While in Montreal, the media is constantly attacking Gainey for not loading les Habitants with more Francophone players, Toronto seems to be shrugging off the fact that Burke and Fletcher have loaded the leafs with non-Canadian players. 

Burke’s addition of Christian Hanson follows Burke bringing other mediocre American players to hockey’s capital—most recently Jeff Hamilton and Eric Reitz.   

Eight of the top ten current Leaf scorers are not Canadian.  The Leafs threw money at American Jeff Finger in hopes that he could become part of a top four defense led by two Czechs.  They are led in goal by a Finn.

One doesn’t have to be a xenophobe to think that the Leafs could benefit by leveraging some of the passion that exists throughout Southern Ontario and beyond for the white and blue.  The team doesn’t need to be loaded with local boys, but where are the potential heroes to replace Keon, Sittler, and Gilmour? 

Americans Brian Burke and Ron Wilson seem to be too busy watching college games to consider this.