TORONTO (Mar. 6) — We live in a strange world.
All of the prime hockey gurus at TSN and Sportsnet agonizingly filled time today on the air for more than seven hours. To finally — and breathlessly — announce to the world that Bobby McMann had been traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Seattle Kraken for a couple of draft picks (second and fourth rounders). The news actually arrived at 3:03 p.m. Eastern when (no surprise) Elliotte Friedman broke the particulars. TSN, clearly monitoring, had them seconds later. For the racked and tormented zealots of Leafs Nation, it allowed the exchange of gasses to resume. Holding one’s breath for a such a worldwide bulletin (sigh) is not a healthy choice. Flesh tones had barely returned when the earth shuddered again: Scott Laughton to the L.A. Kings for a conditional third–round pick.
With that, Brad Treliving, the beleagured and likely outgoing general manager, did what he could prior to the National Hockey League trade deadline. And, perhaps, all he was permitted. The haunting phrase “run it back” is never far from the apex of Leafs lexicon. Treliving, as widely forecast, recovered some draft capital by offloading Nicolas Roy, McMann and Laughton. As written here several times, no player available from the Leafs should have fetched a first–round pick. Colorado substantially overpaid for Roy, with his five goals and 20 points in 59 games. Even if the top–ten–protected choice acquired from the Avalanche will be made toward the bottom of the first round next summer. It was good work by Treliving… and by Burnaby Joe, if Roy and Nazem Kadri can help lead Colorado on another Stanley Cup odyssey. Had Treliving, of course, not yielded opening–round picks last year at the deadline for Laughton and Brandon Carlo, he would have required less of a salvation effort today.
In the end, however, it was all window dressing for the Blue and White.
As of this moment, the Leafs will return, in October, with Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly. Unless one or more is dealt over the summer by an incoming GM, absolutely nothing about the team will change. It will still be saddled with a pair of overpaid, unmotivated outliers up front… and continue to stagger along in the absence of a No. 1 defenseman. Keith Pelley will go to his grave wearing the “I’m not here to sell jerseys” line, unless the Leafs challenge for the Cup during his reign as president of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. His future with the company rests on finding new homes for the remaining members of the Corpse–5 (Rielly included). If whispers are true that the tall thinkers at MLSE are planning on an immediate ressurgence, the Leafs are doomed. Thoroughly and indefinitely. There is no return–path to the top of the Atlantic Division without tumbling farther into the abyss. Brendan Shanahan understood it when he came aboard in 2014. Sadly for fans, his scouts and general managers drafted players incapable of — or unwilling to — elevate performance when it mattered.
The Leafs, therefore, have to cut their losses and try again. Otherwise, the rinse–and–repeat playoff cycle will continue. If Ed the Conqueror and his minions, Pelley included, are mulling over a con job (and don’t put it past them), the results will be disastrous. Pay strict and wary attention to any implication from MLSE that the Leafs, with a few injury breaks, can restore their posture in the Eastern Conference (whatever posture it was, given the perennial playoff misadventure). I can just hear someone in the executive circle postulating that the healthy return of Chris Tanev will straighten the wobble. Even if Tanev is 97 years old next season. At some point — and we’ve been saying this forever — a Toronto GM will need to fill that gaping, No. 1 hole on the back end. How can it conceivably be half–a–century since the club deployed such a vital weapon (Borje Salming)? So, too, must we disregard blather from Matthews and Nylander about their unwavering commitment to the Leafs. No–such loyalty or dedication has been recognizable — especially this season, with Matthews and Nylander disappearing over long stretches. So, deciphering between verbal fact and fantasy will again be a tall, off–season task for Leafs Nation.
Only the passage of time will confirm how lost a decade this has been for the hockey club (jersey sales notwithstanding). The 1980’s were calamitous under Harold Ballard, but everyone knew his teams had no chance. We were led to believe, blatantly and repeatedly, by the Shanahan administration that the Core–4 group would “get it done.” It never came close. It never could. If the current Leafs brass even hints the team can move forward without laborious reconstruction, turn off the sound and look the other way. Your emotional well–being depends on it.
EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM
When I think of the Core Four I am reminded of that old Looney Tunes cartoon where the guy opens a cigar box and out jumps a singing and dancing frog that he thinks will make him mega bucks, but every time he puts it on stage it just sits there and croaks
How many trade deadline draft picks and prospects have been wasted over the last 10 yrs trying to fill the holes they thought they needed to push the Core Four over the top, none ever worked, they should have pulled the plug on them five years ago but they never figured out the dancing frog couldn’t perform
THAT is the greatest analogy I’ve ever seen. Well done, and thanks for the smile.
