a pleasant surprise, teenager and hometown boy Carlo Coliacavo has been the brightest surprise at camp. He’s shown tremendous poise and patience for a kid his age, and there are rumours that he’s played so well, the Leafs might not be able to send him down.

The future is bright in Toronto. For the first time since anyone can remember, the Leafs had four first round picks in their line-up for an exhibition game. Nik Antropov, Luca Cerada, Brad Boyes and Carlo Coliacavo were all dressed in a game last week. These guys have bright futures, and can be used as trade bait.

The road to Lord Stanley is set to begin, and I pray every night that it will go through Toronto.
These Maple Leafs are for real. By the end of the season, we’ll all be on the same page. Actually, you’ll all be on my page.

Svehla will make you say “Yushkevich who?”

Fitzgerald will make you say “Valk who?”

Ed Belfour will make you say “Cujo who?”

I think I’ll enjoy the last one the most.

I hope I’m crying at the end of the season again. Tears of joy that is.

It’s time to beLEAF…

Go Leafs Go!