The Maple Leafs at (almost) the half way mark: surprise, possibilities—and a real future?

Over the past decade, the Leafs have sometimes teased us with a great early start to the season, or a surprisingly high ranking in the NHL standings at various points through the schedule. We’ve seen times in the past when we were impressed with the goaltending or with the team’s speed and/or transition game.  There were times when we spoke about their grit, or about being hard to play against.

Unfortunately, despite an exhilarating playoff series against the Bruins a few short years ago (it feels like forever, now), the positives we saw every now and then did not, in the end, amount to all that much. We’ve had some very talented players, but the mix inevitably seemed to be just a bit off at the end of the day. When things went south we blamed the systems, the coaches, the lack of “compete” by the players, such that by the end of last season, many Leaf supporters were feeling kind of disenfranchised.

But Shanahan seems determined to get things right. Bringing in Babcock was a coup. I initially had some modest reservations about the hiring. Not that Babcock is not a tremendous coach; it's simply that we have tended to over-blame coaches in this market for years.  But it’s clear the guy has made a difference so far. (I will say this: we are still in a honeymoon period, and it’s not a surprise that a roster filled with a lot of guys who have a great deal to prove—or are at the end of their careers—would respond to his coaching. But he has triggered an apparent turnaround, nonetheless.)

My guess is most Leaf supporters are still mostly looking to the future and the young players who may eventually become impact players here. But it’s still fun to cheer for a team right now that plays hard and wins their share of games—playoff-bound or not.

I won’t try to “grade” players based on their work in the first half of the season but my overall view is this: the team has surpassed my minimal expectations.  Reimer’s return and solid play in Anaheim suggests the team now has two goaltenders that can win games.  Of course it has been this way for years now, but it feels as though we may be at a point where both Reimer and Bernier are capable of playing their best hockey, if healthy, at the same time. (We can probably set aside the 7-0 result against the Sharks. That was likely a one-off for Bernier and the team at the end of a tough western swing.)

Numbers aside, both goalies have demonstrated that they can play well, and that will help- either in terms of what they can do for the Leafs, or with regard to their perceived trade value.

Kadri has seemingly played some of the best hockey of his career lately. Consistent effort and production from him is good to see. I don’t know if Komarov can or will maintain his current offensive numbers, but I think his biggest impact is just the way he plays. That kind of effort tends to rub off on other players.

The Leafs are led, point wise, by JVR, and he is another player who we all thought so highly of in his early days in Toronto. He is still young, and can still be, on a good team, a significant player who has an impact.  News today of his injury means others will have to step up, though finding a way to make up for his offensive production won't be easy.

Peter Holland seems to have moved up on Babcock’s depth chart—and in terms of trust. But realistically, our forward group is largely made up of experienced but replaceable role players—Boyes, Parenteau, Matthias, Winnik, Grabner, etc.

Phaneuf is still the leader of our defense corps, but Rielly is the future.  For his part, Gardiner continues to make strides. I had wondered where Gardiner would fit under Babcock, but he may well stay a Leaf if he continues to round out his game. Polak seemed to be an afterthought back in October, but now plays 19 minutes a night as a regular part of the rotation. Hunwick has been a solid contributor, playing a lot of minutes along the way.

Again, though, it really is all about the future—and the kids who are in the system or on the way to trying to earn a spot with the big club. You all know the names. It’s a question of development now—and time. The draft (depending on where the Leafs finish this season) may yield another talented prospect or two.

Bottom line:  the Leafs are, to use the cliché, a work in progress. They have some skill guys but other than Rielly, I wonder how many players from the current roster will be here in two years when the club is expected to compete for real?

Who do you see being on the roster when this team is ready to contend?