The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking bad. Real bad. There may only be one other franchise in a worst position, the Edmonton Oilers. Brian Burke’s massive ego still hopes that the leafs will make the playoffs. Maybe if he wasn’t so focused with the US Olympic Men’s hockey team, he could make a couple trades to help us out. Our coaching has been questionable too – Oh what a coincidence, Ron Wilson is also working for that US hockey team. Our organization needs to have management and coaching completely devoted to the blue and white – rather than the red, white and blue.
Brian Burke has already saddened multiple Kovalchuk hopefuls in Toronto by stating that the soon to be UFA’s price tag is too hefty for the leafs. Players such as Alexei Ponikarovsky and Matt Stajan have expiring contracts at the end of this season, and should be dealt at the deadline. Vesa Toskala is a UFA, and Jonas Gustavsson will be a RFA. He seems to want to return, and we seem to want to keep him, but one has to think that Burke wants a real, bonafide starter in goal. Curtis Joseph turned the Leafs into instant contenders back when he first joined the team (not the second time). Thomas Vokoun, who reportedly the Florida Panthers are shopping around, would bring in a veteran presence proven to be solid. As well, he is a “manageable” 5.7 million dollar cap hit next season.
Phil Kessel, our most recent savior, had about 31 point in 42 games this season, on pace for 51 in 70. That is not enough for a team with very little other scoring.
Kaberle, our biggest asset come deadline day, has already been told by Burke that his no-trade clause would not asked to be waived. If he is traded, he would make for a nice return of draft picks and prospects, possibly making up for the future lost with Phil Kessel – which may possibly go down as one of the worst trades of the decade, depending on Phil’s continued development.
