From the Pressbox

As much as it would pain me, I think that Friedman is right, Sundin is the only player that the Leafs have that could give them the chance to make up for all of that foolish trading away of good young prospects and the signing of overpriced free agents. I said that they should have traded McCabe immediately after his big offensive season of '05-'06 when his value was high but he was still a liability. Now no one will take on his huge salary. My concern about trading Mats, though, is that I don't trust the Leafs to get fair value for him.

Mats Sundin is the only good thing the Loafs have going for them. Imagine Colorado with Sundin still there .... Being a Habs fan I believe Fergie Jr. is doing an excellent job. Keep up the good work. Might be a problem that all the "true believers" in Leaf Nation expect too much from a much maligned organization in too short a time span. The best years are behind the Loafs, and I for one will not complain. Vive L'Habiton!! Go Habs Go!!

i've been watching the leafs for only a few years now but from what i see the leafs can win without sundin, for sure hes a great player but thats the point , the other players depend on sundin to come through for them to much. Trade him and get what you can If you ask me Wellwood is one of the best players in the N H L he just does'nt know it because the coaching staff does not see it but there is no one with the exception of a few that see's the ice the way wellwood sees it. You should build the team around him and then dust off the shelf for stanley.....2009...no problem

The Leafs have to rebuild via the draft & not trade away future talent for aged veterans. How many times did the trade for Wendal Clark? Trade for Yanic Perreault & they could have had him as a free agent. They consitantly sign over the hill players & do not uild from within. JFJ is not too blame this has gone on in TOR for years! Years! Draft well & groom young talent & TOR may compete one year. Keep trading away young guns & sign aged veterans & you will get nowhere - as you have proved!

Sure the upper management may get the message if fans stop going to games or watching on TV and change the team to become a contender. I like the Leafs just the way they are. I'm a hockey fan first and do have a favourite team and having said that I enjoy watching the Leafs lose so I'll continue watching games whether they win or lose.

Someone tell Fergie it's too late to stop the downward spiral. No real leader on the team, no chemistry as you can see through their inconsistent play; goaltender problems. The list goes on and on. Make like the Oilers and cut your losses. Start over, clean slate and all that stuff. Unfortunately the "Leaf's Nation" expects too much from a team with very little. Don't blame the players blame the organization. Looks good on Fergie though doesn't it? 'Nuff said.

I can't beleaf there's no mention so far about Scotty Bowman?!

He's available, capable, and since the leafs blew their chance of hiring Brian Burke when he was available, Scotty would be the most talented to turn the ship around (I think...)

Keep the leafs the same as they are. Everytime they play my Bruins, my wallet gets thicker.

I think the Leafs performance over the last 40 years shows that Toronto is NOT the center of the hockey universe. If it were hockey would be in big trouble.

All this Leaf chatter hurts my head.....

move the damn team to Mexico already!

Everyone relax? That's the wrong attitude. It's time for change, time for intervention. MLS please listen up: make changes with the management and the roster or seriously think about bribing the refs and practicing and playing with a warm puck. Once this team adopts a win at all cost attitude, then and only then can we leaf fans relax..........

Its the same every winter. Trees lose their summer leaves. And the leafs fall again.
Turning to compost to feed next years growth.

it is a shame that Leaf fans are held hostage to bad business decisions. the fans support a mediocre product at best. perhaps if the fans started staying home and not selling out every game it would get managements attention. it seems the only language organizations understand are laced with dollar signs. i know it is difficult with wanting a winner now but it will happen quickly in the new nhl. if the leafs clean house and adopt the new younger system they can reclaim some pride quickly. if buffalo can compete within the new league anyone can. i say don't ask for more demand more for your dollar.

To Duke:
Dont blame upper mgmt cuz the players are terrible? Who do you think hires the players?

Everyone relax. We have the team that can win the cup right now. Look up and down the line-up and you will see a team that is capable of winning. Don't give up on this team, winning the cup is closer than you think. Excuse me now, I have take take my meds.

True we are having a terrible year. However, these are the cards JFJ dealt to us. Mind you he does have to ask permission to go to the washroom. That being said, He should go. But as true fans you still should support the players. We hate it when players quit on the ice. Lets face it, it is what it is. Trading Sundin as much as I like him is a start but wait until other teams panic, and JFJ is gone. Lession to MLSE This game is won with youth. I understand Sens and Hab and other NHL fans frustration with Leafs leafs leafs. Were not all @##$$holes

Well!!! What is left to be said about the Leafs. Seems that when rumours of trade or firings abound they suddenly come to life for a few games.If its time for a change then now is that time.My opinion..... Ferguson and Maurice maybe. Messier could light a fire in either spot. As far as the team goes I think sending Sundin away would be a mistake.But doing what they can to shore up the defenseisa no brainer.Gill, White and Wozniewski need to step up or find a new team.There are some good prospects in the Marlies that may be ready Clemensson is one.Whatever happens some solid trading for not only draft picks but for some current old time scorers may be the only answer.Filling the seats may be what the business is about but winning the cup is what hockey is about and the front office and owners need to shift their focus to that end and that end only. Win the cup and the seats will fill themselves.

You have to feel for this once proud franchise. No team should feel the misery and have to go through the disfuncitonal happenings that this team does....NOT! It's time to wake up and smell the coffee! Ferguson has to go. He's not a bad man and one day, I bet he'll be a great GM, but this is just not the right situation for him. Paul Maurice is a good coach if given the tools needed to succeed. It's like building a house with Dollar Store tools, it just won't happen. Mats, I'm sorry but for your sake and the Leaf's sake, you have to go. Hhhhhmmmmm, I know of a few condos that could be rented near the Scotiabank Place!

Acctually it does hurt the bottom line if the Leafs are doing terrible, because then they can't charge for playoff tickets.
And it is virtually impossible to boycott the Leafs too many fans that want to go see a game.

