Top 10 Players Toronto Maple Leafs Must Improve On

For that Toronto Maple Leafs to become playoff team as presently built, several of their players must still improve at both finishes of the ice.

For any number of players on the Leafs, the 2012-13 season will convince gm John Burke that they will be part of the team’s future and have no role whatsoever.

Let us take a look at one factor each of the team’s ten best players have to improve on throughout the approaching season.

Dion Phaneuf: Decision Making in Defensive Zone

Dion Phaneuf is depended on to maneuver the puck, assist the power play and supply consistent offense in the blue line in Toronto. As he attempts to do an excessive amount of offensively, his defense sometimes struggles.

Because the team’s No. 1 defenseman and many physical blueliner, Phaneuf can’t result in the same mistakes he earned in the defensive zone last season. Phaneuf cannot turn the puck over too frequently, and that he must make wiser choices in his own finish.

The Leafs need him to become a shutdown defenseman to help whomever is between your pipes for Toronto next season.

Phil Kessel: Toughness

Phil Kessel can score goals in addition to almost anybody in the NHL, and that he could achieve the 40-goal mark the very first time in his career next season.

However, he does not have fun with enough of an advantage on the ice. He’s a difficult kid, and that he demonstrated that in his college hockey career at Minnesota. At this time, though, Kessel is a little too simple for teams such as the Boston Bruins to protect because of his lack of size.

If he added some more truculence to his game, Kessel turn into one of most satisfactory wingers in hockey and harder to seal lower.

Joffrey Lupul: Sturdiness

Sturdiness is one thing Joffrey Lupul needs to improve on this season when the Leafs are likely to result in the 2010 nfl playoffs.

He’s the 2nd-best forward on they and, when healthy, Lupul and Kessel result in the Toronto first line very harmful offensively. If he is able to play a complete season, Lupul could score 35 goals for that Leafs the coming year.

During the last 5 years, Lupul has skipped 132 games, so keeping themself healthy and physically ready for each game is going to be

Tim Connolly: Playmaking

If Tim Connolly could possibly be the playmaker that John Burke signed him to become last summer time, he’ll greatly improve the Leafs offense.

Despite playing in 70 games last season, Connolly only obtained 13 goals, adding 23 assists. He’s the talent to become a top-six center, but 23 assists is not likely to assist the Leafs take the next phase.

If Connolly could be a more productive playmaker next season making the players around him better, the Leafs is going to be one of the ten greatest-scoring teams in the league in 2012-13.

Nikolai Kulemin: Better 2nd Half of Season

An outbreak 30-goal season in 2010-11 elevated anticipation for Nikolai Kulemin last season, but he’d a terrible 2011-12 season, scoring just 28 points in 70 games.

Kulemin must be a more productive player in the 2nd half of the season for that Leafs to prevent another late-year meltdown.

He obtained 19 of his 28 points prior to the All-Star break and would be a non-factor in the Toronto offense for many of the season’s final several weeks.

Kulemin must prove he could be a consistent player to have an entire season and find his impressive goal-scoring form from 2010-11 if he wants a lengthy-term future in Toronto.

James van Riemsdyk: More Physicality in His Game

For James van Riemsdyk to create the greatest impact possible in Toronto, he must play more physical than he did using the Pittsburgh Penguins.

At 6’3″ contributing to 200 pounds, van Riemsdyk has plenty of size, but he must be harder across the boards so when fighting for that puck anywhere on the ice.

One of the greatest ways he is able to improve the Leafs is as simple as affecting games physically whilst scoring 25-30 goals per season.

His offensive abilities are impressive, but JVR comes with an chance being a top-notch power forward if he plays the game by having an edge.

James Reimer: Sturdiness

James Reimer was one of the better goalies in the NHL per week in to the 2011-12 season, however a concussion derailed what guaranteed to become a strong year.

If Reimer will keep themself healthy and play in most of the games next season, he’ll convince fans that he’s the goalkeeper of the long run.

Reimer will receive a opportunity to shine this season, however the anticipation is going to be huge, especially since John Burke thinks he could possibly be the goaltender of the long run in Toronto.

Tyler Bozak: Better Two-Way Game

In each of his first three seasons in the NHL, Tyler Bozak has enhanced his goal-scoring totals. He’ll be expected to achieve that again next season since he’s prone to feature in a high-six role throughout every season.

Bozak was 4th on the Leafs in assists and points last season, and that he could certainly achieve the 60-point mark the coming year.

Where Bozak could really improve next season is defensively. Giving a more powerful effort in the defensive zone, winning more puck battles and obstructing shots would actually help him be a more complete center.

Mind coach Randy Carlyle will require a powerful two-way game from Bozak next season.

Mikail Grabovski: Power-Play Effectiveness

For that Leafs power play to improve next season, Mikhail Grabovski must be more productive like a goal scorer along with a playmaker.

He obtained only five power-play goals last season, and that he was on the ice for just 15 power-play goals (in comparison to 26 the season before).

Grabovski must also enhance the game of his linemates. If Kulemin will be a 30-goal scorer again, he needs Grabovski to supply more scoring possibilities for him.

There is no excuse if he does not achieve 35 assists next season. Grabovski is really a gifted playmaker, and that he should have the ability to score 20 goals and add about 30-35 assists per season.

Because the greatest-compensated forward on they as well as an alternate captain, Grabovski must be one of the Leafs’ best players the coming year.

Mike Gardiner: Defense

Mike Gardiner is not a dreadful defensive player, however with Luke Schenn no more on the Leafs blue line after being exchanged, Toronto requires a player to exchange Schenn because the physical pressure on nowhere line.

Somebody will have to bar more shots and become more physical in the defensive zone, and Gardiner can certainly be one of the players who replaces Schenn’s toughness on nowhere line.

Gardiner had the 2nd-best plus/minus among Leafs defensemen this past year, so he’s proven he could be responsible in his own finish and never turn the puck over an excessive amount of.

If Gardiner can maintain or improve his offensive amounts from last season and be a better player defensively, he turn into an exciting-Star defenseman the coming year.

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