2006 Toronto Maple Leafs Preview

2006 Toronto Maple Leafs Preview from Maddux Sports. With the NHL Hockey Season now is the time to get aquatinted with the 2006 teams and players. Remember if you are NHL hockey betting look no further, as we offer hockey picks and can help you turn a profit betting on the NHL this season.

2006 Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Season Preview

It’s been forty years since this franchise has won the Stanley Cup. Last season they missed the playoffs by two points. During the off-season, the Leafs jettisoned a ton of players, including centers Eric Lindros and Jason Allison and goalie Ed Belfour. In total eight veterans were let go.

Mats Sundin (31 G, 47 A, 78 Pts) is still the centerpiece of the team’s offense with defenseman Bryan McCabe (19 G, 49 A, 68 Pts) offering fine two way play. On left wing, Darcy Tucker (28 G, 33 A, 61 Pts) provides a strong offensive punch. However, inconsistency plagued both McCabe and Tucker last season, stopping both from having career years. The team showed the ninth best offense and had the second best power play in the league.

The Maple Leafs’ defense was 21st in 2005-06. The still developing Tomas Kaberle (19 G, 49 A, 68 Pts) is a fine set up man, expertly feeding to McCabe for his powerful one timers. Free agent Pavel Kubina (5 G, 33 A, 38 Pts), formerly of Tampa Bay, is a big guy and a playmaker, while former Bruin Hal Gill brings a huge 6-foot, 7-inch frame to the ice. They desperately need to help this team improve upon its 80% penalty kill rate, which was 24th.

Toronto traded for former 2003-04 rookie of the year and Bruin goalie Andrew Raycroft. Raycroft, who gained thirty pounds and was plagued by injuries in 2005-06, saw his agility decrease as his goals against average increased from 2.05 in his first year to 3.70 last season. Raycroft may or may not be a solution to the team’s goalie situation.

The Maple Leafs lack depth but possess some fine young players and a sound veteran anchor in Sundin. With a new focus on youth, Toronto is looking towards the future. In this major transition year, they may miss the playoffs a second year in a row.

For more information on the 2006 Toronto Hockey Club check out the Maple Leafs team website.