Hey Toronto fans

Want a good team? Stop going to the games and watching them on TV. Then the Leafs brass will get the message.

Whats the big deal ? The Leafs have been rebuilding since 67. One of these decades they may actually move in the right direction. Perhaps it may occur before Global Warming melts all the ice.

we keep mising out on better players that are lower in the draw because of bad scouting.fix that and the future will be bright

The damage John Ferguson Jr has done to the Maple Leafs organization will be felt for many many more years to come. By signing players like kubina and McCabe to extensive contracts, it not only eats a large chuck of cap space, but most importantly in continues to drive the Leafs further into the ground. Also, his decision to not sign the right players in the off season like a Gomez or Briere makes Leaf fans really wonder about Ferguson's ability. The Maple Leafs are the wealthiest team in the NHL, they have to start acting like it by not being afraid to spend their money.

Theres nothing wrong with the Toronto Maple leafs..trading Sundin or anyone else for the matter will get them nowhere but disrespect from fans and players....like Montreal whom stuggled last year..they must go deep into their own pockets and give some Marlies or juniors a chance to play and sit some players out..as hab fan we gave Toronto Kilger and Kaberle, its time to step up and give hungry players within the organization a chance to shine...money wont patch up the problem either...ak the Rangers...
by the way..if they dont make the playoffs..they can always blame big mouth Tucker!

Dear Leaf Fans.
Thanks for your $$$ which give us a 20% profit every year. Keep spending. We promise they'll keep sucking.
Signed,
The Ontario Teacher's Pension Fund

Sundin will not save, the soul of this team. Based on fact you can see his passion lacking. They should bring in Tkachuk to replace the energy.
Secondly his head is in the game. His passion melts the ice and his presents melts my cold heart for the game in recent years.

To give Sundin the respect he is due, the Leafs should ask him if he would like to be traded to a contender for a shot at Stanley. if he says no then keep him and let him leave as a leaf on his terms.

Elliotte is drinking Maple leaf Kool Aid if he thinks that they will get a 1st round pick for him. they will be lucky to get a 2nd round pick but the bonus will be more cap space for next year (which they will get anyway at the end of the year).

If they can package off McCabe and Tucker and anyone else making more than $3M then they should do it. These money guys have not delivered and the team will not be worse off without them.

Vancouver might be the best fit for Sundin. But don't expect much in return. Most terms saw what happened with the stupid trading at the deadline last year. It did not make an ioat of difference as to who won the Stanley.

It's the Howard Ballard era all over agian. They have a lousy team (traded away all their picks/players) but they still continue a 22% profit margin. Why bother to invest? I'm glad I live in Montreal where we have a future!

It is blatantly obvious to any hockey fan that the Leafs need to completely rebuild their team and build around the few young pieces that they currently have.

Finishing dead last for four or five years would result in a higher draft position (assuming that they would actually hang onto their draft picks), and provide some optimism for the future.

Why has the organization not clued into this? They constantly employ band aid solutions in hopes that they can scrape into the playoffs and perhaps get a couple of home playoff games to line the already overflowing pockets of MLSEL.

The way the franchise is being run into the ground is a complete disgrace. Take a look around, see how the Islanders built thier team in the late 70s, and more recently look at Ottawa and the Pens.

MLSEL=incompetent fools who know nothing about hockey! Wake up already!

Nathaniel,

It's a good thing you're not the GM of the Leafs. A package of Kaberle and Wellwood is worth more than a first round pick, as is Sundin. Look at the returns of Tkachuck and Smyth last year. 2 firsts, and Rob Nilsson, Ryan O'Marra and a first. I'd expect a similar return for Sundin given his play this year.

The only way to fix the mess in Toronto is truly to axe everything....This is advice coming from a fan of the New Jersey Devils where I truly saw both ends of the spectrum
1. When Lou came on the Devils were the laughing stock of league.
2. Lou did it his way from the start to now.
3. Toronto must have a leader in the front office that leads and does not have strings attached to him.
4. The so called assets that this team has (very few) must be dealt for futures.
5. A commitment to excellence without meddling has to be in place in order for Toronto to succeed...
6. It will take time Toronto but your fans who I have the upmost respect for can and will endure it.
7. Take a look at what the Devils were from 1982 till 1987. Thats where the Leafs are today.... Look at the Devils now and since then.....Jersey Jay.

step back--bring back pat quinn,if brophy is still coaching bring him back to prop up maurice. quinn would need some assurance from peddy and ferg. to cut out the politics.with some sane management this team could do something. i think they should play the tougher type players over the fancy type that like to dive rather than fight trough a check to make a play or score.this would give ferg. annother chance that most of us do not get.

To blame current management/executive management for the faltering Leafs is absolutely wrong and inaccurate. For years the Leafs have played terribly and disappointed their foolish, but very loyal fans. As one reporter put it recently - "cash before class" which is not only an all too familiar motto, but a cloud that hangs over a team/organization that has absolutley no interest in winning a Stanley Cup. All one has to do is look back through the years to see how the Leafs organization builds and destroys key player's spirits until, like Sundin, their career comes to an end, and they have nothing to show, but the fact that they were forced to carry a team of mediocre players at best. Typical Leaf fashion dictates this type of formula- 1 all-star forward, 1 all-star goalie and a few so-so forwards. The defence has lacked and sucked for years. One captain and one goalie are not enough to carry a team let alone win a cup. So many players have come to play for the Leafs and have been put on a pedestal, only to be crushed, used and discarded by the same people who put them up there in the first place. Doug Gilmour, Felix Potvin and more recently Curtis Joseph and Ed Belfour were classic examples of potentially great players who could have flourished with other NHL teams, but unfortunately they came to the Leafs. The only person with passion and experience enough to lift the Leafs to the glory and respect they deserved, was Pat Burns in my opinion. Pat Quinn and John Ferguson Jr. were the 2 worst things to happen to the Leafs. Next to Harold Ballard of course.
As others have commented, stop buying tickets and supporting these guys. Toronto is a hockey town and the fans as well as most of the players on the Leafs deserve better.
The Leafs organization need to call EMS and have them use the "jaws of life" to help the owners open their wallets and start spending/investing money in the Leafs!!

