Monday Morning Musings with Me The Big E: Leafs All But Set and More

The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be almost set for next season. With 21 players signed and a little over two million left under the cap there is almost certainly a trade in the works with someone.

While the odds on favorite to be dealt is still long time Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle, I wouldn't take that to the bank just yet.

Although there are newer members of the team, don't think for a second that Brian Burke would hesitate in dealing Versteeg, Armstrong, or anyone else for that matter if the deal is right.

Brian Burke has all but said his mission here in Toronto is to build a dynasty.

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven't seen a dynasty team since, oddly enough, the last time they won the Stanley cup.

It was 1967 and the Leafs had just completed a run that saw them win their fourth cup in six years, drawing to a close the team's second and final real dynasty.

There have been teams that have been pretty good for several years, but they obviously haven't won a cup and therefore cannot fall into the same category.

Dynasty is not a word that is thrown around much anymore. There hasn't been a real hockey dynasty since Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers dominated the better part of the 1980's winning five Stanley Cups in just eight years.

In a salary cap era, it may seem as though the likelihood of a dynasty type team is remote, but it can't be impossible can it?

It appears that Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs may be headed not perhaps in the right direction.

With certainly more of a youth movement than I've seen in the organization in my 40 plus years, and at least the appearance of some depth in the minors, if, and this is a giant if, Burke and his talent laden front office can continue ever so slowly but surely in the same direction, I dare say the possibility is there.

A bold statement I know, but even I can dream can't I?

There are of course still rumblings around the league about the NHL's decision regarding the Ilya Kovalckuk deal.

I was at the same time surprised and not surprised by the move.

On the one hand, Kovi, despite all of his annoyingness, is one of the best players in the league and a marquee attraction no matter where he plays. I used to be of the mind that Bettman was fairly flexible when it came to his little money makers.

Regardless, look for the situation to be resolved to a point by this Friday. I say to a point because if the arbitrator finds in favor of the league, Ilya Kovalchuk will once again be a UFA and the whole saga could potentially start all over again.

I really do doubt that if the deal is ultimately squashed Kovi will remain in the league.  More likely, he will be so pissed off that he will bolt for the KHL faster that Gary Bettman can say " Aw crap"!

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