Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 People Who Should Be Blamed for Lengthy Playoff Drought

2003-04.

That was the last season the Toronto Maple Leafs made the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Heck, the new joke going around is the last time the Leafs were in the postseason, high definition television wasn't yet around.

For a franchise steeped in tradition, heritage and money, eight years without postseason hockey seems like an eternity.

So who's to blame?

John Ferguson Jr.

If the Maple Leafs spiral to the basement of the league was set in motion by one person in particular, that blame rests with former GM John Ferguson Jr.

When Ferguson was brought to Toronto, it was still before the salary-cap era, where no-trade clauses and high salaries for prolonged periods of time were still the norm.

Unfortunately for the Leafs, and their fans, Ferguson Jr. was not able to adapt very well to the post-lockout salary-cap era, where he dispensed high-paying, long-term contracts worth millions to several players (Bryan McCabe, Tomas Kaberle, Darcy Tucker come to mind), essentially hamstringing himself and the organization from making some necessary moves along the way.

Dealing prospects for older players (see Rask for Raycroft) also ensured the Leafs farm system was not that of an elite team, which came back to hurt the Leafs in later years, when they didn't have top-tier prospects to take over for their aging players.

Brian Burke

This slide is sure to spark some controversy.

Many in Leafs Nation are furious with the job Brian Burke has done as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, while some are willing to stand by him.

Let me say, I understand what both sides are feeling.

One side feels he's stocked the cupboards with some top-tier talent, while the other is frustrated when Burke said he didn't believe in five-year plans, yet is heading into the fifth year as GM with nothing to show for it.

No matter what side of the debate you place yourself on, it's a fact that of the eight years the Leafs have missed the postseason, Burke has now been in charge for over half of the playoff drought, and blame must be placed accordingly.

Goaltenders

From Andrew Raycroft to Vesa Toskala and Jean-Sebastien Giguere to Jonas Gustavsson, the Maple Leafs have struggled to find any semblance of goaltending since the lockout.

While teams continue to find reliable, consistent goaltenders to lead them to—and through—the playoffs, Toronto has gone eight years with mediocre to subpar goaltending.

Whether it was the one-hit wonder in Andrew Raycroft (known by many as "red light Raycroft"), or the phenomenal backup yet not-so-great starter in Vesa Toskala, the Leafs have tried it all.

Trades, free agents and nothing has panned out.

Right now, it's a major hole on this Leafs roster, and one that will need to be filled if they ever hope to snap their current playoff drought.

Ron Wilson

Ron Wilson may go down as one of the most despised coaches in Maple Leafs history.

By the time his tenure in Toronto had come to a close, Wilson and Toronto were not on good terms.

After years of losing—and failed coaching styles—combined with an arrogant attitude and unwillingness to change strategies or alter directions, Wilson was finally sent packing.

Whether or not you agree he was a failure in Toronto, years at the helm of a losing club warrants him a spot on this list.

The Fans and Media

I may take some heat for this one.

Let me start by saying that I, too, am a diehard Leafs fan and proud member of Leafs Nation.

But the pressure we, along with the savage Toronto sports media, put on management is unparalleled in hockey (with the exception of the Montreal Canadiens and their fans).

When Leafs fans are told that it may take years to re-build, they aren't satisfied. When management feel pressure and try to piece together a playoff team and it's unsuccessful, the fans go crazy.

This isn't to say the fans are the guiltiest party in all of this, I'm just saying the fans and media apply a tremendous amount of pressure on management, which can sometimes turn into making hasty decisions if they fear they could lose their job.

Oh, and paying exorbitant amounts of money for tickets and merchandise to support a team that has been losing consistently for eight years isn't exactly a statement to ownership that you're tired of losing.

Follow @LeafsWriterBR