More Questions Than Answers For Toronto Maple Leafs In the Second Half

With seven weeks to go before the NHL’s trade deadline, a lot of speculations will be abound as to whether or not the Maple Leafs can right the ship and make the playoffs. 

As the deadline approaches there are several questions to be answered.  One of the biggest questions that needs to be answered is the potential trade of long time team captain, Mats Sundin. 

Sundin is enjoying a great year this season, on pace for 39 goals and 95 points. 

A deal that sees Sundin leave Toronto would be massive on many fronts, but none more so than what it does for the future of the franchise.  Last season, Peter Forsberg was the rental that everyone was after, and he fetched quite a deal for the Philadelphia Flyers. 

In exchange for Forsberg, the Flyers received draft picks and two quality prospects, one of which has jumped into the lineup with little difficulty this season, the other doing quite well developing in the minor system. 

One would think that Mats could certainly get more for the Leafs, as he is healthier than Forsberg, and is having a great year, on a not so great team.  In order for this franchise to being a rebuild, a change of the guard is needed on many fronts. 

First, Mats himself.  He’s been a great player, and more importantly a great guy and he fully deserves his shot at the Cup, making a deal a great move for him. 

Also, the deal would be a good move for the Maple Leafs as an organization.  The trade would net the Leafs many valuable assets that are necessary for the rebuild to begin.

On another level, I feel the rebuild can't begin until Sundin is moved, as I feel it would change the culture of the team.          

The questions don’t stop there however.  It then shifts to the management.  There is much speculation that coach Paul Maurice’s job is in danger, as is that of John Ferguson Jr.  This has to make you wonder whether or not these two are the right men for the rebuild job, or to be in charge of trading arguably the team’s greatest player. 

It appears Ferguson is caught in a catch 22.  Its been widely speculated that if this team doesn’t make the playoffs, he will not return next season as General Manager.  If this is the case, you would have to believe that he will not move Sundin, in an attempt to keep his job. 

Also, if he is in charge of doing the Sundin trade, is he really the man for the job?  His track record in past trades has not been very flattering too him, and this could definitely be the biggest trade in club history.           

With all the trade talk, rebuild talk and firings being discussed, it’s sometimes lost in the shuffle that the Toronto Maple Leafs sit in 13th, but are only four points out of the eighth and final playoff spot.  The season certainly isn’t lost for sure, but from what we have seen in 42 games so far from this squad, it’s hard to believe they would be a legitimate threat to take the cup this season. 

Obviously more consistency, and better defensive efforts, not just from the defence but from the team as a whole is needed on a nightly basis. 

Team toughness is another thing.  The problem is it doesn’t exist.  Last week the Philadelphia Flyers ran all over the Leafs, and not one player tried to stop them.  Teams feel the Maple Leafs are becoming easy to play against, and that can be a big problem going forward . 

So it depends on how you look at the team, the second half of the season could be fun, it could be a disaster.  Through 42 games, this team has shown us flashes of brilliance.  For the most part though, they have been far too inconsistent and too flat on many nights to convince anyone. 

With all this inconsistency, and all the trade talk, it feels like going forward, nothing is a sure thing. 

The only thing that we do know for certain is that none of the men that don that Blue and White sweater this season want to have the dubious distinction of being on the Maple Leafs squad that misses the  playoffs three seasons in a row for the first time in the franchises proud history.