So here are the cold hard facts as they relate to the slumping and suddenly ridiculously inept Toronto Maple Leafs as of Friday morning. They have 16 wins, same as the Los Angeles Kings and the Tampa Bay Lightning, tied for the fewest victories in the NHL standings. In the curious way the NHL rewards failure ?€” extra points awarded for shootout and overtime losses ?€” it means the Leafs are technically just a handful of points out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings, a position currently occupied by the New York Islanders (what are they doing right?). Naturally, the mathematical possibilities will encourage their most loyal and hardcore supporters to suggest a smidgeon of hope remains ?€” that all they need to do is get back from California; get goaltender Vesa Toskala back in the groove ?€? and who knows what might happen? The reality is that a surge in the final 38 games of the regular season would be a disaster of epic proportions. The Leafs did something similar two years ago, in the first post-lockout season, back when the rebuilding process should have started in earnest. Remember how that unfolded? That year, the trading deadline fell on Mar. 9. On March 4, they lost a 4-2 decision to the Ottawa Senators, their fifth defeat in a row. The loss capped a 20-game stretch (from Jan. 6, or Game 41 on, in which they won just four and lost 16). They were going nowhere in a hurry; Eddie Belfour was struggling for the first time in his Leaf career; and with a lot of players in line for new contracts, the time was ripe for them to blow it all up trade their more desirable commodities into the market (Bryan McCabe even had value back then), and start over. Prices were pretty good that year. Instead, they stayed the course and had a pretty good final month, after switching to J.S. Aubin in goal. They finished on a 14-5-3 run, accumulated 90 points, just enough to miss the playoffs but high enough in the standings to draft outside the top-10 in the entry draft again. In an exceptional year (such as 2003), that might have been OK. In a so-so year, that kept them from getting a crack at, among others, Jonathan Toews, Phil Kessel and Peter Mueller. More than anything else, though, it convinced the Leafs that they were pretty good; and they couldn't live without McCabe and Tomas Kaberle and Darcy Tucker and a whole lot of other players whose values were inflated by playing in the Centre Of The Hockey Universe. The Globe
We need to gut them. I say, bring up all the Marlies. THey are doing amazing this year, and couldn't be any worse then the Leafs.
The problem with the Marlies is that it isn't really a young team. MLSE wanted to make that team marketable and since the team has virtually no young prospects, they went out and signed a bunch of older veterans. They look good because they're experienced fringe NHL players facing raw, young prospects. The Leafs are eerily similar to the Knicks (not that bad, but there's a few parallels). The upper management lacks hockey knowledge and can't seem to recognize how incompetent the front office is. Yet, there's no pressure for any change to occur since they're still selling out and making money. This team should've been rebuilt right after they cut all ties with Pat Quinn. It was clear after a season, that the team was not built to play in the post-lockout NHL and the roster was basically Quinn's and didn't really suit Paul Maurice's coaching style. Instead, we've signed mid-level busts each season (Kubina, Blake), traded away what little prospects we've had (Raycroft), and overpaid for our own players (McCabe, Tucker). Right now, they need to get rid of all of those listed players. I'd consider Toskala, Kaberle, and Sundin as solid players who could fetch something decent on the market but also could be around for the rebuilding process (Mats, in particular, seems committed to staying here regardless).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jan 12 2008, 01:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The problem with the Marlies is that it isn't really a young team. MLSE wanted to make that team marketable and since the team has virtually no young prospects, they went out and signed a bunch of older veterans. They look good because they're experienced fringe NHL players facing raw, young prospects. The Leafs are eerily similar to the Knicks (not that bad, but there's a few parallels). The upper management lacks hockey knowledge and can't seem to recognize how incompetent the front office is. Yet, there's no pressure for any change to occur since they're still selling out and making money. This team should've been rebuilt right after they cut all ties with Pat Quinn. It was clear after a season, that the team was not built to play in the post-lockout NHL and the roster was basically Quinn's and didn't really suit Paul Maurice's coaching style. Instead, we've signed mid-level busts each season (Kubina, Blake), traded away what little prospects we've had (Raycroft), and overpaid for our own players (McCabe, Tucker). Right now, they need to get rid of all of those listed players. I'd consider Toskala, Kaberle, and Sundin as solid players who could fetch something decent on the market but also could be around for the rebuilding process (Mats, in particular, seems committed to staying here regardless).</div> You really nailed it. Problem with Toronto's youth is that they are breakable. White has been the only guy who has been able to stay healthy as Wellwood and Colaiacovo have spent time down. Also the whole goalie situation is just a deathblow. Toronto being a hockey city kills it's goalies just like Montreal and Calgary. Raycroft is never going to turn into that rookie he once was while Tosk is 30 years old. If the Leafs decide to pull the plug this year, they would be smart and bring up Justin Pogge for a couple games this year.
