See you next year, Toronto!

(Note: By Anthony Curatolo, emailed to me!)

Current record-
28-36-13, 69 points (15th in East)
When they were mathematically eliminated-
March 30th
The stretch that killed them-
October 1 through November 19 (3-11-6)

Here's the best thing about hockey: there is always next year! Well at least we know, at this point in time, there will at least be one more following this season. Unfortunately for Ron Wilson, Brian Burke, and the rest of the Toronto Maple Leafs, this season was over before it started.

Truculence was the theme Burke used to place the pieces of the puzzle for his roster together. It failed miserably. Just because you hand out the big contracts to the supposed big-name players does not mean there will be chemistry.

As of today, Burke has an overpaid blue-line, an inconsistent set of goaltenders, a forward group of youngsters begging for experience and his team is a lottery team in the draft – yet they do not even own their first round pick!

And to be frank, as well as the team has been playing since the return of the NHL from the Olympic break, there is no pressure on the team when there is no playoffs opportunity in sight.

The good:
Phil Kessel
Tyler Bozak
Luke Schenn
Nikolai Kulemin
Luca Caputi
Mikhail Grabovsky

The bad:
Francois Beaucheman
Jeff Finger
Garnet Exelby

The ugly:
Mike Komisarek
Rickard Wallin
Jonas Gustavsson’s medical issues

Heading up to as well as on deadline day, Brian Burke held true to his word that changes would be made. Shipped out were the likes of Matt Stajan, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Jason Blake, Vesa Toskala and Ian White to name a few; a lot of salary was sent packing. Although the returns Burke obtained for the future came with high price tags, Dion Phaneuf was worth both the price Burke paid as well as what was taken on with his salary.

There remains a puzzle, though, which has yet to be completed in Toronto. As of this writing, the pieces that are currently missing are easier to obtain than one may think.

Just because the original plan failed in Toronto, do not underestimate Brian Burke. I'm sure he has a few new tricks up his sleeve for when July 1st rolls around. It should also be an understanding among the general public of hockey that Burke will do all he can to obtain a first round pick for this summer’s upcoming NHL Entry Draft.

Next season has brighter spots when comparing to this season. Opportunity exists from the chemistry that is being created with the remainder of this season. Burke may have overpaid a bit with his off-season strategies, but he has made amends since.

The Leafs’ youth looks to lead the club in a competitive direction as early as next year. With a properly solidified blue-line now, J.S. Giguere being re-united with Francois Allaire, and the kids proving they are deserving of roster spots next season, the Leafs will only need to tinker a bit this off-season.

The playoffs will have to wait until next year for Toronto.