Toronto Maple Leafs Create New Identity without Mats Sundin

The rebuilding process was going to take place with the Toronto Maple Leafs one way or another. Unfortunately, former GM John Ferguson Jr. wasn't quite able to grasp that and Cliff Fletcher made more changes in one summer than his predecessor did in the previous three seasons.

Darcy Tucker, Kyle Wellwood, Hal Gill, Bryan McCabe, Chad Kilger, and Wade Belak were all sent to new teams. Mats Sundin still hasn't decided where he wants to play, and you know what, the Leafs look fine without him.

I know, who would have thought it? I'm not claiming that Sundin was the issue, because he clearly came through for this squad on so many occasions during the last few years. But it's hard not to notice how much better the younger guys are playing without him in the lineup.

Without him, there are clearly no high expectations in Leaf Land. It may very well be the dose they need right now. No expectations means no pressure. The Leafs are 5-4-4 this season after 13 games.

Last year, they were 5-5-3 at this point. That's only a one-point increase. Character is a word this team hasn't known the definition of for quite some time. This year, it's already been shown that this squad has it.

Four different matches have already seen this young bunch erase two-goal deficits and win three of them. Toronto was able to force overtime last season, but they just couldn't put the finishing touch on the games.

While the postseason may be out of reach yet again in April, the signs are there that Toronto is heading in the right direction. Recognition has to be given to General Manager Cliff Fletcher, who wasted little time in reconstructing this organization.

New head coach Ron Wilson will bench his best players if they are not producing. That much is for certain. Ask Jason Blake. Mikhail Grabovski has been a great pickup. The energy he's shown every game is admirable and he's finally being rewarded with some points.

Matt Stajan has gotten it into gear after being a healthy scratch early on. Niklas Hagman is finding some chemistry with Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin, who possibly has the best shot on this Leafs team.

Hagman's snow-job on Marty Brodeur in the shootout against the Devils last week was a clever distraction method. It's something you certainly wouldn't have seen the previous year from a Leafs player. Even Brodeur had a smile on his face afterwards.

Mike Van Ryn is another guy who's proving he wasn't a useless acquisition. His shot is possibly even better than Bryan McCabe's, and he hasn't produced costly giveaways either. 

Also, the move to put Ian White as a forward is just pure genius in my opinion. It's no secret that White has turned the puck over constantly on defense in the past.

Unfortunately for him, most of those turnovers turned into goals for the opposition. He's always had that offensive edge, and he should strive knowing that he doesn't have to worry about the defensive end.

His first goal came in his first game back in the lineup. It's the mindset; realizing that Sundin can't bail these guys out anymore. As a team, they look better without him.

Nothing against the Swede. He's one of the greatest to ever play the game. A change of scenery is just the answer sometimes. The leadership role may not be clearly pasted on one individual, but the whole team is playing.

This wasn't the case in the post-lockout years with Sundin.

Young guys who haven't been given the chance in the past are now getting solid ice time and skating hard for every puck. Dominic Moore was a guy that gave it his all every shift last year, and it hasn't changed this season.

So, while Sundin continues to ponder his decision, the Leafs continue to fight for every point. Who knows, an eighth place spot may be awaiting them in the postseason.

In this league, you can't depend on coming back from from two- or three-goal deficits to win every night. Toronto has to learn how to come out of the gates better. Today, they got down again, and weren't able to overcome a three-goal deficit in Boston.

When they do, it'll be another step in the right direction for this organization.