Leafs Opening Night Roster

[_venom_]

Forwards
Jason Blake
Mikhail Grabovski
Niklas Hagman
Phil Kessel*
Jamal Mayers
John Mitchell
Colton Orr
Alexei Ponikarovsky
Wayne Primeau
Jay Rosehill
Viktor Stalberg
Matt Stajan
Lee Stempniak
Rickard Wallin

Defence
Francois Beauchemin
Garnet Exelby
Jeff Finger
Tomas Kaberle
Mike Komisarek
Luke Schenn
Mike Van Ryn*
Ian White

Goalies
Vesa Toskala
Jonas Gustavsson

*Injured Reserve, don't count on official roster

Bozak, Kulemin, Tlusty, and Gunarsson were sent down to the Marlies. The only surprise for me is that Rosehill made the team. I don't see any reason for him to stay with the team. We already have Orr who does the exact same thing as Rosehill and our defense is plenty tough as is. I assumed that Kulemin would be kept up seeing as how we might struggle offensively as is. I'm guessing the lines are something like this:

Stralberg Stajan Blake
Hagman Grabovski Ponikorovsky
Rosehill Mitchell Stempniak
Orr Primeau Mayers

Kaberle Komisarek
Beauchemin Schenn
Exelby White

Toskala

[Griff83]

I have no problems with Rosehill in the lineup. Hes a physical presence that can skate well, brings tons of energy and will drop them on the drop of a dime. Hes very young and should play a similar role to that of Travis Moen when he was with the Ducks. He's a perfect 4th line under Burke's definition.

Its awesome that they are putting Stalberg on the first line and saying, show us what you got kid. Lots of hype surrounding him right now and its easy to see why fans are getting excited about his skills. Bob Mckenzie posts on HFboards and this is what he had to say about Stalberg tonight (he actually predicted he could potentially win the ROY). --------------->


"I actually was kind of disappointed Stalberg scored like he did in the pre-season. I liked Stalberg as a Calder candidate BEFORE training camp. I have watched him play in each of the last three seasons at Vermont. In the 30-plus college games I saw last year -- for what that is worth -- he along with Matt Gilroy at BU were the best college players I saw.

The reason I think he has a chance to be a Calder candidate is that he's 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, has elite level speed for a big man and goes to the net to score goals...and he's physically mature and older than a lot of the NHL rookies by three or four years.

Do I believe Stalberg will be a better career player than Tavares or Duchene or Kane or...take your pick of the natural NHL freshmen this season? No. But do I think he has a huge advantage being older and more mature THIS season? Yup. For the same reason, I think 25-year-old Ville Leino in Detroit could be a Calder candidate as well.

People will jump all over the pick, as is their right, because Stalberg plays in Toronto and he shot out the lights in the pre-season and people will say he's a by-product of hype and a pre-season hot streak. Well, there was no hype for him last season when I watched him a few times in Vermont and I came away saying, "Wow, that Stalberg is going to be a helluva player."

And he is. Who knows who will win the Calder -- I suspect Hedman playing 27 minutes a night for Tampa might do the trick, too -- but I've been sold on Stalberg big time dating back to last year. He is, in my opinion, going to be a solid top six forward who puts up some decent numbers.

Could be wrong...we'll see"

[jalenrose#5]

The Leafs just called up Kulemin and placed Kessel on the LTI list (long-term injury). This move could be made starting today.

So for all of you who think Rosehill will play. I see it slightly differently

Line 1: Hagman Stajan Blake
Line 2: Kulemin Grabovski Ponikarovsky
Line 3: Stalberg Mitchell Stempniak
Line 4: Primeau Wallin Orr
X: Rosehill, Mayers (INJ), Kessel (INJ)

Defence and G remain the same

[ADROCK]

from what ive seen in the preseason.this season is going to be fun.

[mapko81]

The Leafs just called up Kulemin and placed Kessel on the LTI list (long-term injury). This move could be made starting today.

So for all of you who think Rosehill will play. I see it slightly differently

Line 1: Hagman Stajan Blake
Line 2: Kulemin Grabovski Ponikarovsky
Line 3: Stalberg Mitchell Stempniak
Line 4: Primeau Wallin Orr
X: Rosehill, Mayers (INJ), Kessel (INJ)

Defence and G remain the same

I'd prefer this lineup. But what's the deal with Wallin, why does he have a spot pencilled in (over someone like Bozak)?