Dear Santa:Please give the Toronto Maple Leafs a BIG helping of "Stay The Course".(the rest of the Universe is highly amused)And,yes,I have been a good boy all year,Thank You,(signed)little Donny D.

Domi and Belfour where are you? Anyone else get the feeling that this current Leaf team wouldn't be any worse off if these two guys were still playing? Didn't Sundin go to bat for Domi? Sure would have added some excitement and those shoot out losses..........forget about it, the Eagle would have stolen a few...........
OMG our team is in trouble

Leafs season is over. They must play at least .614 hockey to make the playoffs. That's what the philly, canes, habs are playing now! No amount of changing now will get them to that level. Start at the top and work down. It's most likely 2 seasons till we see a leaf playoff game. And we will never see a cup as there is no financial incentive to put a mangement team in place to do so.

Peddie - Gone
JFJ - Gone
McCabe - Gone
Kubina - Gone
Gill - not even NHL caliber
Poni - Gone
Sundin - Gone in exchange for rebuidling package

Thats close to 20m of cap space gone from the roster that could fetch imeasuable talent.

The rest can be usefull with the right additions

It's clearly obvious...until the LEAFLETTES lose their Admirable Fan Support, the team has no chance of betterment!
Stevie Y...NO!

I recall when Toronto had a real hockey team. Who is to blame ? , heck I could type for an hour on this subject. To the people that fill the ACC , STOP paying big $$$$ to watch garbage . It's been 40 years since a cup and it might be another 40 at this rate.

Kevin from Saskatoon is bang-on. Until it hurts them on the bottom line, which it probably never will, this group of owners has no urgency for change/improvement. Leafs fans would pay hundreds of dollars to go watch 6 monkeys in jerseys. They also fall in love with guys like Sundin, Tucker, Kaberle, McCabe. Sundin is a great player, but the others are mediocre at best, especially for the $$ they make. So, who's to blame? JF jr. (although out of his league in that market)is just doing what the Leaf Nation ask of him.

Excuse me... a better team. The Leafs don't need to be a better team because there is no incentive to do so. They continually try and bring in the star of the season to get the one cup win that will quell the masses so they can begin another 40 year streak.

What's there incentive to build a cup winning team...nothing. Winning a cup will not add fans to the stands for increased revenue - they are already there as dumb as can be. Winning a cup will not increase season ticket holders - they are also already there forking out there wads of money to watch yet another bad game. Most seasons holders I know sell there tickets to other people interested in specific teams. The team is a money making business whether they win the cup or not.

If they want to win the cup, then move them to another city where they have an incentive to win.

Every player on the Leafs is the problem with the Leafs because they seem to be only focused on summer golf season and maybe, just maybe one playoff round.

Go Sens!!!

The Leafs really should do themselves and Sundin a big favour and trade him to a team that has a legitimate chance at winning the cup, and to preferably to a western conference team just to make sure that he does not come back and haunt them in the future.

This team needs to realize that the cast of characters on this team just won't get them anywhere. Sooner or later, the fans will not come out anymore.

If management refuses to rebuild from ground up, they should at least get rid of some of the baggage weighing down the ship i.e. McCabe, Tucker, Blake, Raycroft,Kubina and Kilger must go, then bring up Pogge.

How much longer does management think the fans will put up with a minor league team?

The Marlies would probably win more games.

Just like everything else in this soul-less city, the team is all about money. The exec. management makes money because their products are made in a sweatshop, their players only like to play 2 periods, and their fans just keep coming back for more. So if you want them to win stop supporting them! Don't buy tickets, or other leaf merchandise.

Trade Sundin while he is producing. Hopefully
the team he goes to won't look at his past playoff stats because with the exception of one year, he has been a major dissapointment in the playoffs.

Ferguson has to go. What has he done? He has overpaid for the weakest and slowest defence in the league. He resigned McCabe and Kaberle and picked up Gill and Kabina as free agents.
These were his choices.

He has overpaid for 2 goalies and gave up a great prospect to get Raycroft.

His best aquisition is Blake who is a 40 goal ( I mean 2 goal ) scorer.

Get Bob Nicholson in place now as head of hockey operations. Only then will this team have a chance to succeed.

Leafs. Schmeafs! I loved them when I was a kid. I am bored silly by them now.

Sundin is NOT a captain. Too laid back, no fire.

And the bigger problem... the Ontario Teacher's Union, who also own major chunks of almost everything... way TOO big.. way too concerned about ROI... money grubbers.

Cup - schups. Ain't gonna happen with the teachers or Sundin.

The Leaf's problems in a nutshell

Inadequate Goaltending: Raycroft is done, Toskala mediocre. A team without a top goalie is going nowhere.

Poor D: Woz, Kubina, McCabe, White, Gill. Too slow, too soft and in the case of Woz, not NHL calibre.

No grit: Kaberle, Steen, Stajan, Poni, Pohl, Deveraux. Would throwing a check kill these guys? Too easy to push them around.

No quality offense, with the exception of Sundin all the rest are 3rd or 4th liners at best.

Paul Maurice: ridiculous line juggling, poor use of players limited skills, and what the heck are Woz and Raycroft still doing on this team?

Ferguson: useless acquisitions, excessive $ contracts, no movement clauses, tying up players (like Toskala) before even seeing them play in regular season. Not much of a horse trader.

