Trouble for Maple Leafs: Problems With JFJ

After an embarrassing western road trip, the plummeting Leafs show no sign of contending for a playoff spot, getting zero points in three games including last place LA Kings. Now, with the return of netminder Toskala the Leafs have no one to blame and are left just like they were left after the game against Anaheim, with NOTHING.

So now I ask you Leaf Nation-ers, “What now?” Maybe make a trade to make the future of this team better or fire Paul Maurice...heck why not fire the entire coaching staff? A change is desperately needed, but why is JFJ still sitting in the GM’s box night after night pretending to be angry when this team loses?

Tuka Rask is arguably the best goalie prospect in the NHL and JFJ traded him to Boston who relished the opportunity that was given to them on a golden plate. Rask played his first ever NHL game against the Leafs earlier this year making JFJ wince a little in his seat. Ferguson saw a better netminder in Raycroft for some odd reason, albeit he did win rookie of the year his first year and was quite impressive, but didn’t JFJ see his second season earning only eight wins in 30 games played?

McCabe has shown his value by losing the puck at costly situations, turning ties and wins into loses, sitting out for two months with an injury, not using the only good asset he has (his shot), and of course, scoring in his own net. Kubina is a work horse and a good player overall but is he worth the $5 million he gets per season? Trading away picks has been something the Leafs love doing. The trade acquiring Bell and Toskala may be a decent move JFJ has done as the issue in goal was determined. But I would prefer seeing recent gold winner with team Canada at the Spangler Cup, Curtis Joseph between the pipes with an Esposito or a Cherepenov (Picks traded away).

How about the long-awaited search for a winger to play with Sundin supposedly over with Blake being our savior? With many seasons with 20 plus goals and last season scoring 40 goals, playing along side with Sundin was surely to make him a 50+ goal scorer right? Wrong, dead-wrong.

Blake is playing one of his worst seasons with only eight goals and on pace for 15. JFJ has made many mistakes and hasn’t learnt from any of them. Getting rid of him before the trade deadline will be best for the organization. His riddance will help this team in need of desperate help, and will be able to do the only option left for the Leafs to do, to rebuild.

I will be waiting for the next news conference when I see Richard Peddie giving it instead of Paul Maurice or JFJ and it should be clear by now what that conference should be all about.