The Leafs……….. 12 years and counting of this spiral into the bottomless pit and no one knows when it will be the end. 60 years since 1967. But you know what hasn’t changed in those 60 and in those last 12 years? Full houses at Maple Leaf Gardens,ACC,and Scotiabank Arena. Ballard/Stavro/Tannnenbaum /RogersBell had and dont really have any motivation to want to do something as they see 98.99 percent tickets sold every hockey game night. Ownership knows that,and they clearly see that there are always those full houses. Has existed since the Ballard years. Until the fans and Toronto supporters really stick it to the team and abandon ship and not go to the games,nothing will change. And the hope for that change is like the chances of the Leafs making the playoffs this year,simply 000000000000%
59 YEARS AND COUNTING!
If Austin Matthews was smart, he would have waived his no-movement clause. Presumably, Leafs would have received something of greater value, and Matthews could have, potentially, gone to a Stanley Cup-bound team. He’s never going to win a Cup with the Leafs.
You are right as usual Howard. Some additional, different thoughts in this dark hour: For goodness sakes Brad, start listening to your communications folks. Same with Pelley. You contradicted yourself (“we didn’t talk to any players with term”’ but “had discussions with Oliver)” and you “took responsibility” for nothing. In other words, you winged it. Maybe that’s because you’re on your way out and don’t care anymore. For the next guy, a few tips: Stop the chain, started by Brian Burke, of over promising and under-delivering. Managing expectations will extend your career. Don’t offer sound bites à la “truculence”’ or “snot” or “we’re not here to sell jerseys.” Put your head down, get to work and work hard internally to address what appears to complete dysfunction. It’s a mess. Your fans dislike your players, your players dislike the media and even your fans, your players obviously dislike their coaches and the media dislikes your players and entire management team, if for no other reason than arrogance despite incompetence. As I said above, what a mess.
Howard. You still got it. Lived through the Ballard oddesy…’99 moved to CT/USA to assume season tickets for the Hartford Whalers…only to find out they became the Carolina Hurricanes overnight. My Irish luck is not of the good variety. Gave up on ML’s…my Boston Bruin loving nephew alerted me to the amazing feat of ML’s landing the #1 pick – AM#34. Was sucked into the SportsNet slobbering ML-fan vortex….10 years later…puck possession/run & gun/dump and chase has devolved into a pathetic club resembling the old Keystone cops…now I actually enjoy watching Simone Benoit – NOT #34 or #88 or #91…the poor sod throws his skinny body around like its his last shift. Low level skills but has a beating heart. How twisted is that?
Howard…you nailed it once again ! ” Corpse ” is right…the Leafs are ” dead ” in the water ( which is what they always looks like they are skating on…) …it won’t happen in my lifetime…well, I’ll always have “67 ! # ; (
Howard —
I agree they probably need to blow it up, but honestly they weren’t that far off. If the goaltending and defense had actually worked out, they could’ve won the Cup.
Morgan Rielly never turned into the Norris candidate everyone thought he’d be. I don’t know what happened, but his play has fallen off a cliff. I know he’s not a fan of playing for Berube, but lately it looks like he’s forgotten how to play defense entirely.
have you seen COLORADO /BUFFALO /TAMPA/ and several other teams play and still think that was possible?
Right on the money. Money being what Matthews and Nylander are all about when it comes to the Leafs. Those two need to be replaced with good CANADIAN leaders. Matthews was all about winning U.S. Gold the past 2 years as he was MIA both years until weeks before the 4 Nations and Olympics then suddenly and magically was all better, playing twice as good!
Yes, Howard. But even tear downs are slow. Look at Calgary and St. Louis. And building it back up is slow too. Buffalo, Detroit. So, take it one season at a time. This is a turning point for the club. A chance to begin to manage properly? No more trading away draft picks and prospects. Reality check. No more hoping and wishing the club to a cup championship. Auston will be here at least two more seasons. Willie, four. And maybe they can’t be traded for futures with their no moves. I wish Morgan will not suit up another game. Domi and Tavares too. With the prospect cupboard now bare, the team will need to make smart use of free agency this summer in order to get back in the playoffs. A bunch of guys on one year deals, no clauses. Shore up the roster. Especially at forward. Bleak, isn’t it? We had a number one dman in forward Mitchell Marner, remember? The pain has come and will remain a few seasons or a decade or more.