Peddie: may be good at building condos and making money for MLSE but he has no clue as to how to build a winning team.

Tannebaum: he and Peddie meddle too much with the team. Domi's contract for example. Knows nothing about hockey either.

Owners: too many pulling in too many different directions.

In other words, the Leafs have major problems at every single level. The solution? Sell the team to a guy who wants to win: like Jim Balsillie. You have the right owner and he will take care of all the other problems.

DO IT MLSE!

I think its a bad idea trading Sundin when he is the heart and soul of this team this season , but trading him is maybe the right thing to do too because Sundin wanting a Cup very bad and his career coming to an end. So my opinion is trading Sundin next Season for youth players and good draft picks.

Get RID of FREAKIN PEDDIE and JFJ. They bring nothing to the table. They would be better at sucking eggs - they freakin don't know hockey.

The "marriage" betw. management and the leafs is not based on love (where is the love and passion for the game?) but wealth.
You have to get to the root of the problem - executive management needs an overhaul. This needs to be done first before building a stanley cup team.

Question: What's the difference between the Toronto Maple Leafs and a cigarette machine?

Answer:The cigarette machine has Player's.

I would just like to put everything in perspective here. Contrary to what CBC commentators, journalists, analysts would have you believe, the world is not in any imminent danger of ceasing to spin on its axis, causing the all ife as we know it end, if the Toronto Maple Leafs do not win their next game. I mean seriously, there have been 3 or 4 articles/video clips of Don Cherry analysing the woes of the Maple Leafs. From what I can tell its quite simple. A feuding management, general frustration, and too much pressure. Those three things would spell doom anywhere you go.

Anyone care to take a crack at why the Penguins have been so slow out of the gate after such a breakthrough season last year. This actually seems like something worth analysing as it is a bit of a mystery. Or why Edmonton would be last in the league if it wasn't for the shootout, and are still pretty dam close.

Poor Torontonians haven't won a cup in how may years? Well Vancouver has never won one. Stop being such babies.

I really have absolutely nothing against the Maple Leafs. I don't feel any joy when they lose. I just don't care that much one way or another. One or two articles would be fine...but we don't need to know the opinion of every CBC employee regarding the lack of success of the Toronto Maple Leafs. If anyone has any insight into the rest of the league I am all ears.

You can't manage well when you do so by committee. I am no fan of Ferguson but he doesn't deserve the brain trust that sit North of him in the pecking order.
I wish the Teacher's pension fund and their partners would put up their money like good investors and stay out of the business. Let someone manage the operation. Obviously they need to review that person's performance but the board's ongoing involvement is ridiculous. We shouldn't even be aware of the MLSE board. We shouldn't be aware of Tanenbaum or Peddie. I blame them solely for what ails this storied franchise.
Friedman is almost right when he says it is quickly becoming Ballard-like except that I would argue it already is...and has been for some time.

Sadly, I must agree with Elliotte; sadly, because Sundin deserved so much more than what the Leaf's brass gave him.

What they gave him were players that were spunky but past their primes (Roberts); players that were hyped but were not the elite wingers that Mats warranted (Antropov, et al); and recent additions who show some potential but are not the "blue chippers" that will put this team over the top (Blake).

It's a strangely dysfunctional front office that has kept this team from winning. Noises emmanating from the Ivory Tower assert that the brass does care about winning. However, as the fabulous, all star calibre band Rush sang, "Show, don't tell."

As for Jim Robert, from Hamilton, let him ponder who is the deluded one by asking him if he is happy with with nothing better than Bulldogs to clean up after.

Get a life everyone..The Leafs haven't won anything since 1967 and are another 40 years away from winning the cup.
Why not have a story on some other Canadian team for a change and let your audience have a discussion on something interesting.
What is this obsession that CBC has with
the zoo that is the Toronto organization.

First off I would like to echo Pauls comment : why are we subject to a leaf feature every Saturday night. The last time I checked The nation included six teams but every saturday the national game is toronto no matter how well ottawa or montreal plays.
That being said TRADE MCCABE

I have to agree with most of what everyone else said. Let's play the young guys. Get a goalie. Better defense. Then maybe I will fork out the money to fly to TO to see a game.

I'd suggest that the Leafs hire a team hypnotist, who can convince them they're playing against the Canadiens in every game! This avid HABS fan has watched the Leafs outplay (and outskate) Montreal in their last two games, and I would admit that Montreal has been lucky to win both - poetic justice, perhaps? If I were a Leafs fan, I'd be more upset at the inconsistency. David is right - trade Sundin to Montreal!!
Also, I love the Ballard references. Having lived in Toronto during the "Maple Laffs" era of the 80's, the comparisons of management to Ballard are truly frightening.

Bad Ownership
Bad Management
Bad Coaching
Compliant fans
24 hour sports radio experts
24 hour sports tv experts
Hockey press reporter experts

It is a lethal combination that cannot be reversed. And it does not have to - the fans keep filling the seats.

I will try to offer more than the wit from Labrador who says "sundin is garbage and fears koivu".

Sundin is one of the Leafs' few assets, which can be used to argue both for & agin a trade. (No, that's not a spelling mistake, Labrador's version of Noel Coward) He has consistently shown commitment to the team & city. The man still believes. Do we need to trade that kind of example away?

As for Ferguson, you need to be lucky sometimes. He’s not. The Leafs have had a nightmarish string of injuries to key players that has surely tested the patience of fans & management alike. While I don't agree with all his managerial moves, there've been some that seemed smart. Example - Jason Blake. A 40-goal scorer that drove us crazy as an Isle. Does anyone really think cancer hasn't distracted him a little? Can we blame JFJ?

And I do get tired of people hanging Gill out to dry. Last year he was +11 on a team that missed the playoffs. This year, he's +1 on a team that has often looked abysmal. He's a steady, though unspectacular d-man. Did I miss something? Was someone expecting Bobby Orr?

