Signs of Contention

Regardless of how the Leafs end up doing this year, they are going to be more fun to watch than in years past.  Youth, speed, and toughness make for good hockey. Tyler Bozak, Phil Kessel and Kris Versteeg flying around the opposing net, Luke Schenn pummeling Abdelkader, Mikhail Grabovski using his speed to create space for Nikolai Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur have made for a fun preseason. While the defence hasn't been as solid as it should be given the payroll, goaltending remains a question mark, and the team will be overly reliant on its first line for point production, here are four things that make the Leafs playoff contenders:

1.  Character - From the captain out, Burke has put together a group of guys who want to win and believe they can and will.  Nothing wrong with young idealism. Throw in a bit of grit  and what's not to like.

2.  Power Play -  For the first time in many many years, the Leafs seem to have a mobile power play unit. In particular, the recent tactic of occasionaly parking Dion Phaneuf in front of the net  is excellent. He is the largest player on the powerplay unit and has enough toughness and grit to withstand the abuse that sometimes comes with that territory. More importantly, his driving to the net and switching spots with Kessel creates movement, which can create space. Phaneufl should practice deflections. Seriously.

3.  Penalty Kill -  Also a long time coming are players like Mike Brown and Fredrik Sjostrom, who specialize in using their speed to run down pucks (and the clock) while killing penalties. We have some homegrown talent in the likes of Tim Brent who can complement these new additions by, for example, winning faceoffs. The Leafs can't really do any worse in this department, but there is reason to believe they will do much better.

4.  Speed - Speed is a factor in the special teams as highighted above.  However it is not limited to special teams.  Speed is a defining characteristic of all three top lines.  This is good, particularly in today's NHL. Smaller faster players are having some success in this league. Just ask Patrick Kane.

Making the playoffs is a pretty modest goal. Outside Toronto, however, the prevailing view is that the Leafs will be golfing in the postseason. That view is no doubt coloured by a degree of objectivity that is hard to come by here in Leafland. However, if these four dimensons of the Leaf game continue into the regular season, the Leafs have a good chance of proving many people wrong. It'll be fun to watch.