In early  Feb the Leafs were riding high, They swept the Isles,  they took 3 out of 4 points from the Cup contending Pens.  The whipped Ottawa’s butt, than won a home game vs Edmonon on Feb 6.  The Leafs  were slated to fly to Winn for a game next night.  The Leafs were VERY flat against the Jets, they lost a winnable game 2-1. From than on, occurred the worst collapse in Leaf history.

The question is, what happened within the Leaf organization from that flight from Toronto to Winnipeg that would cause this? Burke needs to address this.  Was it the  rumoured rift between Phanuef & a star young Leaf player that caused this?  Before the Leafs can put this unfortunate season behind them & move forward, this potential problem   needs to be figured out.   Whatever the problem is, , Burke needs to fix this ASAP.  If it’s a case that two players can’t co-exsist, than one of them has to go regardless of who they are.

Sweeping this under the carpet & pretending a problem doesn’t exsist has the potential to cause more heartache for the Leafs & their fans.  Wilson was the scapegoat, but was  he the problem?  If so, than why when Carlyle was hired, why did the team keep on losing? They won like one out of eight when RC took over. The Leafs started to only play better when they were elimnated.  When RC took over, they certainly had plenty of games left to make a serious push for the playoffs, but the losses kept mounting.

I don’t believe the theory that  the Leafs collapse was due to a lack of talent catching up to them.  This team proved that they when on their game, they can compete with anyone.  They are certainly amongst the speediest teams.  Burke better find out what caused the season to blow up. Obviously the problem  wasn’t addressed with a coaching change.  Or else as soon as Wilson’s butt went out the door, the Leafs would have caught lightning in a bottle which  they didn’t.

Let’s see what goes on with the Leafs this off season.  Let’s hope Burke brings the hammer down on the WHAT  or the  WHO  that caused the Leafs to  falter so badly in such a short time.

It’s becoming obvious that the Leafs #1 problem is goaltending.  Nor Reimer or Gustavsson are  coming up with key saves at the critical times in the games.   It’s obvious that the combo of Riem & Gus is not going to be good enough to get us into the playoffs.

I look at the St.Louis goaltending situation.  Elliot is playing incredible. They have 2 great goalie propects on the very near horizon. Perhaps Burke can make  an enquiry to see if Halak can be pryed from the Blues.  He’s been a #1 b4. He’s  played in the East. He certainly would be an upgrade over Reim & Gus.   I’d say if we can get Halak, see what the market  is for Reim. If it’s soft, than keep Reim & either trade Gus for whatever u can get or just let him walk away as a UFA next July, but if you can package Reim for something really good, re-sign Gus to keep him next year with Halak.

I have to believe that with consistent goaltending, the Leafs could  be  sitting very nicely even with Pittsburgh & Ottawa. Instead the Leafs are  just very lucky to be  barely hanging on to the 8th spot with Washington, Winnipeg, Montreal & Tampa on our heels.

Honestly I’m surprised the Blues with 2  number  one goalies, they wouldn’t be looking to move Halak for something else that can help him rather than have  a #1 goalie sitting on the bench.  Remember Fletcher in 1992? Due to having a great young Potvin in net, he traded Fuhr for two time 59 goal scorer in Andreychuk.  The Blues should be thinking this way.

I would love to see Halak in a Leaf uniform, sooner than later.    Don’t wait till the Leafs fall to far  too behind in the East.

If Halak is available, go get em Burke!!!!!

Of course the Leafs have lots of depth to make minor deals by the 27th of February but I’ve gone through the NHL rosters of 29 other teams & unfortunately the “big” deal for the Leafs isn’t very unlikely at least for that proven commodity that will for sure help this team.

I’m sure plenty of marginal players will be available like Penner & as well as young guys with great  potential but who have yet to prove themselves playing on a regular basis.  Neither of these two types of players are likely to make the Leafs any better this year. Obviously I don’t want the Leafs to mortgage the future for anybody.  The only thing Burke can do is try to make a smart trade like the  Phanuef trade only this time getting a top 6 center or a goalie who is proven & can help the Leafs now & for the future.  Unfortunately what the Leafs need to really help them just isn’t  available.  Ya the Leafs could try to get a young center like Cody Hodgson or the young goalie  Cory Schneider but they are in the middle of a playoff race, Leafs already have 2 goalies who lack experience,  they are going to put another inexperienced goalie in the mix?  Plus the Leafs already have enough centers who aren’t exactly pure #1 centerman. Too risky for the Leafs to gamble on guys who aren’t proven  or ready to be thrust into the crazy limelight of the Toronto market as #1 everyday players.

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The Dion Phanuef trade was a thing of genius for Brian Burke. He got a top 4 d-man, our leader, our captain in Dion plus a great up coming d-man in Aulie for basically expendable parts WITHOUT giving up any picks or prospects.

This trade really helped shape the Leafs.  It’s quite obvious that the Leafs are lacking maybe that one piece of the puzzle to push them over the hump & into the playoffs.  Not if  but when Buffalo & Washington get their A game going, the Leafs as they are today are going be in real danger of falling further in the East.  Hard to believe but even with the log jam on the Leafs D,  they not only need an upgrade for a top 6 center but they need  to get  shutdown D man.  We have the offensive  guys in Liles,  Franson & Gardiner. Phanuef, Schenn & Aulie are the shut down guys but  Schenn is inconsistent, Aulie needs to still develop & Phanuef is hot & cold. I  see Gunnarsson as the odd man out if a trade happens.

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It’s quite obvious that the Leafs achilles heel this year will be offence.  It’s likely that the Leafs will lose  a lot of close games due to   an inconsistent offence.  Connolly will probably be in & out  of the lineup all season.  Bozak going into his second full season is again having a golden opportunity to take the #1 center job but thus far, a center playing on the top line with  just one  goal is simply not good enough   So what’s the answer?  A trade? That sounds like the easy  answer but  any center you acquire  must be head over heels better than Bozak & Connolly cause he’s being brought  in to play with Kessel.  The two points on that are: a) any center who is better than the above mentioned is  simply either NOT available or the price is simple too ridiculous  & b) centers who are available,  if your unsure he’s going to be an upgrade, it’s pointless to bring in a  guy like that.

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