Maple Leafs Have Long Way to Go Before They Are Contenders

When I look at the Leafs roster, I can’t say it's full of bad players, but it is full of a bunch of mediocre players. There is no one on this team that is going to stand out and be able to carry this team.

First of all look, at the defense. I don’t even know how many players they have competing for a spot on the blue line, but the worst part is its not even because they’re all good defensemen, it’s because they all deserve a spot on the third line, but can’t really be put in the AHL, either, simply because they are slightly too good for it.

Now we turn to the forward lines. The Leafs have, let's count...zero first line guys. The only top liner they could’ve had for this year would’ve been Mats Sundin, but now he’s over in Sweden somewhere about to do an interview with some guy from “Sportsnet,” and it’s all about why he’s taken so long with his decision and if he's moved any closer to a decision.

All the Sundin drama would be much better if we just forgot about it, but that is extremely hard to do, considering that about six or seven different teams are trying move players around on the slight chance he returns to the NHL and wants it to be with their team.

Anyway, back to the Leafs (sorry about the Sundin detour), I think all these guys the Leafs have are amazing. This is only true when they are accompanied by a more skilled player, though; when it’s just them out for a walk together, who do they have to set them up, or for them set up? All these gritty players mean nothing without a solid top-two forward lines to disperse them through.

Taking this back to my opening statement, “to be the best, you have to beat the best.” The Leafs have no one that will beat the best. So, as you know, they are not the best, and will not be the best for quite a while.

In closing, all the Leafs fans (myself included) will have to wait another five years or so before we have any hope at winning by “being the best.”