Rome Wasn't Built In A Day...

Little by little our man BB is assembling the kind of squad that will make playing in Toronto a bit of a nightmare for even the most physical, and skilled of NHL opponents. While we haven't any inkling to date as to which of our young bucks will stick and stay beyond pre-season exhibition play, our stables are looking pretty healthy these days, thanks to some shrewd off-the-radar maneuvering to acquire some top undrafted talent in Bozak and Hanson, as well as a few projects in the system that are marinating quite nicely. Regarding goaltending, if we have learned anything about Vesa Toskala, it is that he answers the bell when pressed to do so. In spite of some serious nagging injuries which affected his game last season, when called out, he played like a Vezina candidate in his remaining games. He needs that pressure to hit his top gear, and frankly neither our beloved Cujo or Pogge challenged him for a single minute of icetime last year. This is a contract year, and he can't be immune to all the 'Monster tales' circulating throughout Leafland. I predict he plays like the second coming of Patrick Roy this season, as long as he's ready to go in October, which he should very well be.

BB's biggest asset may not be his media-darling status, or his all too evident swagger. It may very well be the restraint he shows by avoiding foolhardy trade propositions in order to placate a rabid and petulant hockey market. it may be the fact that he always appears ready with a contingency plan. When we missed out on a top-rated undrafted North American goalie prospect, he rolled out his plan B-- Jonas Gustavsson, better known as the 'Monster', who is poised to challenge for the distinguished title of 'future franchise' goalie, and by all accounts, he's got the goods...
Suffice to say, the wily Irishman presiding over our beloved Blue and white is assembling a rough and tumble, highly skilled group that will be ready to do battle on all fronts, and in every zone in a few short months, thanks to the arrival of a few sides of beef like Komisarek, Orr, and Exelby. Whats next? Will he flip Kaberle for a big gun forward? will he entice LA, who have recently cleared out two spots on the blueline, into coughing up Schenn the younger, plus a roster player? Will he and his pal Chiarelli finally pull the trigger on the much-talked about Kaberle-for-Kessel rumour?
It's fun to speculate, and online hockey boards are teeming with every kind kind of mock-trade imaginable, but it's absolutely euphoric to realize that the age of mediocrity is officially OVER in Toronto... Like Rome, it wont be built in a day, but get used to the notion of playoff hockey returning to Toronto, folks...it's coming our way!