Season after season, the Leafs tease their legions with strong regular season play. Not phenomenal, never great; just strong. Strong enough to squeak into the playoffs, even grab home ice for a round once a decade. They're never the favourite, rarely more than a long shot.
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, the Leafs find themselves in a familiar spot. Currently occupying a playoff spot, the Leafs management team will be faced with some interesting puzzles in the coming weeks.
Back when I was a regular blogger, I wrote about the Leafs lack of direction. There is no prevailing strategy, no master plan. For years the Leafs have been thriving in mediocrity, the worst place for a sports team to languish.
The Leafs have 3 options heading into the deadline.
The best, in my view, is to liquidate their assets. Trade Mats while you can still get something in return. Given his play of late, there should be no shortage of substantial offers for the big Swede. Darcy Tucker should be sent packing as well, if for no other reason than the fact that many contenders would covet his skill set.
Next up is the route most traveled by the Leafs of the last decade. Sell the future for immediate help, and do your best to make a run into the playoffs. Find out what valuable assets the organization has for the future (if any) and see what they can fetch you on the trade market. In short, mortgage the future for the present.
Finally, the Leafs can opt to do nothing. Keep Sundin and Tucker, and play the UFA game with them in the off-season. Keep your youth, keep playing well, and squeak into the playoffs. After round 1, round 2 at the latest, they'll be road kill at the feet of the Sabres, Penguins, Devils, or some other, superior team.
Unfortunately, the 3rd (and worst) option is the one most likely to tickle the Leafs' fancy. It is most indicative of what this organization is: lost. The team is afraid of admitting that they're current foundation is inadequate for sustainable success, afraid of committing to a plan because it might not work.
The easiest way out of this predicament is to do nothing. Maintain the status quo and the detractors will be fewer when things do not turn out well. You are, after all, less likely to be criticized for doing nothing than you are for doing something erroneous.
I only hope that the team emerges from this funk sometime before the apocalypse.
As always,
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