Do they need to make some moves? Yes. Make up your mind on a goalie, trade one, and bring Scott Clemmenson up as backup. Move Ponikarovsky, who has had time to blossom and needs a change of scenery to succeed. Decide if Alex Steen is indeed Captain of the future. If not, shop him around because other teams are interested. Take Colaiacovo to a faith healer.

Decide if JFJ is your GM or not. Letting him twist in the media wind means he's never going to make a good trade, as 29 GM's smell blood when he calls. Don't fire Maurice. There's no upgrade currently out there.

MLSE are no fools. They make money for their investors better than any other pro sports franchise. To take the steps necessary to fix things will require a sense of embarassment. That will convince them to take the handcuffs off the hockey people and let them do what's needed.

Otherwise, there's always next year.

I agree that there will be some teams that will want Sundin and now is the time to him trade but the Leafs should not expect that much in return. If he is traded to a contender that team will not give up a key player so the best the Leafs could do is a low first round pick and a young developing player. For all his terrific natural skill, however, Sundin is a tremendously overrated player. He is 6'5" tall and weighs about 235 lbs but he plays small and on the periphery. He has never been the kind of impact player he could have been. The argument that he has never had decent winger doesn't wash. Who did Crosby play with in his rookie year? Who does Iginla play with now? Truly great players, make those around them better and Sundin does not do that.

This is easy . Go and spend on an established hockey GM and let him run the show .
It will take a little longer to turn the leafs around than it did the Raptors, although MLSE is starting to mess with them ie :Garbahosa injury insurance fiasco .
Trade Mats where he wants to go , get what is best for the team , two years from now Mats comes back and leads the team to a playoff run and everything is sunshine lolipops and rainbows in Hogtown .
Don't worrie Leaf fans , you will win another game and start planning the parade route again .
Good Luck

If this was any other team in the NHL, Maurice and Ferguson would have been LONG gone. There's no way team that continually promises to make the playoffs (doesn't)can keep their coach and GM around. But this is the Toronto Maple Leafs and there's only thing MLSE cares about and its revenue. As long as there's cash coming in, the on-ice product will suffer.

The only logical solution now is to finish dead last and get the #1 draft pick next summer. Maybe the team can finally get a decent prospect. As for the Sundin situation, trading him will only hinder this team. Now is not the time to trade him. No way.

But as long as the management and owners of this team stay the same, there really is NO solutions at all.

Why we have to watch the Laughs play every Saturday night is beyond me. I wish I had satellite TV because then I could watch Ottawa or Montreal.

Sundin isn't the key to the Leafs. He'll be retiring soon (as he should) at which time the Leafs *might* blow up the team, mgmt and coaching. But don't hold your breath.

As long as Laugh fans continue to fill the seats of the ACC, the Leaf mgmt has NO reason to improve things. Peddie and his lot take their notes from Harold Ballard.

The Laughs are a disgrace to hockey and to Canada.

How to make the Leafs better - where do you start? Well for one, get Peddie out of Hockey Operations. Great business guy, but doesn't know a hockey puck from a twinkie. Next, bring in Bob Nicholson as President/GM. I think Maurice is fine for now. He's good with young talent and hasn't had an opportunity to teach much with the Leafs because they rely too much on the old and slow. Blow up the scouting staff, as they haven't been able to pick a winning prospect for years (remember Luca Cereda). As for trades, package Wellwood and Kaberle to a bottom-feeder for an early first round lottery pick. Sundin should go to a middle of the pack team fighting for a playoff spot in order to maximize Sundin's value. In this case likely a mid first round pick. Send him to a contender and the best you get is a pick in the 25-30 range. Buy out the McCabe contract and put him on waivers. Dump Raycroft and call up Clemmenson as a back-up. This will allow them to develop Pogge much faster.

How to make the Leafs better - where do you start? Well for one, get Peddie out of Hockey Operations. Great business guy, but doesn't know a hockey puck from a twinkie. Next, bring in Bob Nicholson as President/GM. I think Maurice is fine for now. He's good with young talent and hasn't had an opportunity to teach much with the Leafs because they rely too much on the old and slow. Blow up the scouting staff, as they haven't been able to pick a winning prospect for years (remember Luca Cereda). As for trades, package Wellwood and Kaberle to a bottom-feeder for an early first round lottery pick. Sundin should go to a middle of the pack team fighting for a playoff spot in order to maximize Sundin's value. In this case likely a mid first round pick. Send him to a contender and the best you get is a pick in the 25-30 range. Buy out the McCabe contract and put him on waivers. Dump Raycroft and call up Clemmenson as a back-up. This will allow them to develop Pogge much faster.

The answer is very simple; stop buying tickets. If the Leafs can make money win or lose, then the rest is academic. They don't need players, or GMs, or coaches, just suckers to fill the stands to watch another losing effort.

On the other hand, if they only make money when the field a good team, well, then maybe all this kvetching could stop.

The Leafs are nothing but a commercially motivated business. The logos, the shirts, the stickers, the coffee cups and even the doggie sweaters are out for all of us to support their big huge pay checks and so called talents. The players don't deserve the committed fans but we still keep coming back hoping that our Leafs can produce the image that it successfully accomplished through our wallets.
My husband is so faithful and committed to the Leafs......my heart breaks every time they lose and dust it off as a mere inconvenience. The Leaf players and management need to come up with a viable plan, objective and SOP's instead of dressing up pretty to come out and put on a show. Getting lucky only happens when you both are in tune.

The problem is even if you trade Sundin it won't be nearly enough to make any difference at all cause the rest of the team sucks bad! The don't have a starting caliber goalie, their defense is non existent and half the team is actually not good enough to play in the NHL...they would have been cut from just about any other team. Why do we have a team stacked with ok to crap players?...because the owners don't care at all, as long as they sell out every game they'll keep putting mediocrity on the ice. Fans need to stop spending hundreds of dollars per ticket to see a team that couldn't beat most junior teams!

