The Rebuild Starts Today

Leafs Nation has been without playoff hockey for 4 straight years, the longest drought in Toronto Maple Leafs history...yes including with Harold Ballard. Last season, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired former Sharks coach, Ron Wilson to be the bench boss. Wilson has a reputation, he brought the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time back in 1997-1998.

November of 2008, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Brian Burke as General Manager and President, replacing interim GM Cliff Fletcher. Burke also has a reputation, he won a cup with Anaheim in 2007. He is also remembered for bringing the Sedin twins together in Vancouver.

After a failed 2008-2009 season, Brian Burke was none to pleased with the results."Our goal is to make the playoffs next year; we're going to have to make some changes to do it. We're going to be a different team," Burke said this summer. "I like a lot of hitting. I like a lot of fighting. We have a passive group. All year long, when a trainer was on the ice -- it was always our trainer -- that really bothered me." As for being tougher, Burke did not let down, he signed the likes of Francois Beauchemin, a big part of the Ducks Stanley Cup victory; Garnet Exelby, a tough-guy traded from Atlanta for Pavel Kubina and Tim Stapleton; Mike Komisarek, a tough, stay-at-home defenseman signed as a free agent from Montreal; Colton Orr, your typical "goon" signed at free agency from the New York Rangers; Wayne Primeau, a valuable two-way forward from Calgary for Anton Stralman and Colin Stuart.

Along with all the "tough guys" the Toronto Maple Leafs added a solid back-up defender in Jonas Gustavsson. Gustavsson led Farjestads of the Sweedish Elite League to a championship. Many speculate that he will take the starter role from Vesa Toskala.

Let's not forget about the Leafs 1st round pick from 2008, Luke Schenn. Schenn was selected 5th overall, and was asked to stay in Toronto to play for the season rather than go back to the WHL and play for the Kelowna Rockets. He did not have amazing numbers (2G 12A 14P), but he proved he can play against the likes of Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. One of his highlights last season was when he drilled Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin into the boards, only to get into a fight with Tyler Kennedy who jumped off the bench in between plays, Schenn handle Kennedy with no problem to the plasure of the Leafs fans raining down with their cheers of "LUUUUUUUUUUUKE." He has been called the future of this team, and with his play last season, you can see why.

Finally, in the 2009 draft, the Leafs selected 7th overall, Nazem Kadri. Kadri comes to Toronto from the London Knights of the OHL. He is a smallish sniper, it is unlikely he will make the roster this year, but Burke has high hopes for him.

Tonight is the first preseason game for the Toronto Maple Leafs, they will be playing the Boston Bruins. Puck drop is at 7:00 on TSN 2. The rebuild starts today!

Nicholas Porretta

Final Note:
For further reading go to:

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=490621