Maple Leafs Log: Reflecting on the '07-'08 Season

Forgive the point-form analysis, but it's the only way I can prevent myself from writing too much about each point.

1. There is no doubt that this team cannot win as it is currently composed. If 3 consecutive seasons out of the playoffs doesn't prove this, then the constant injuries, under-performing veterans and a stagnated young core must be addressed.

2. Changes can and will be made over the course of the summer using a variety of means including buy-out (Raycroft, Bell), trade (McCabe or Kubina) and potentially retirement (Sundin). I could see them looking to trade Blake and potentially Tucker, though it's never a good idea to have a team comprised of 100% youth. I wouldn't advise ditching guys like Stajan, Steen, Wellwood or Colaiacovo - but change for the sake of change might be an answer to the Leafs woes since the lockout. Of that group, I wouldn't be surprised to see Raycroft, McCabe, Blake, Bell, Stajan and Wellwood in a different jersey come training camp.

3. JFJ must have been smiling during the team's late season push, but trust the decision to fire him, as the team has clearly shown no ability to win when it counts. Part of that blame must be put on one man's vision of what an NHL team roster should look like.

4. The "Muskoka Five" or the "NTC Mafia" must not be blamed for their choice to remain with the team. I'd even go so far as to overlook JFJ for signing them to these deals. The mandate to spend to the cap-limit and push for the play-offs has been a clear signal from upper management from day one of Ferguson's tenure as GM. In order to keep salary costs down, JFJ employed every possible contract tactic to be able to fit as much "talent" on his roster as possible. This meant signing injury-prone players like Lindros and Allison to incentive-laden contracts, trading for high-risk, high-return players like Raycroft and Bell and ultimately handing out multiple no-trade clauses to veteran players.

5. The danger of adding a NTC (or it's evil brother NMC) to a contract, is that it ultimately limits the coach and GM's ability to  motivate the player.  No longer can you threaten  to  trade  or send down an under-achiever - your only choice to is to limit ice-time or bench the player. In Toronto's case, I have no doubt that the coutry club atmosphere owns a direct link to the players fortunate enough to have negotiated a NT or NMC.

All for now, the Maple Leaf Forever.