The season is finally, mercifully, over. For the first time since the 1997-1998 campaign the Toronto Maple Leafs finished with fewer than 90 points.
We're in for one long offseason my friends, and I've got a ton of questions that need to be answered.
It hasn't actually set in that the season is over. It feels a little bit surreal, even. Like I'm trapped in this three year nightmare with a playoff game nowhere in sight. I guess it'll hit home once the second season begins and I'm cheering for the Washington Capitals instead of my Leafs.
These are difficult times, indeed. The franchise is in dire straits. It's impossible to know whether the Leafs can pull a Montreal or Philadelphia and be competitive one year after missing the playoffs. There are simply too many questions to be answered.
In honour of that beautiful segue way, lets do this: 20 Questions, Toronto Maple Leafs excruciatingly long offseason edition.
1. Will the Leafs target Brian Burke as their new general manager? The search for a new president and GM, in typical Leafs fashion, doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Perhaps the Leafs are waiting for playoffs to end so they can approach Burke with an offer he simply can't refuse.
2. Like those "What Would Jesus Do?"
8 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Chris TMC about 1 year ago
"At this point, I'm willing to take back a single prospect, or even a second-round pick, for #24."
No dice.
If you want the Isles to be saddled with the crazy contreact that YOUR team gave him, youre not getting anything from the Isles or anyone else for them doing it!
Youd better be prepared to be the ones dishing out a prospect or a 2nd round pick, not GETTING one.
Its that, buy him out, or just deal with the situation the Leafs made for themselves.
But nobody- NOBODY- is going to pay YOU to take away one of YOUR problems and make it their own.
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eyebleaf about 1 year ago
i don't know. The Isles aren't exactly in great shape, and McCabe's contract isn't as big of an albatross as people like to think. The big money years have already been paid out by the Leafs. He's owed $6.15 next season and $4.15 the next two. Average cap hit is $5.75. Still pretty bad, but the Islanders def have the room.
i think for a draft pick or bush prospect someone will take a chance on McCabe. He's only one year removed from 2 back-to-back 60 point seasons.
How am I doing...are you convinced yet?
My background isn't in sales...sorry
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Don't get me wrong, I actually love McCabe and I literally cried for days when the Isles traded him away. But he isnt our kid Captain anymore, he is an older overpaid guy whose team hasnt made the playoffs for years. And, his teams fans and media have taken great pains to blame it squarely on him whenever possible! We can read the Toronto papers and blogs and such here in NY, you know lol.
Id did die down, but we all know it happened.
Im telling you, I dont see any way the Leafs get a 2nd rounder or a valuable prospect for him, even though he really is a good guy. Its not really about Bryan himself- its that everyone knows that Torontos need to move on from their overblown contracts is greater than any other teams need for Bryan. Since Bryan isnt going to allow the Leafs to trade him anywhere except MAYBE the Islanders (and that is a huge if,) that is another reason that the Isles in particular arent going to give the Leafs squat for the guy.
After all- the Isles can just wait till the Leafs cant take it anymore and buy him out... then the Isles can offer him a reasonable contract. Do you think he would say no? In that case, the Isles would have him AND not have to give the leafs a flippin thing.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Even if these changes are made, the leafs future looks hopeless. We need change, and Sundin is not the answer. I really hope he asks for 7 million contract, so Fletcher can refuse. And if he signs onto another team, he will see HELL from leafs fan.
Leafs MUST GET RID OF =Bell, McCabe, Tucker, Raycroft, Wellwood, Sundin, Blake, Kubina. Otherwise it's going to be a VERY long 2008-2009 NHL season.
If Fletcher doesn't sign Moore, then well that's says it all.
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Timothy W about 1 year ago
Will Leaf fans really be pissed if he goes to a different team? I sure hope not, I hate the leafs but i do respect Sundin, he deserves to be on a contender for once, Leaf fans should suck it up and just let him go and applaud him for doing so, he doesn't deserve hell for playing through hell,
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
And BTW regarding Blake: The Isles did make him an offer and wanted to keep him... the Leafs just offered him so much more. If the Leafs didnt go nuts snatching the only scorer the Isles would have head left, he woudlnt have been your problem this season, either. Crazy how things go, huh? You guys are nnow unhappy you have him and, without him, the Isles LEADING SCORER didnt even hit 50 frickin points. They only had two guys that even hit the 20 goal mark. *shakes head* Absolutely crazy.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
lets hope for a miracle
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Derrick Schelske about 1 year ago
I think it's time for the Leafs to take an unorthodox approach going into the offseason. They need to blow up that roster and start clean.
Lots of people look at the turnaround that the Flyers had and think that it is possible, but the Leafs don't have those upper end prospects.
For the Leafs to build a contending team they need to do the following.
1. They need to trade McCabe, Tucker, and everyone on the roster who is over 30, or even thinks about being 30... hell anyone who can count to 30.
2. They need to trade them for prospects, they only need 1 or 2 top end guys. And the guys on their roster now can probably get you solid role players.
3. They need a checking center, one who can skate like the wind and be a two-way player.
4. They need defencemen, stay at home solid defencemen. For years the Leafs have had guys who can move the puck and score, but they need someone who the fans don't cringe when they hear he's on the ice.
5. They need a coach who can motivate and teach. They need someone who will get fired up and make them think that the world is going to end. And they need the assistant coaches to be guys that can build them back up. I would say a Pat & Pat combo (Burns & Quinn) would bring the fire, but I think that they need someone who they can trust to be there for the next 5-10 years and bring stability back to the program.
6. They need a GM who will allow this to happen. And if you can't find one, go for Bryan Colangelo, or Pinball, they're both in town....
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