As an Original Six team, funded by a rabid fan base and held accountable by big-city media attention, the Toronto Maple Leafs should be an NHL power every season.
Yeah, sure.
Instead, normal with the Leafs is life as one of the league’s doormats. After a brief fling in the play-offs two years ago, the franchise will be on the outside looking in again when the play-offs begin in April. The unofficial acknowledgment was their first pre-deadline trade this week – defenceman Cody Franson and forward Mike Santorelli for Nashville Predators’ first-round draft pick, prospect Brendan Leipsic and ancient forward Olli Jokinen.
The first question asked of Jokinen, 36, when he arrived in Toronto was how long he expected to be a Maple Leaf.
Yes, the Leafs appear to be rebuilding. Yes, one year after signing top scorer Phil Kessel to an eight-year contract and team captain/defenceman Dion Phaneuf to a seven-year deal, the Leafs may be doing a 180-degree flip.
All the rumours out of Leaf-land is that Phaneuf and Kessel are being shopped, the newest scapegoats after coach Randy Carlyle was sacked in January.
Spend for talent? Build from scratch? Spend for talent? Build from scratch?
It is a franchise that never makes up its mind, never takes a chill pill, never has the patience to commit to an idea, or a concept, or a road map.
The Leafs react to the noise in the air, producing a team run by millions of opinions.
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