Patience Toronto Maple Leafs Fans Patience!

In the wake of Free Agent signings, I'm sure everyone in Leaf Land will be belly aching once the likes of Marian Hossa, Brian Campbell, Wade Redden, and possibly Mats Sundin sign elsewhere. That may actually be a good thing.

Let's face some realities here. First off, Cliff Fletcher is an interim General Manager who is doing a great job clearing the deck. He bought out Darcy Tucker, which is a bold move but a good one.  He also got rid of Andrew Raycroft who cleared waivers and passed on Kyle Wellwood with good reason.

Let's say Cliff goes after lesser likes such as Matt Cooke and Jeff Finger like some speculate, at least if Cliff leaves five to seven million dollars left under the cap. It won't handcuff the new incoming General Manager whom everyone is all but sure that will be Brian Burke next year.

It is a heck of a better situation than the one Cliff Fletcher has been left with thanks primarily to John Ferguson Jr. and Richard Peddie. Cliff has been given the task of cleaning up a disastrous under-performing roster.

You can't fix that overnight thanks to no trade, no movement contracts. Now if Brian McCabe wakes up and does the admirable thing of waving his no trade clause because simply put, you are not wanted, would be the smart move.

I really believe it's time for the Leaf fans to suck it up this season and play the patience card. Cliff also did what has not been done for a long time, trade up in the draft for a player the organization really wanted in Luke Schenn.

Yes, they gave up a second and third round pick to get him, but it could have a huge long term benefit if he becomes a franchise player. As for this season, if the Leafs tank, well that brings in a real positive in the possibility of picking up John Tavares in next years draft.

To me personally, I enjoy watching the Leafs take the long road home to becoming a contender than pretending, wishing, or even praying that the Leafs will make the playoffs with  last years roster, only to be blown out in the first round.

Tell me something.  Look at this year’s Stanley Cup Final, Detroit (the winner) and Pittsburgh (the runner up). The Leafs are not even a close third or 17^th, which guess what, that puts you out of the playoff picture in both Conferences.

This and that, everyone keeps counting the years since the Leafs last one the Cup, I wonder how sweet it is for Spain not having won their Cup since 1964.