[Griff83]

The Leafs just called up Kulemin and placed Kessel on the LTI list (long-term injury). This move could be made starting today.

So for all of you who think Rosehill will play. I see it slightly differently

Line 1: Hagman Stajan Blake
Line 2: Kulemin Grabovski Ponikarovsky
Line 3: Stalberg Mitchell Stempniak
Line 4: Primeau Wallin Orr
X: Rosehill, Mayers (INJ), Kessel (INJ)

Defence and G remain the same

He wont be starting tonight. He will most likely be in the press box. I hardly doubt they would send him down (basically was cut) to all the sudden recall him a day or so later and then bump Rosehill out of the lineup. Stalberg has already been said to be playing on the first line so you're lineup cant be correct.

[Griff83]

The Leafs just called up Kulemin and placed Kessel on the LTI list (long-term injury). This move could be made starting today.

So for all of you who think Rosehill will play. I see it slightly differently

Line 1: Hagman Stajan Blake
Line 2: Kulemin Grabovski Ponikarovsky
Line 3: Stalberg Mitchell Stempniak
Line 4: Primeau Wallin Orr
X: Rosehill, Mayers (INJ), Kessel (INJ)

Defence and G remain the same

I'd prefer this lineup. But what's the deal with Wallin, why does he have a spot pencilled in (over someone like Bozak)?

Because Wallin can easily play wing on your 3rd line (Bozak is a center) or Wallin can play LW/C on your 4th line. Bozak is a skilled player who should be on your top 2 lines and if he isnt its better for his development to play in the minors for a year and get use to the grind of a much bigger hockey schedule then in college. Wallin got better as the preseason went along. Hes a smart, defensively aware and a great penalty killer. His skillset suits playing on a 3rd/4th line much better then Bozak's does.

[mapko81]

I get ya. I just didn't know what set Walin apart, but if it's the penalty kill and 2-way play, then that's great.
Three Swedish rookies make the team. What a fine storyline in light of Sundin's retirement.

[Griff83]

I get ya. I just didn't know what set Walin apart, but if it's the penalty kill and 2-way play, then that's great.
Three Swedish rookies make the team. What a fine storyline in light of Sundin's retirement.

But I agree. I would have liked to see Bozak in the lineup. I think hes a better player then Grabovski (Grabovski more flashier, but doesnt get as much done on the ice as Bozak). Bozak is going to be a very very solid player in this league once he gets comfortable. This teams future up front looks bright

XXXXX/ KADRI/ KESSEL
STALBERG/BOZAK/XXXX

We basically have 4/6's of our top 6 already set. We have around 15 million to spend this offseason to either find a first line center to fill in until Kadri is ready or find a winger to play with him and Kessel.

[Yeezus_]

Whos starting in net?

[TR50]

I love seeing Stalberg in there, i'm pumped for tonight!

[Griff83]

Whos starting in net?

Toskala.

You have to figure hes on a very short leash tho.

[bryant08]

Pumped up, go Leafs go!

[Komodo]

Stalberg indeed looked amazing during the preseason, he's fun to watch.

I'd love to watch the game tonight, but I'm at work... probably won't have time to watch a stream either. Oh well, I'll catch them Saturday.

[treiz]

seems like an exciting season..will try and follow the leafs as much as I can (hard to do while your in the UK)...but will do my best and hope these boards pick up ala raptors and bluejays

[hsb]

Ummm...not the best way to start the year.

[distracted]

Ummm...not the best way to start the year.

It may not be the best, but it's FAR from the worst. We at least picked up a point, and seemed reasonably in control most of the game. Toskala needed to bail out the defense on one of the regulation goals (and the tip-in went right between his glove and pad) for us to win, but it didn't happen.

Even still, we kept the shots against low, got a lot of shots on goal and showed a lot of poise controlling the puck in Mtl's end a bunch of times. It also looks like Stajan/Stalberg work well together, and Kessel is a much improved version of Blake, so we could get a lot of scoring out of that first line.

Tonight, even in a loss, the team looked like it can win a lot of games if they get good goaltending (which is always a prerequisite anyways). Sadly right now it looks like a very big IF.

[Crowned]

We played well, and certainly showed promise that we could contend for a playoff spot once Kessel gets back.