Brian Burke is making the Leafs bigger and tougher but are they getting younger? I need a comparison of last year's opening lineup and what might be this season's opening lineup. The team isn't really younger. Now if players like Blake, Primeau and Mayers are pushed aside to make room for youngsters then the average age will drop. But if Burke wants to make the playoffs then he isn't about to do that unless the replacement players are better.
2008-09 Opening Lineup
Blake – 35
Mayers – 34
Antropov – 28
Ponikarovsky - 28
Hagman – 28
Hollweg – 25
Grabovski - 24
Stajan – 24
Steen – 24
Mitchell – 23
Kulemin – 22
Tlusty – 20
Kubina – 31
Kaberle – 30
Van Ryn – 29
Finger – 28
Frogren – 28
Colaiacovo - 25
White – 24
Schenn – 18
Joseph – 41
Toksala – 31
Average age: 27.3
Projected 2009-10 Opening Lineup
Blake – 36
Mayers – 35
Primeau - 33
Ponikarovsky - 29
Wallin - 29
Hagman – 29
Orr – 27
Stempniak - 26
Grabovski - 25
Stajan – 25
Mitchell – 24
Kulemin – 23
Tlusty – 21
Kaberle – 31
Van Ryn – 30
Beauchemin - 29
Finger – 29
Frogren – 29
Exelby – 28
Komisarik - 27
White – 25
Schenn – 19
Toksala – 32
Gustavsson - 25