REBUILD! that's the ticket and trading Mats is the start. Love the guy! However he has set all the records he can here now, let him go win with someone else. He deserves to see his name on the cup. I've waited 40 years for a cup and I can wait a few more while they rebuild this around new young players, players that would be exciting to watch. This same old crowd has grown tiresome. But start the change at the top. Looking forward to reading who Elliot thinks would make a good GM.

Please! Let's show some good teams on saturday night instead of watching this team and the drama of being an underachiever. This era of hockey reminds me of the ballard days, when the whole country was subject to watch the leafs lose then, and listen to the commentators try to figure out how the fortunes of the leafs could turn, meanwhile Gretzy, Messier and company were burning up a storm playing against Gilmour, Mullen and Neiuwendyk out west. Some of the best hockey games were never seen on HNIC becasue of their obsession with this leaf franchise.

I think I might have the answer for this whole situation. Right now, I'm leading in two hockey pools and one football pool. I know that this is just fantasy, but.. well, so is that whole situation in Toronto. I would be happy to come down there for - say $4M per year - and help sort out the mess!

Keep Sundin, Tucker, McCabe, Kaberle. Get rid of the rest. OH! Get yourselves a real goalie too, eh! 1 last key point. GET RID OF FERGUSON! Bring back Quinn or somebody just like him... at the very least. Messier behind the reigns could be interesting.

PS: Nightmares of Ballard for sure!

The Leafs have got to have the worst group of owners in the NHL. They haven't made any good moves as far back as I can remember. You can't blame Maurice or Ferguson for everything, Sundin said himself, the players are on the ice, not JF or PM. Forget about the Leafs anyway, how long is everyone going to put up with constant dissapointment. I've been a habs fan all my life, they sure seem to get things done a whole lot more efficiently then the Leafs, but I still won't expect to see the Habs on CBC every week, even though they're 5th overall. Instead we're stuck watching the diminishing Leafs over and over.

The Leafs need a team that will demonstrate the heart we once saw in the organization, which currently seems few and far between. I like Mats, but there seem to be too many non-Canadian players who could take or leave a win. Find some heart, perhaps even from the top down, and the victories will come.

For starters, as a HABS fan, I despise the LEAFS and their fans. Now that I got that out of the way...

Why not get rid of some baggage like Tucker, Gill, McCabe or Kaberle, White, Poni or Antro (who are really pansies), Raycroft and start building a team around Sundin now? Tucker is all hype. He's no better than Avery who is an @ss. Gill is brutal...plain and simple. McCabe is trying too hard and needs to get out of Toronto. Kaberle is useless in his own zone. Poni and Antro...you wouldn't get one 1/2 decent player if you combined the two. Steen, Stajan, Wellwood, Coliaccovo, Kronwall, Strallman...they need to support these young players and build around them and Sundin. It's not Maurice's fault they suck...it's higher than that. Trading Sundin is not going to make this team better.

All that said...I don't care what they do. As long as the HABS don't pick up any of the LEAFS' deadwood.

Trade sundin to Montreal and let him win the cup there! He deserves to be part of a top notch organization like the one in Montreal.

The Leafs need a huge overhaul. However trading Sundin is not where it should begin. The team needs some veteran leadership in the front office. People concerned with winning games and championships, not those who are content as long as a profit is being made. Toronto is an original six franchise with one of the biggest followings amongst all NHL teams. It`s time the Leafs administration put down a solid foundation that will lead to not only winning tommorrow, but the next day and the day after next. Leaf fans can tough it out another couple years, for crying out loud they`ve been starved since `67. Just show the fans, and the rest of the league for that matter that Toronto has some direction. How do you do that. Ax Ferguson and bring in someone with experience. The last thing they should be doing is letting go Ferguson just to bring in another rookie GM. That would be taking two steps back.

Trading Sundin is perfectly logical. But I don't think it's necessary. Yes, the Leafs would get good value for him, and maybe he even would come back next season as a free agent at a good price.

But that ignores the real problem, that of executive management. Without drastic changes at the top, management would fritter away even a good trade for Sundin. Peddie must go as a first step. He basically admitted that he's incompetent in today's article by Zeissberger in the Sun. JFJ is clearly not up to the job. As much as I like Maurice, I would consider replacing him too, but only after Peddi (the petty CEO that he is) and JFJ were gone for awhile. I really think executive changes would inspire the time, despite what they say.

All that said, the REAL solution is for the Leafs to be sold to people who truly know how to run a hockey operation. It is not that current ownership don't want to win, it's that they don't know HOW.

I think it would be a major disappointment to Leaf fans and a mistake to trade Mats Sundin now. The Leafs need to pick up their games and play day in and day out like they did last night against Montreal and in the win against Ottawa. They've shown they can compete with the NHL upper crust: they just have to overcome the inconsistency. If they want to trade someone, make it McCabe or Antropov and get a decent two way defenseman. Also, it's time to get rid of Raycroft, even if they have to pay part of his salary to remove him. Toskela needs the lions share of games to get in the groove.

Sundin, throughout a dramatically changing NHL landscape over the course of his career, has consistently been a solid player. Anyone with even a little knowledge of the game understands that any team challenging for the cup would absolutely love to have him on their roster. So not getting anything for him is a non-issue. Sorry if any of you disagree, but that is very clear.

Will that actually help? The only good news in Toronto is the guys like Wellwood, Stajan, etc. - younger role players. Kaberle is an exception. The big guns are not firing, and they keep betting on guys like Antropov (no, I wasn't fooled by the early rush of points) and Tucker (like Domi, with a little less muscle and a few more points - only in Toronto are guys like that worshipped).

