Toronto Maple Leafs: How To Fix the Problem

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?