Brian Burke

The Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team is creating some serious buzz around the NHL this year.  With a new look, a new go-to goalie and Phil Kessel lighting up the score board, things are looking up for the Leafs this year.

Unlike last year's hot start, the Leafs have managed to sustain the momentum.  This article will look at some of the reasons why the Leafs are currently tied for first in their division. 

Anybody seen Andrew Ladd around lately?

You'd definitely notice him, though you might not recognize him thanks to facial injuries sustained from a puck during a recent game against the Ottawa Senators. For his next game, Ladd is reportedly planning to don a visor for the first time

It's learning from mistakes that separates some from those who end up in those clever Darwin Awards books. Ladd appears to have heeded the lesson: pucks hurt.

It has become fashionable to call out the Edmonton Oilers. Several years ago, the Buffalo Sabres had called out the Oilers on inflating the prices of RFAs by signing Thomas Vanek to a seven-year, $50 million offer sheet. The Sabres matched the contract.

A lot of Toronto Maple Leaf fans are praising Brian Burke's offseason work, but don't count me among them.

My report card reads like this: Better team than last year's team: Yes. Good enough to make the playoffs: No.

I'm forced to give this early grade because Burke recently stated that he has finished tinkering with the team for the summer. But I, and many fans, expected more to come. Right now, the finished result is anticlimatic.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently the only team in the NHL's Eastern Conference not to sign an unrestricted free agent.

Like many Leafs fans, I spent much of the early part of July 1 feverishly checking to see if Toronto had signed anyone, then spent much of the latter part of the day angrily cursing about the lack of activity in Leaf Land.

Thankfully, sleep has provided some clarity.

Now, this is a personal opinion. I personally, do not believe goaltender Jonas Gustavsson will monitor the backup role next year for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He's too big of a risk to stunt the growth of one of the Leafs' young goaltenders with the Toronto Marlies.

With at most three games left in the Stanley Cup Finals the next most interesting part of the NHL season is about to begin.

Once again Leafs Nation will be sitting at the edge of their seat for the most part of the offseason in anticipation for what the crafty Brian Burke will do.

With that in mind here are the top 20 players who should at least be on Burke's radar through trades and free agency.

We've heard Paul Stastny, Steven Stamkos, Zach Parise, etc.

And though all of those players would be nicer than anyone we could get on the free market, is it really logical to suggest acquiring them could happen?

Of course, anything could happen, but is it likely? No, definitely not.

So, if Brad Richards isn't available, and all the above names can't be acquired, who do the Leafs turn to?

According to numerous media outlets, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in serious contention for the Phildelphia Flyers' winger/center Jeff Carter, with many reported proposals being leaked.

So many theories have been made over the last several seasons as to why the Toronto Maple Leafs have had such terrible special teams.

Some have said that it is the players, some have said it is the goaltending, some have said it is coaching.

But coming back to this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs were ranked 22nd on the power play and 28th on the penalty kill. Something that has been a constant for the Maple Leafs in the past.