Exciting start to the season!
There are a lot of surprises so far this season, and if we take a look at the teams that have been in the top you will agree with me. Three teams that have expected to be in near the bottom are all competing for top spot. Leafs, Devils, and Ferrari are looking pretty good so far.
Lets start by taking a look at the leafs and see why they are at the top. I stated earlier that the leafs are not afraid to make a move to compete in the pool. Look at the early trade they made with the Blackhawks. Yes Raycroft is helping the Blackhawks, but Bertuzzi is a major factor on the Leafs, if it wasn't for that trade the Leafs would not be on top. There is no surprise that Players like Jokinen, Sulliven, and Koivu are producing points for them. Keeping Kopitar on his team was a smart move, he is a sleeper in this pool and has the ability to produce points each day. Disappointments have been Savard, Hejduk, Kariya, and Steen. These guys will have to produce if the Leafs want to continue to compete for top spot. Unfortunately Savard and Hejduk don't have the support they did in previous years and they may be a bust this year. It may be wise for the Leafs to dump these guys while they still have a chance. As for Steen, the maple leafs may give up on him and start shifting him from the top Line to the third line if he doesn't put up the numbers.
Next we will take a look at team Devils. Wow they are near the top, I still don't know if this team has it them, I figured they were all washed up, I may be eating my own words by the end of the season. A couple of young players are performing well for them, Bernier, and Kunitz and there hasn't been any disappointments on this team so far. The overall question is if everyone can continue to produce, and once again what direction will they go in. Will they be tempted to make a couple of trades so they compete or will they be dumping their guys to rebuild for their future.
In depth looks at other teams soon to come