Have Fun, Go Young

I just wanted to show you something. It may not be realistic, but this is what I really hope the line-up looks like next year. The number beside the players names is their age.

Kadri - 19
D'Amigo - 19
Kessel - 22
Hanson - 23
Bozak - 23
Kulemin - 23
Stalberg - 24
Rosehill - 24
Grabovski - 26 on Sunday
Stajan - 26
Orr - 27

Schenn - 20
Gunnarsson - 23
White - 25
Komisarek - 28
Beauchemin - 29
Kaberle - 31

Gustavsson - 25

The average age of this line-up is 24.2 years old. I've only got 11 forwards, leaving a position open for Burke to sign the best UFA forward available that isn't looking for a 10-year term. Probably D'Amigo won't be ready for the NHL yet, so that could open up a second spot, but I'm really hoping Kadri is good to go next year and on the team.

The oldest player, and the only one over 30, is Kaberle. If you're gonna have only one player over 30 on your team, he's an excellent choice as an elder statesman. I'm also keeping Stajan over Poni because Stajan's 3 years younger, but has the experience and maturity of most veterans. Stajan and Colton Orr would then become the oldest forwards in the dressing room, while Beachemin and Komisarek add their individual dimensions to Kaberle's leadership on the blueline. There's also just one goaltender 'cause I have no idea what we need to do there - just anything but Toskala, of course.

I honestly like the defence the way it is, and if these guys could stay healthy, that's an excellent 6-man unit there. I don't think the Leafs defensive problems this year are a fault of the personnel (is it the coaching then?) and I don't think there needs to be big changes there. If you trade Kaberle then who's your sixth D-man? Finger or Exelby don't interest me much anymore. I suppose there's an outside shot that Van Ryn will attempt a comeback with the Leafs, otherwise you're left with Oreskovic or finding a defenceman on the UFA market. Seems easier to just keep Kaberle and say "we like the defence the way it is, now let's fix the goaltending and scoring issues".

Out: Mitchell(25), Stempniak(turning 27 next week), Exelby(28), Wallin(29), Ponikarovsky(29), Finger(30), Hagman(30), Toskala(32), Primeau(33), Mayers(35), Blake(36).

Some of these guys have no value and should just be let go or buried in the minors. Obviously, Stempniak, Hagman, and Ponikarovsky are not included in that group. They have value, and I hope the Leafs can maximize that value by getting a quality return for that trio.

Aside from Mitchell, age is definitely a major factor in crafting this line-up. I want the team to get younger, even if that means that they don't get better right away. Chemistry is something that takes time and needs to develop internally. Players that are past their prime, on their way out of town, just stopping through, or just hangin' on, are hard to connect with on a personal level and there's no room for spiritual growth or bonding. A player's relationship with the team is non-existent if he's beyond the ability to improve, yet unable to help others around him improve either.

After all, when you're 36, losing isn't a learning experience, it's a life experience.