Stanley Cups: 11

2008-'09 record: 34-35-13, 81 points (5th in Northeast, 12th in East)

2008-'09 playoffs: Did not qualify

General manager: Brian Burke (407-333-143, 12th NHL year, 4th team)

Coach: Ron Wilson (531-481-140, 16th NHL year, 4th team)

Captain: TBD

Top returning scorer: LW Jason Blake (25 goals, 38 assists, 63 points)

Top returning goalie: Vesa Toskala (22-17-11, 3.26, .891)

Key additions: D Mike Komisarek; RW Colton Orr; D Garnett Exelby; C Wayne Primeau; D Francois Beauchemin; C Tim Brent; C Rickard Wallin; G Joey MacDonald; RW Phil Kessel.

Key subtractions: C Andre Deveaux, D Pavel Kubina; D Jay Harrison, LW Ryan Hollweg, D Erik Reitz, D Jaime Sifers; D Pavel Kubina, C Tim Stapleton; RW Jeremy Williams; RW Tim Stapleton; D Anton Stralman; G Justin Pogge; LW Ryan Hollweg; C Boyd Devereaux; G Martin Gerber; G Olaf Kolzig; LW Brad May; G Curtis Joseph.

Top line: LW Jason Blake, C Mikhail Grabovski; RW Phil Kessel

Top defensive pairing: Tomas Kaberle, Mike Komisarek

Goaltending: Toskala did a stellar job despite playing much of the season with hip and groin injuries that required season-ending surgery. Determined competitor isn’t the largest NHL netminder, but makes up for lacking size with solid angles play. Athletic and an excellent pokechecker.

Player to watch: G Jonas Gustavsson. The Leafs paid plenty to land the Swedish monster, as he was known in Farjestad, whom he led to the Swedish Elitserin title. Posted a 241-minute shutout sequence to shatter Henrik Lundqvist’s league record. Cause for concern in preseason after electrical difficulties in his heart required surgery to rectify. Solid butterfly netminder owned best GAA (1.96) and save percentage (.932) in Sweden.

Icing: Komisarek's presence will help in the development of 19-year-old defenseman Luke Schenn, who made his presence felt in his rookie season — leading rookie defensemen with 206 hits and all first-year players with 119 blocked shots. He recorded over 20 minutes of ice time in 49 games last season.

Outlook: One Toronto newspaper is already running a fight chart, as Burke followed his gameplan and toughened his team up considerably. Should be much better defensively, but Leafs will struggle to score, especially with Kessel (shoulder surgery) out until mid-November.

Prediction: 87 points (4th in Northeast, 10th seed in East)

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

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