So, if you swap Sundin for another star and/or draft picks does this make them any better?

Not that I care, there are too many other good teams to cheer for.

Until the owners relinquish control to a single CEO then all this BS will continue. Too many chiefs is killing that organization right now. They need to have a single person calling the shots. They also need a GM like Bowman. Forget about trading Mats unless he wants to leave.

Longing for the days of Ballard and King'er in the uber bunker shows just how sad this state of affairs actually is.

Great, put another dumb idea into dumb owners heads

The short-sightedness of the ownership of this fabled franchise has me perplexed. If they keep putting out a poor product, the consumer will inevitably go elsewhere. In the case of the Leafs, that means that they are not building a young fan-base. Keep putting this type of product on the market and in about 10 years the older generation will start fading away and the newer generation will not have any reason to follow a losing team. It'll be interesting to see what the teachers will be saying then. As stated in someone elses prior comments, "all empires must fall"!

I'm old, I must be, I've been a leaf fan since my dad took me to a game in 1962. The next 5 years were fun.
Do not trade Sundin, not right now, not with the management group in place right now. Based on their record of trades they would end up trading Sundin for the rights to Gordie Howe or the Hanson brothers.
Keep Maurice, and look seriously at everyone above him.
Sundin personally, let him decide what he wants, he's earned the right, and he deserves it just as much. If I were GM, I'd be doing everything practical to keep Sundin until he retires from playing and find a way to groom him into a future GM role with the leafs.

Each year I find it harder and harder to understand why the Maple Leafs are so important and why too many in the city care so much. It is like a sickness, an obsession and it is fed by the many people in the media who are paid to feed this. And they do a good job.
The only solution I can think of is to cure this obsession by learning to ignore the team and its day to day tribulations. Why watch them on TV? Why read about them? Above all why go to the games and support the business organization that has screwed up this team? Sports is about winning but in Toronto, the investors in this team are happy because they have successfully created and maintained this sick obsession and winning is not at all important and won't be in my lifetime.
Ted T

This is sort of a catch-22. Sundin deserves a cup and probably won't get it in Toronto, but he is obviously their best player and the one with the most heart out there every night,so how do you trade him? It depends on what Sundin wants more, does he want a cup more or to retire in a Leaf's jersey more? A player that has been so good for so long and is so respected all around the league should be able to choose between those two options himself. And why does Sundin get punished (by being traded) for the rest of the team's shoddy play? Not his fault the rest of the team has no-trade clauses and untradable contracts. It should be up to him, no one else, where he ends up. And either way every Leaf fan out there should thank him for all he's done for them over the years and, if he does go, they should hope he gets the cup he deserves.

who cares it's the Maple Leafs, Hockey and Canada doesn't revolve around them as many of the channels(especially CBC & TSN), broadcasters, or magazines would like you to believe. There are other teams in the league!!!

It's amazing reading the comments from all the fans who are up in arms over a 10-game or so mini-slide. Sure, the leafs have lost some heart-breaking games within the past month, and yes they are only 5 points better than the last-place team in their conference, but they are also only 7 points worse than the 2nd-best team in their conference. If you take away a couple of those 3rd period lapses that they've suffered, then they're right in the thick of things and everything's fine, and nobody's upset and rattled.
Regarding Sundin, he's one of the best, and amazingly consistent year-in and year-out, so certainly he is still decent trade bait for re-building, but I completely disagree with the idea of trading him somewhere else where he can finally win the cup. Because where exactly is that?
Everybody knows that with today's parity in the NHL, the cup is always up for grabs and there's always 6-8 teams each year who are serious contenders. And everybody knows how the playoffs are more full of 1st round upsets than ever before. Mats only has 3-4 years left, and in my opinion his chances of being traded to another team that actually goes on to win the cup during that time are very remote.
The Leafs have very good offense this year, despite a couple forwards who can't seem to find the net. Their only problem is goals allowed. Find a way to trade one of their offensive-minded defensemen for a younger stay-at-home defensemen and a couple draft picks, then work on cutting down on the goals allowed, and see where it all goes from there. Do this within the next couple weeks, and they'll have no problem getting into the playoffs this year, where anything is possible.

The only way the Leafs will be able to make the playoffs in the future, and make a cup drive, is to trade sundin soon. He is playing amazing right now and would be worth alot to cup contending teams. The Leafs must start over fresh, start drafting, building players, and creating a team for the future. Unfortunatly, his heart is in Toronto but Sundin must go in order for Toronto to be a champion in the future.

Has anyone thought of this scenario?

There may have been a problem with extending Sundin. He did sign a 1 year deal with the team therefore making him a UFA at the end of the season. Is it at all possible that behind the scene conversations were held between Sundin and managment where is the team was clearly not going to compete for a legitimate shot at the cup, that he would be traded for picks and or prospects. He would then be able to go to a contender compete for a cup. The Leafs would get some much needed assets for the future. If Sundin decided to play beyond this year he could then resign with the leafs next year. Doug Weight did it, Keith Tzachuck did it. In my opinion this is a win win situation for everyone involved.

I don't think JFJ is a terrible GM, but clearly the board has no confidence in him and hence, has not been able to function as a GM. I'm sure, he was told that he HAD to sign Mccabe because he was popular in Toronto at the time and hence, he signed him for way too much. He was probably also told he had to sign a proven goal scorer, and hence signed Blake for again, way too much. There is no way a GM can build a successful hockey team unless he is given control and changing the GM without granting that kind of control will just be another exercise in futility. The one that really needs to be fired (or at least, relieved of all hockey operation duties) is Peddie.

The biggest mistake by JFJ was signing a second rate defenceman to a contract fit for a Doug Harvey or Bobby Orr. Better he should have bought a pylon for $20.00.

