:: MAKING THE GRADE ::
Here are thoughts that come to mind when evaluating
my beloved Maple Leafs.
It's my opinion.
 

Forwards

Defensemen

Mats Sundin
- Best Backhand in the league
- Needs gritty wingers to support him
- Olympic Gold Medal Champion
- Needs to add more speed
   to his game

Grade: A

Tomas Kaberle
- Best Passer on Team. Explosive Breakaway Passes.
- Best puck rusher in the Eastern Conference.
   own.
- Tremendous Poise.
- Needs to use the glass more.
- Great +/- & Ice Time leader
- Needs to shoot more: (Is shooting more lately)
   someone goes to the net.

Grade: A-

Eric Lindros
- Good skater for a big guy.
- Injuries are plaguing him and thus tends to play tentatively.
- Hardest slapshot
- Must keep head up
- Needs to play a full season to regain superstar status.

Grade: B

Bryan McCabe
- Famous for Sandwhich Butt Check and
  Can opener.
- Master of one-timers on the PP.
- Still needs to prove himself as an All Star defensemen.

Grade: A-

Jason Allison
- Plays well down low and behind the net.
- Good faceoff man and strong on puck possession.
- Horrible skater.
- Causes too many offensive turnovers.
- Needs to improve positional play without the puck.

Grade: B

Alexander Khavanov
- Decent 2nd line defensemen.
- Jumps the rush when its safe.
- Tends to take silly penalties.
- Has the frame to be more physical.

Grade: B-

Chad Kilger
- Consistency seems to be no longer a problem for him.
- Plays a speedy and physical game.
- Punishing along the boards.
- Good Fit for Eastern Conference
- Doesn't have enough on-ice vision to be a play maker.

Grade: B-
 

Luc Richardson:
- Bone crushing defensemen
  dirty check.
- Can clear the net well.
- Can dish out open ice body checks.
- Can't catch up the pace of the new NHL.

Grade: B-

Alexander Steen
- Having a good start to his rookie year.
- Has been rewarded as top line scorer
- Will be the cornerstone of the Leafs' rebuilding years.
- Needs to play with more heart

Grade: B

Karel Pilar
- Needs to Gain Experience at NHL Level.
- Will learn from Kaberle's expertise.
- Tough Czech Defensemen
- Makes good outlet passes.
- Irregular Heart beat a big problem.

Grade: B

Nik Antropov
- Good on ice vision.
- Two way forward.
- Lacks natural goal scoring ability.
- Cannot skate well in the new NHL.
- Takes bad penalties
- Injury Prone.
   will ya

Grade: B-

Aki Berg
- Is at his best when he goes unnoticed on the ice..
- His role is nothing more than running the clock.
- Capable of producing more offensively.
- Needs to improve his puck rushing skills.
- Makes too many mistakes in the defensive zone coverage.

Grade: D

Darcy Tucker
- Plays with 30% Skill 70% Heart.
- Will punish opponents along the
   boards. Very pesky!
- Tends to miss his checks
- Offensive numbers go up every year
- Must play with more discipline and
  improve positional play.
Grade: B-

Jay Harrison
- Needs more time in NHL for evaluation.
- Has a good few games defensively.

Grade: C

Kyle Wellwood
- Crafty playmaker.
- Not physical at all, his carreer will depend of scoring points.
- Steve Sullivan type.
- Plays with his head down and tends to be too cute with the puck.
Grade: B-

 

Jeff O'Neill
- Not getting the respect from Pat Quinn
- Lethal shooter and very physical.
- Good one timer on PP
- Has scored some clutch goals in the playoffs
- Needs to improve play without puck & defensive coverage

Grade: B

 

Matt Stajan
- Plays a good two way game.
- Mature beyond his years.
- Plays well without the puck.
- He puts the soft in softmore.
- Will gain from Sundin, Lindros etc..
- Will be key in the Leafs' rebuilding years.

Grade: B-

 

Clarke Wilm
- Not the most skilled player out there.
- Blue collar guy.
- Comes to play every night.
- Knows his role as a 4th liner.
- Good Penalty killer

Grade: C

 

Tie Domi
- Falls down frequently.
- At least he throws the puck to the net.
- Overpaid and not dropping the gloves anymore.
Grade: C-

 

Wade Belak
- Goon that sticks up for his teamates.
- Takes dumb penalties.
- Versatile D-Man OR Winger.
- No offensive talent whatsoever
Grade: C-

 

Alexei Ponikarovsky
- Speedy winger that plays with a physical edge
- Has gained the respect of coaching staff and fans.
- Needs to shoot more often.
- Is at best when playing physical.
Grade: C

 
 

 


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