Toronto Maple Leafs Limbo into Middle of the Pack

Call the M*A*S*H unit—Chad Kilger just went AWOL.

If you hadn't heard, Kilger has bolted from his new team, the Florida Panthers, just a week after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Who knew that they'd still be going crazy once they left the loony bin? I mean Bryan McCabe did everything but take a lesson from the Corporal Klinger School of Fashion and he's still living life in the Blue and White.

And what a life it is.

Side Note: Is it the new trend to get traded somewhere and refuse to play for the team now? I mean, since Alonzo Mourning did it to the Raptors a few years ago it's been the popular trend amongst disgruntled players. Go figure you can't convince a guy to waive his no-trade clause to come to your team, and the ones who don't have the no-trade clauses could just as easily sit out the rest of the year. I love pro sports.

One day you're doing the math on scenarios to get your team to the playoffs and the next you're biting your nails, hoping you can get the inside track on the Surge for Stamkos. (I told you, this name won't go away.)

The funny thing is, the idea that this team isn't really going to go anywhere in the standings—they're just going to sit there in 12th spot—is a feeling I can't chase.

While the team is mired in this middle-ground of woe, the fan base is right there a long with them. 

Some say the team should start Andrew Raycroft the rest of the way, while others say that this team could have enough jive, enough energy, enough moxie to be able to make it to the playoffs. And once you're in the playoffs anything can happen, right?

But of course, life doesn't work that way.

Andrew Raycroft will probably see one game before the end of the season at this rate, meaning it appears to be "all hands on deck" in Leaf-Land. (A navy and an army reference? Sign me up for the National Guard while you're at it...)

But just when all those "hands" start making light work of the schedule, the team lays an egg like they did last night against New Jersey.

Then there's the fact that Mats Sundin is on a rampage—he's simply dominating, trying to lead by example, practicing what he's preaching in never giving up on the team.

Then you have to ask: Where IS the rest of the team? Can anyone not on the first line actually score?

You've also got Paul Maurice who won't give up on the playoffs. But if he were to say "we're prepared to slip into the lower three teams of the league" he'd be gone before the new GM even had a say.

Speaking of the new GM: You've also got the minute-by-minute Leafs GM Search Update, which looks a little something like this:

Feb. 18: Leafs are interested in Brian Burke.

Feb. 19: Burke not interested in the Leafs.

Feb. 21: Leafs seem to be leaning toward Colin Campbell to take over reigns as GM.

Feb. 22: Burke is back on the Leafs radar.

Feb. 23: Burke still not interested in Leafs job

Which leaves me with one question: Why has nobody called up Bill Simmons to see if he's interested in sticking it to the Bruins by working some magic with their division rivals?

I mean, it's not the NBA, but after listening to him, I'd be willing to give him the chance to reshape any professional sports franchise in the world.

Even if the GM crisis were to be solved tomorrow, the Leafs are still six points out of a playoff spot—six points that look like an eternity when you've played (at least) one more game than six of the eight playoff teams, your schedule for the month of March is comprised of six of the teams ahead of you in the standings, and you're playing for a fan base that can't decide what it wants with a roster that isn't sure which direction it should be going.

Oh, and did I mention that against those six teams (Ottawa, Montreal, New Jersey, the Islanders, Boston, and Buffalo) that the Leafs are 11-14-5?

Granted it's the year of the underdog (Colorado, the Giants, an American winning that Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest), but if that record is any indication of what the month of March is going to be like, then this team will stay in the Eastern Conference basement.

Of the bottom seven teams in the East, the Leafs are fourth-worst. In other words, the middle of the mediocre.

Seems fitting for a team that just can't make up it's mind, doesn't it?