as it a successful season? Of course it was. Any time you make the playoffs after a nine-year absence, how can it be viewed as anything other than successful?Goaltender James Reimer believes that to be the case."I think we took huge strides this season," Reimer said. "I don't think anybody gave us a chance at the start of the year. I think we were ranked to place 14th in the conference. The coach did a great [job] in terms of putting a plan in place, and everybody bought in. We went to work and had fun. It was a good year; better than most people expected."However, Reimer said he will not soon forget the team's collapse at the end."That was a terrible way to go out,Authentic Marian Hossa Jersey," he said. "It was one of the worst losses I have ever had. I couldn't sleep that night. You hope you don't have to go through something like that again."I think that happens in all walks of life. You look at all the superhero movies -- they don't just start out being the best. Usually they fall down and then they get back up. The reason for that is it mimics life. I remember my rookie camp when I let in six goals in the second period. It was devastating. It was like, 'What's going on?' Then at main camp I had a good game against Philadelphia and won a shootout game. Often when you look at life terrible things happen, but you learn from it and you get better."Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf said he believes what the team accomplished this season was its first step toward better days ahead, but there is plenty of work to be done before his team can be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender."I think we have taken some steps in the right direction, but we know it's just a starting point," Phaneuf said. "There's lots of room to keep improving and growing as a group. Any time you have a group that is young like ours,Authentic Henrik Sedin Jersey, the experience we gained this year will really help us. When you don't attain the goal you set out for yourself,Authentic Henrik Lundqvist Jersey, then there will be changes. We set a goal at the start of the year to make the playoffs and give ourselves a chance to win the Stanley Cup. We attained the first goal, but fell short on the second."Coach Randy Carlyle came to training camp with a plan -- a template,Patrice Bergeron Authentic Jersey, as he likes to call it -- and the Maple Leafs players attained success by following it. Last season the Maple Leafs finished 26th in the League standings with a 35-37-10 record and 80 points. They scored 32 fewer non-shootout goals (227) than they allowed (259). This season, playing a more robust defensive style, the Maple Leafs were 26-17-5 for 57 points and finished ninth in the League and fifth in the Eastern Conference. They scored 17 more non-shootout goals than they allowed (145-128).One major reason the Maple Leafs were better defensively had to do with their penalty killing. Three seasons ago Toronto finished 30th, and the past two seasons they were 28th. Under a full season with Carlyle, the Maple Leafs improved to second in the NHL."I think that happens in all walks of life. You look at al