The game we love is back and everything looks different. No one will be buying the Stanley Cup, and if all goes as planned ,offense will be plentiful. Sounds great for a fast paced, high scoring, Maple Leafs squad -- but think again.

Toronto is in a crisis at the moment for quality wingers. Coach Pat Quinn -- as stubborn as he is -- said he will be starting Mats Sundin, Eric Lindros and Jason Allison all at centre. That may make some fans drool because, if healthy, that is without a doubt one of the strongest collections of centres in the league. But it leaves the Maple Leafs extremely thin on the wing.

With the loss of Alexander Mogilny, Owen Nolan, Joe Nieuwendyk and Gary Roberts, the Leafs are pinning their hopes on a group of wingers that -- let's face it -- can't score. The nine wingers listed on the Leafs depth chart -- Darcy Tucker, Jeff O'Neill, Alex Ponikarovsky, Tie Domi, Chad Kilger, Nik Antropov, Clarke Wilm, Wade Belak and Nathan Perrott -- combined for just 69 goals in 2003-04. That leaves each man with an average of just under eight goals. Nieuwendyk, Roberts and Nolan alone tallied 69 goals, so this does not bode well for the blue and white.

Unless John Ferguson Jr can acquire a scoring winger, the Leafs are left with nothing but a prayer.

A prayer that Domi can once again have a career year like his 15 goals in 2002-03. A prayer that O'Neil can stay healthy and approach the 40 goal mark. A prayer that Tucker can realize the offensive potential he showed as a junior in Kamloops. A prayer that Antropov can prove he was worth drafting over Simon Gagne. A prayer that Ponikarovsky can continue to develop and utilize his blazing shot. And a prayer that Perrot, Kilger, Wilm and Belak can prove they do not belong in the minor leagues.

Although one must not forget the offensive prowess exhibited by a young Matt Stajan when flanking the captain Mats Sundin. Stajan scored 14 times in 2003-04, which is not a bad showing for a young kid in his rookie year. And during the lockout, Stajan put up impressive numbers with St John's in the AHL, finishing the year with 23 goals and 66 points. So Stajan could turn out to be quite the asset this season, as the Leafs are offensively starved on the wing.

Of course there are also those who believe Kyle Wellwood and Alexander Steen will skate into training camp and steal the spotlight. But given Toronto's history of developing young talent this is more of a long-shot than Eric Lindros playing 82 games. After all, Wendal Clark is the last bona-fide star to have come up through the Leafs farm system.

Sure Toronto still looks like a playoff contender, but there's a lot of questions heading into this season. Ferguson seems to be moving towards a younger team, but injury problems will still hang over the teams head thicker than the city's smog.

So cross your fingers – hockey is back.