It's been a while...

I seem to have failed several times in my attempt to become a consistent blogger. I'm not making any guarantees, but why not try again?

A whole lot has happened since I last posted anything. The last time I posted was following John Ferguson's dismissal. It's been a while, yet nothing has really changed with the Maple Leafs and it seems that nothing will during the off season. Cliff Fletcher was brought in the make changes, but couldn't at the trade deadline because of the no-movement clauses. He asked the potentially most coveted player on deadline day, Mats Sundin, to agree to a trade, but as we know Mats declined. Now the 'Silver Fox' says he wants Sundin back. Sorry, what was that? The man you wanted so desperately to trade 2 months ago is now being asked to come back?

It seemed like there was a glimmer of hope for the future of this franchise. Sundin surely wouldn't stick around for anymore of this. The Leafs would get a nice package of a prospect and a draft pick and would remain at the bottom of the standings to assure a solid top 5 pick in what many consider the strongest draft in years. But none of that happened. Hal Gill, Wade Belak and Chad Kilger were sent packing for draft picks - solid moves for the most part, clearing some cap space and getting something in return for the future. Those are not moves of great significance however.

Fletcher was brought in specifically to clean house, but has done little in that regard. The no-trades have made that an extremely daunting task. Let's look at what can or may be done during the summer months.

Pavel Kubina
After a deal was in place to ship Pavel Kubina to San Jose, the blueliner had a change of plans following a 5-0 defeat over Ottawa. No deal there, but the Leafs have a 2 month window during the off season where Kubina's no trade becomes void with the Leafs out of the playoffs. So there's hope to ship off Kubina and the remaining 10 million dollars of his contract out of Toronto. Kubina's red hot play over the last 2 months has certainly made him an intriguing commodity for a team needing a second pairing defenseman who can help on the powerplay.

Darcy Tucker
At three million a season, Tucker might be the most overpaid third line checker in the NHL. But at three million a season, Tucker might be a reasonable buyout option for the Leafs. With the salary cap going up, the portion of the buyout that counts against the cap shouldn't be too much of a problem for the team. What's the problem is whether the MLSE brass will swallow some pride and accept the buyout as an option. Egos may get in the way here, but the only way to move Tucker is via the buyout.

Bryan McCabe
Though McCabe has made 7.15 million a season over the past 2 seasons, his contract is front loaded and his salary takes a dip to 6.15 next season and 4.15 the following two seasons. It might be easier for the Leafs to find takers for McCabe either during the next season or at it's conclusion, but he is certainly more tradeable in future than he was in the past. McCabe was adamant in receiving a no-movement clause for family reasons when he signed his deal two years ago, but McCabe's wife is from the New York area and the family might be inclined to accept a move to the Rangers. New York has never been afraid to take on salary. With the cap going up and with three spots open on the Rangers blueline after Mara, Malik and Roszival become UFA's this summer, McCabe and NYC might be the perfect match.

Tomas Kaberle
Kaberle, along with Vesa Toskala, might be the only untradeable parts on this team. He's a relative bargain at 4.25 million a season and after an unusually slow start (he can thank Cam Janssen for that) Kaberle been very good this year.

That brings us back to the beginning and Mats Sundin. He's the franchise leader in goals and points. He has given the team everything over the past 12 seasons, 9 of which he has captained. His loyalty to this team is unquestioned (any remaining doubt was erased after the trade deadline, we know that, though it might have hurt the franchise down the road.) He's everything you want in a teammate and has a skill level matched by only a handful of others on this planet, but it's time to move on. Even if he agrees to sign for far less than what he'd receive on the open market, the Leafs shouldn't bring him back. It's time to move on, it's time to go in a new direction, it's time to rebuild it all.

This is the franchise's opportunity to move in a completely new direction, to sign a general manager with a winning pedigree who is willing to build the team from the ground up. There's no doubt that they will be able to bring someone in. It might not be Brian Burke (who should be at the very top of the list and remains a possibility) but it could be someone like Darcy Regier or Doug Armstrong or anyone has had the experience of building a winning hockey club. There are plenty of options on the management side and if one of those winning managers is brought in, there's no doubt that he will demand exclusive rights of rebuilding the team. If Fletcher is in fact telling the truth about wanting Mats back then it appears nothing will ever change and the Leafs will not contend for the Stanley Cup for many years to come.

I haven't been around in a while, I know, but nothing ever seems to change around here anyways. It sounds bleak but it's true. I hope I am wrong Leaf fans.