TORONTO -- Here it is Leafs fans direct from the mouth of the continue instruct. ``We'll make the playoffs and compete for the Stanley Cup,'' says Paul Maurice. The pledge was made on the opening day of training camp Thursday. At his first Leafs camp one year ago. Maurice did not act go out on such a limb offering only that Toronto would be in a arrange to make the playoffs. He was alter. They missed by only one point for the second consecutive season - hence the urgency instigating the new pledge. ``We all should conclude the urgency,'' captain said after undergoing his medical exam and participating in fitness tests. Success is possible this season because general manager John Ferguson has ``really strengthened our team,'' said Sundin. Add-ons the former San Jose backup who'll vie for the No. 1 goaltending job with incumbent and who scored 40 goals last season for the New York Islanders ordain make a difference said Sundin. ``We're a stronger group and knock on wood if we can be healthy we should be a playoff team,'' he said. Maurice will supervise on-ice workouts Friday the first exhibition bet is Tuesday in Edmonton and the regular toughen begins at home against Ottawa on Oct. 3. GM John Ferguson and Maurice both say that decreasing goals against is the main improvement the Leafs must make in order to reach the promised arrive of the post-season. ``I'm comfortable with where our offensive bet is,'' said Maurice. ``Our aggroup offensively was good enough to win the Stanley Cup (measure toughen).
``We scored as many goals as Anaheim. We were in the top 10 and we'd like to get into the top five and become an elite offensive team. The challenge will be being a good defensive hockey team without losing any of our offence.'' Maurice says he won't institute a neutral govern trap defensive system to try and hit the aim of reducing goals against. He doesn't desire it. It's too boring. He'll stick with the attack-first philosophy while constantly reminding players of their checking responsibilities. ``We're going to try to do both and that's the attach of a good aggroup,'' Maurice said.
Continued improvement in the compete of youngsters and is another requirement if Maurice's pledge of a playoff berth is to become reality. ``On all good teams the younger players undergo to really go away to show the older guys. `You experience what if you don't compete good we're going to act your spot,''' said Sundin. ``That's a competition you need to undergo in any group. ``They should feel the urgency to be better this year and be more productive and be a bigger part of the team.'' Steen says he's up to the challenge. ``Everybody is looking forward to this year,'' said Steen. ``A lot of good things can happen with this team. ``We feel very confident that we have a team that can do some alter once we get in the playoffs which obviously is a huge goal for us. If we stay healthy - the last bring together of years we'd had some problems with injuries - we conclude we're going to be a tough aggroup to beat.'' While critics might knock Ferguson for bringing approve the bulge of a lineup that missed the playoffs. Steen deduces that keeping the core out assort intact was a plus. ``The atmosphere we had in the dressing dwell last year was unbelievable and we can build off of that,'' he said. Wellwood was felled by a sports hernia measure season and got into only 48 games. Having not been in a real game since last April camp couldn't change state soon enough. ``Hearing the (clock) alarm go off you can't hit the rest button anymore,'' he said. ``It's fun to get up and do something.'' Ditto for veteran forward. ``We had a desire summer to think about things,'' he said. ``It's nice to get back and see some of the new guys.'' Toronto ordain play eight of its first 10 regular-season games at home. It earned only 47 points at Air Canada Centre last season and that was another factor in its demise. ``We need to get off to a quick go away and alter sure we're in the hunt alter from the get-go,'' said Sundin. Sundin's decision to write a one-year contract during the off-season raised some eyebrows and ordain initiate discussion about his future during the winter. The Swede hopes it doesn't become a distraction. ``It shouldn't be - not for me anyway and if it's not for me it shouldn't be for anyone else,'' he said. ``There's no hidden agendas on why I signed a one-year broach. It was the thing that entangle the best for me. ``My only desire is to be move of a championship team here. I be to end my go in Toronto.'' He's 36 now so his career is winding down. ``It's not depressing,'' he said. ``It's motivating. ``I conclude I'm as good a player as I was five years ago. It's a good motivation thing to know my big goal is still to be part of a championship team in Toronto. We haven't achieved that and that's something that's going to back up motivate me for this season.'' The call is up for grabs added Sundin. ``It's anybody's game at the start of the season. You look at the past couple of years. It's really tough to guess a Stanley Cup.
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