The panic button has hit Toronto, and the thought is to bring in blue-chip GM Brian Burke. The question I have to ask is simply, why?
It is not nearly as bad as the fans and media have made this circus out to be, and it won't take a high profile GM to fix this, just one with a little more experience than Dave Nonis, or John Ferguson Jr.
If the Leafs are serious about the rebuilding phase, then the logical step would be to try and finish as poorly as possible next season and get in on the Jonathan Tavares sweepstakes.
In fact, with the way the Pittsburgh Penguins are rolling through this year's playoffs, I would reccommend this to other teams that have been on the cusp of the playoffs, only to finish two points out the last few years and end up with a lousy draft pick for their efforts.
The only drawback to this plan is that with the lottery set-up, there is no telling what place the Leafs would pick, and it could cost them some playoff revenue. But the Buds need more money like Britney Spears needs kids—it wouldn't hurt them if they didn't have it!
But now lets talk fixing this by next year.
The Philadelphia Flyers did it! Why can't the Leafs?
Let's start in goal. Vesa Toskala is a keeper. Andrew Raycroft, as much as I hate saying it, must go. A buyout would be the logical thing to do, so that Justin Pogge can start getting eased into the role next season, he is a definite blue chipper.
On defence, yes—the king of the "can-opener," Bryan McCabe, wasn't too good last year, but he may bounce back. Kaberle is always a threat on the powerplay, and Kubina after his injuries looked not too bad, yet five million a season may have been a little hefty.
If Carlo Colaiacovo can stay healthy, he is a nice fit, and Ian White is only gonna get better.
So there is a pretty decent top five. If the Maple Leafs could open their pockets a little with the money they save on Sundin they could make a run at Brian Campbell, or at the very least shore up their top six by adding players like 27-year-old Mike Commodore, who has a ton of playoff experience, or Brad Stuart, who is also 27 and hitting the prime of his career.
Up front, it is time to part ways with Mats Sundin. If anything, just to give the team a face lift and free up a little money. This could hurt Antropov's production, which was great last year—but lets assume it won't.
I didn't like the Jason Blake signing, though i think him and Kyle Wellwood could make a nice fit eventually. Darcy Tucker will bounce back because he is a competitor, and the rest of the forwards are young and gonna just get better. Steen, Stajan, Pohl, and Williams are all pretty good prospects. Keep Dominic Moore, as he showed signs late last season, plus could be signed for cheap, and at 26 could be a bargain.
The free agent market isn't great this season for forwards but two would definitely be worth targeting—Daymond Langkow and Sean Avery. You get those two and you have yourself a winner, or at least a fighting chance next season.
If you look around the league it doesn't take much to make a winner, especially if you can play a system and stick with it. Ron Wilson would be a nice hire, and could be the last piece of the puzzle...now who says they need Brian Burke?
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about 1 month ago
News reports like this are the reasons why the leafs management is making so much money: McCabe, wasn't too good last year, but he may bounce back, Kubina looked not too bad, Colaiacovo can stay healthy he is a nice fit, Jason Blake and Kyle Wellwood could make a nice fit eventually, Darcy Tucker will bounce back because he is a competitor, and the rest of the forwards are young and gonna just get better.
Dude, this roaster had 5 years to bounce back. It has failed then and it will fail in the future. Don't depend on these sorry bunch of losers to turn this league into a winning franchise. First and foremost McCabe sucks!!, Kubina isn't worth the money the management pays him, Coaiacovo is never round most season, Blake is useless, wellwood is as useful as a traffic cone. The one that made me burst into laughter was the fact you thought Tucker was a competitor. PLEASE. Are you watching the leafs games or what? I hope you never write an article like this one again. If you are willing to write your opinions, keep them to yourselves because you are only embarrassing yourself. Now I know why the leafs stink and it's because of articles like this. Sorry if I offended you. Just statin' the facts.
about 1 month ago
are u even a leaf fan god go back to ottawa where u belong, that team could use ur help more then ours. and don't make fun of wellwood, if u had three surgury's on ur groin in one year u prob won't skte that good either. he'll come back next year just to show u out. and coaiacovo is a really good defence it's not his fault he keeps gettin injuried. he makes the big hits and sometimes the results can be deathly for both players. darcy tucker is the heart of the leafs so he has to stay no matter how he plays and he started playin great at the end of the season. kubina isn't worth the money but thats the clubs fault for signin hiim that high. he's still a good player. and mccabe has gotten stronger defencesively of late over then the scorin on his own net he was pretty good. and may i just say if toskala was in net it prob won't hav went in anyway. if ur gona make fun of every single one of our players then ur obivessly not a leaf fan. so y do u care what the fuck we do.
p.s u forgot to make fun of kaberle and toskala oh wait is that cause u can't.
from about 1 month ago
Buddy, I wasn't all up in your face was I? I was just pin pointing the misguided facts presented in this article. Since you willing discourage my opinion I might as well fix a little of what you said. Wellwood sucks period. I don't care if he had 99 surgury's on his groin, if you are not fit to play in the NHL than don't. Wellwood had more than 4 years to bounce back, and each year he ends up with an injury. Poor leaf souls want to give him another year to get back on the horse. This guy was useless. And whenever he does get injured this guy takes a heck of a long time to heal. I wouldn't be this up his behind if he scored 40 goals or something, but this guy can't produce nor can he stay healthy. Useless traffic cone is what he is. He should join the andrew raycroft march band and march all the way back to where ever the hell they came from. As for colaiacovo (which you misspelled?) is a another loser who can't stay healthy. He's good don't get me wrong. He's real good when he shows up for the 9 games. You my friend got your head way up your behind that you can't tell the difference between a talented player and a one that plain sucks. That brings me to my last point. Tucker. Are you kidding me? This guy earns what 3 mills a year and contributes like nothing to the team. He loses all fights he gets into, he can't score many goals, and he certainly doesn't deserve to wear the blue and white. I really hope Fletcher ships him back to tampa or something. McCabe? well you are dreamin if you think this guy is a dependable defendent, oh wait he did manage to bounce back for the last 10 games and managed to suck the past 72 games. After reading your comment it makes me wonder if you were sleeping through the last couple leaf seasons. Sorry if I offended you.
about 1 month ago
so much talk about the leafs future yet you left out one name, anton stralman...he played great for the leafs this year, he has puck moving ability that is only going to get better (not that its bad now) his confidence will get a boost and guys cmon, the guy who wrote the article isnt that great with his grammar but he still brought up some great points....kaberle is an amazing defencemen, he was one of the top defencemen in the worlds this last month, he has a great shot when he uses it and with kubina on the PP with him, they can be deadly....all they need is time and space...space that has to be created by the forwards with their size like antropov, he had a good year but couldve done better
last but not least, just because the leafs didnt have a good year, doesnt mean you can turn all their positives to negatives, cmon, tucker has passion on the ice that swings momentum, they have a great young system (their farm team is in the east final for the calder cup for christ sake) mccabe had a good year but yet again, ppl are looking at all the turnovers, the own goal vs buffalo...seriously give him a break and give him a year to bounce back instead of judging him on 1 year of a series of unfortunate events.....raycroft needs to go, pogge needs to be brought up, wellwood needs more confidence with the puck even though he had groin injuries and they take time...i learned the hard way thats all i have to say about that.....the leafs have a bright future...they just need the small pieces put into place....a good GM who wont screw a team over like JFJ, a new coach and less injuries...they are in a good position with a great draft class coming in......to win, one must be smart with their decisions, something JFJ knew nothing about, thus 3 years without a post-season...they can bounce back next year, i mean, philly bounced from the basement to a conference final in one year, the leafs can do the same
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