The only thing that can be gauged in the opening weeks of the season is a few individual performances as it takes most teams 10-20 games to begin working together effectively. Early in the season individual players, especially young ones, often show only a flash before settling into the ordinary. How often have we seen a fast start wear down into a pointless streak by mid-November or December? Take a look back at the points the Leafs had after the first ten games in each of the last 8 seasons, 4 in and 4 out of the playoffs:

00-01 12
01-02 12
02-03 7
03-04 11
05-06 12
06-07 11
07-08 9
08-09 11

Not really much useful information there with the opening 10 games not appearing to have an undue effect on the end result. The first three seasons the point total required to make the playoffs was under 90, but the rule changes in subsequent seasons moved it up a few points. Making the playoffs has required around 92 points in the East the last five seasons and that means a team needs to average between 11 and 12 points per 10 games to make 8th place. Four of the last five seasons the team was close to, or ahead of, that pace after the first 10 games, but gradually settled into mediocrity as the opposition became more effective and the inevitable problems each team has to deal with took their toll.

The Leafs have so many new faces this season that they are one of the teams that will be most difficult to judge until we are deeper into the season. They are more talented than the last few years but now that talent has to work together in the pressure of the regular season. The pairing of Beauchemin and Schenn is a case in point: whom did those guys play with last season and what were their styles like? Last season the Moore - Blake pairing was a pleasant surprise, and it led Moore straight out the door unsigned until this week when he developed an inflated sense of his own value. This season the potential for effective pairs is far greater than last season but it takes time for things to develop.

The primary concern obviously is Toskala. I have never believed he is anything but a journeyman goalie, perfect for a fringe playoff team or as a backup but not a solid guy season in and season out. Unlike most, I view Gustavsson as a question mark until he has had at least 10-20 games under his belt. If he does show he can play at this level the next question will be his stamina over a full season: travel in the SEL is nothing like the NHL, let alone the game action itself. The one year contract will out pressure on him to perform, but as long as he shows he can stop shots at this level his season long conditioning is something that can be addressed over the summer.

This is the best Leafs team in a number of seasons, but only on paper at this point. When things shake out there will be some disappointing performances but there are some decent players itching for a chance to prove themselves who can come up and take their shot. Until we this team becomes more familiar with one another we won't really have an idea if this team will end up in the playoffs or just outside. I can't see them mixing it with the bottom feeders this season unless every move made by Burke is a bust, but it will take more than a few games to see improvement.