Around the NHL in 30 Days: Toronto Maple Leafs

Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs open every season as optimists, and then reality sinks in. Can this year be different? Editor In Leaf’s Myles Robinson takes a look at this year’s edition of the Loafs, er, Leafs:

"It’s no secret Leaf fans are known to be some of the more overly optimistic fans in the entire NHL, but they may finally be justified in doing so as the league’s youngest team is finally showing signs of promise. One of a very small number of teams that has yet to make the playoffs since the lockout, Toronto has now gone six straight years without making the postseason tournament, a streak they’ll be hell-bent on ending this season. Led by captain Dion Phaneuf and a monstrous blueline, the Leafs will have a lot of question marks surrounding their season – questions that will only be answered as the season progresses. Will James Reimer be able to repeat his impressive performance in the second half of last season? Will Tim Connolly finally be the playmaking center that will push Phil Kessel over the top and keep him out of those 12-13 game scoring droughts? Can the coaching staff finally fix the special teams?"

Read the rest of the preview at Editor in Leaf.