Armstrong, Connolly Among Those Who Must Step Up For Maple Leafs

By Lukas Hardonk (@LukasHardonk)

While many members of the Toronto Maple Leafs have succeeded in producing positive numbers and providing the team with solid play this season, there are a few who have not.

Players who have include the obvious names; Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul for example. Then there is Mikhail Grabovski, who is having another outstanding season as the number two centre, Tyler Bozak, who has flourished between Kessel and Lupul, and John-Michael Liles, the Maple Leafs’ top offensive defenceman.

Those are just a few who have been a huge part of the Leafs’ playoff drive thus far. They, along with a few others, are people who their teammates can look to when struggling. Unfortunately for a team that is battling for a post-season birth, the Leafs do have a few players who have not had such great seasons.

In no particular order, here are four players who may need to find their way back to success if they plan on staying in Toronto for much longer:

Colby Armstrong

When the Maple Leafs signed Colby Armstrong to a three-year, nine million dollar contract in the summer of 2010, many believed that the Buds had overpaid for the gritty veteran. Almost two years later, that same statement holds true.

(Abelimages/Getty Images)

It’s not that Armstrong is a bad player; he adds a physical element to the bottom-six forward group and can produce points when called upon. The only problem is that Armstrong has failed to remain healthy for much of his time in Toronto. He has missed a total of 75 games since the 2010-2011 season began, much of which has been due to injury.

You may say that it’s not fair to call out Armstrong this season because he has had very little playing time, which is true in one respect. However, in the 15 games that he has played, Armstrong has just one point (an assist) and owns a rating of minus-six. Last Wednesday he was a scratch against the Calgary Flames.

When healthy and producing at the level he is capable of, Armstrong is the type of player that can be moved up and down the lineup. With the Leafs’ goal scoring having been so inconsistent this season in terms of where it has come from, he would be an extremely valuable asset if he could find his groove.

Mike Komisarek

Everyone knows about how Mike Komisarek’s time in Toronto has gone up to this point. Like when Toronto signed Armstrong, Leaf fans were excited to see a well-known player who could bring the team to a new level join the Maple Leafs. Again like Armstrong, though, people have been disappointed.

Currently in third year of a five-year, $22.5 million contract that includes a no-movement clause and a modified no-trade clause (according to Cap Geek), Komisarek has been nothing but a let down in Toronto. As you would think, a player on that level of a contract shouldn’t spend too much time in the press box. For Komisarek, that’s exactly what has happened.

Ever since he joined the Maple Leafs, it has appeared that Komisarek is a player who needs to be motivated. Whether that be by watching a game from upstairs, a pep talk or anything else, he needs something to get him going after a poor outing. This is one reason why there has been plenty of chatter about a trade that would send him to a salary floor team.

There is no doubt, though, that the Leafs would not need or want to make such a deal if he could find his way. When effective, Komisarek is a great asset to the penalty kill and is a shut-down force on the back-end. As a team that has shown to be shaky defensively for much of the season, that is exactly what the Leafs need.

Is this crucial to the Leafs’ playoff chances or how far they go if they do get there? Probably not; it would just be a very nice addition.

Tim Connolly

When the Leafs couldn’t sign Brad Richards, they went after Tim Connolly. That’s how it seemed to be, at least.

Connolly appeared to be a good fit with the Leafs on paper. He was a centre who could play with Kessel and Lupul and he could also play both down low and on the point on the power play. He also had the ability to score a serious amount of points. He often scored at almost a point-per-game pace with the Buffalo Sabres.

While he hasn’t exactly lived up to all of that, 26 points in 48 games isn’t terrible, it’s just not quite where he should be at.

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Working in the Leafs’ favour no matter what they decide to do with Connolly is the fact that he has been relatively injury-free, which is something that he has struggled with in other cities.

Don’t be surprised if Connolly stays; in fact, don’t expect to see him move. When clicking, Connolly can be an effective player who can fill the role of number one centre. One has to wonder if a player like Bozak will be able to hold that spot for the balance of the season and get the Leafs to where they want to be.

Nikolai Kulemin

As everyone knows, Nikolai Kulemin had a breakout season in 2010-2011. He set new career highs in goals (30), assists (27) and points (57). Based on his young age and impressive offensive abilities, many expected to see much of the same from him this season. Unfortunately for him and the Maple Leafs, though, this season hasn’t been quite as smooth for Kulemin.

In 58 games this season the 25-year-old has managed just eight goals and 18 assists, putting him on pace for a career low in goals with seven, as well as just 32 points. It’s easy to see why fans are calling for a trade that would see Kulemin leave town, but, similar to Connolly, that may not be necessary.

The good news for the Maple Leafs is that Kulemin hasn’t been send-to-the-minors bad this season, or even healthy scratch bad for that matter. He has played solid defensively and still sees regular minutes on the Leafs’ second line with Clarke MacArthur and Mikhail Grabovski. In fact, he is one third of a trio that is one of the biggest reasons why the Leafs are where they are at now.

Imagine: If Kulemin were to regain his form from last season, the Leafs would be dynamite offensively. With Kessel, Lupul and Bozak on the top line and MacArthur, Grabovski and Kulemin on the second, this team would be seemingly unstoppable offensively. That’s why Kulemin needs to find his groove if the Leafs are going to make it into the playoffs and past the first round.

All four of these players have proven that they can be crucial to the team’s success, they just haven’t been this season. Whether each one of them are still members of the Maple Leafs after the 2012 trade deadline is entirely up to general manager Brian Burke and his staff. Remember, though, if he elects to hold on to these players, Burke could look like a very smart man.

Just because they’re down doesn’t mean they’re out.

Lukas covers the Toronto Maple Leafs for The Hockey Guys and is a Senior Writer at The Hockey Writers. You can follow Lukas on Twitter @LukasHardonk for more Maple Leafs coverage or contact him at lukas.hardonk (at) gmail (dot) com.