Jim Robert from Hamilton: "You're dreaming in technicolor if you think the Leafs could get a good young player for Sundin. All you sorry saps in the Leaf Nation provide comic relief for the undeluded."

What defines a 'good player' is relative. A good trade will work just as well. Sundin should at least get what Forsberg got on the market last year.

thetruthhurts from toronto: "Fact is that Sundin is one of the main reasons why Toronto hasnt won. Get rid of him. All you Leaf fans out there have no idea what these guys get up to in the big city but I do. Trade all of em and start from scratch,these guys have way to much fun here if you know what I mean (Sundin isnt the good boy everyone thinks he is)."

Umm...right because what he does off the ice affects his performace on the ice? Get over your moral innuendo. Fact is, Sundin is the all-time leader in points and goals for the Leafs while he's had fun in the big city.

Your comments are bang on the mark. Put Mats out of his misery and give him a chance to be one of the truly storied figures of the game. As a life long Leaf fan born in Toronto now recently moved to Ottawa, I now watch with pain from afar as the Leafs implode. All the while enduring the jabs of the locals who I now work with. I am of the Mike Myers generation who grew up venerating a team of champions from a time we cannot remember but who ended up living a lifetime of disapointment. Toronto is both the holiest and unholiest of hockey temples. On one hand the history and glory (Barilko, Smythe, Keon, Bauer, Baun) on the other hand the 40 year legacy of defeat and lack of leadership by various owners. Not to mention blocking the all to common sense notion of another southern Ontario franchise.

Even though I am now an Ottawa resident for the forseeable future, I cannot become a Senators fan, although I certainly admire a winning franchise. For now I am doomed to look for a new sport because I can't tolerate the disapointment any longer.

Hmmm....darts, women's soccer, Hai Lai, camel racing???

Typical Leafs fans... Trade Sundin for Malkin!!

Players are like stocks - their price is determined by their future value. Malkin is FAR more valuable that Sundin.

I like Sundin, but yes he has to go. But let's get our expectations in check. We'll get a younger player and a 1st round pick or something like that. Neither of which alone will fix the issues.

JFJ, Peddy and Tannenbaum must go. I would love to see Bowman here with 100% control, but why would he want to?

I have a lot of respect for guys like Yzerman and Messier, and some day they might be great NHL General Managers, but they aren't right now. They have NO experience, and being the GM of the Leafs is not a place for an on-the-job learning experience. The Leafs need a real GM, experienced, with a proven track record to bring back some credibility to the job. Rebuilding the Leafs will be a huge job, under the usual media microscope, and another rookie GM will just be crucified. Can you imagine a rookie GM coming in and trading Sundin? No, it has to be someone the fans will respect as a GM. And..the mention of Glen Healy as a candidate for GM is just ludicrous! The only person I could imagine proposing this guy for the job would be Glenn Healey himself. God forbid. That would be akin to the Gord Stellick debacle in 1988-89.
The current Leafs management team, from Ferguson on up, is very broken, beset with power struggles and in-fighting. Fans can only hope the Teachers Pension Plan get sick of being a NHL team owner soon and sell the team to a real owner, with a real passion to ice a winner.

Sundin should never have been the Leafs captain. The captain should have been a Canadian gritty,blue collar, work the corners kind of guy. A Gary Roberts or someone who would put some emotion into things. Sundin cares more about playing for Sweden and is only here for $$$$$$. If he could get it in Sweden he wouldn't be here.

As a young Leaf's fan it would break my heart to see Mats Go. I could not possibly fathom them trading away arguably the greatest Maple Leaf player ever. From what I have seen there is no question that it is JFJ's fault for what the team has turned into and its the entire Board of Directors and Presidents fault for putting him there in the first place. The horrible contracts and trades that have occurred under his leadership are too many to count and JFJ must be replaced the sooner the better.

To be honest I am no analyst, I am however a Toronto Fan, it all started on December 9th 1958, that is when I was born. That's right my mom was a Toronto Fan so I obviously got that Leaf gene. I just barely remember the 1967 cup and have been waiting a long time for another. I cannot tell you what the management should do or what can be done. All I can say to them is PLEASE do something; I am not getting any younger. The Oilers have won more Stanley Cups during my lifetime.

Thanks for the vent

Dave Stewart

I, like many of your readers, bleed blue and white and would be very melancholic to see the Mats Sundin era come to an end. Compare him all you want to Gilmour, Clark and Keon. These men are icons in my houselhold and I rank Sundin as having the most class of the group. MLSE is an embarassment to professional sports and an insult to Leafs fans. This organization has the opprotunity to improve their image and accomplish two very admirable things by trading Sundin. Give this consummate professional a legitimate opportunity to raise the cup and IF DONE RIGHT, completely rebuild this franchise. Beyond the immediate impact of trades, the talent pool coming our of junior hockey over the next two years could reap substantial benefits with picks. Mr. Sundin - it is time this organization repaid your loyalty and if you end this season in another jersey, I and millions of Leaf fans will cheer you on towards a Stanley Cup victory. For now at least.

sundin is garbage and fears koivu

I do sympathize John Ferguson Jr. The first act should be to find out who hired Ferguson (who came with no experience for this position) and fire that person. Next, Ferguson should go. It's too bad for John it happened this way.

Mats Sundin is the Toronto Maple Leafs hero. Him leaving would break the city's heart. However, I think he deserves the Cup and obviously with all this garbage going on he's not going to get it in Toronto.

Sundin may very well be the biggest ticket to trade for rebuilding, but there are a lot of other overpaid players on that team who aren't playing on par with their payscale. They should look at these options first, as Sundin is not only an incredible talent, but he has the heart for it too, which some of these other players definetely do not.

Mats will fill in nicely along side Sidney. Pittsburgh has a good crop of young talent they could let go and not hurt their team down the road. Aside from Crosby, