In what many would call a disappointing start to the shortened 48-game NHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have started out with four wins and five losses for eight points in nine games.
Granted, there have been a few great showings thus far: the 5-2 win over Penguins, the tilt against the Sabres during which Matt Frattin scored the overtime winner in dramatic fashion and the 3-2 comeback against the Washington Capitals at home.
However, with the good comes the bad, and with the bad comes the ugly. The ugly has been the revolving door of ineffective defencemen to grace the Leafs' blue line to this point.
Sophomore Jake Gardiner started out his second season as a Leaf on injured reserve and came back rusty. In an attempt to shake off the rust, the Leafs believed that sending him down to the AHL was the way to go.
The final preseason cut on the blue line, Morgan Rielly, is an offensive defenceman who will be counted on to lead this team for years to come. However, this was not his time.
Since being sent back to junior, Rielly has been steady with the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors, tallying seven assists in eight games. His latest cont ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Brad LeClair
Toronto Maple Leafs: Does the Defence Need a Complete Makeover?
February 5th, 2013 by Brad LeClair Leave a reply »
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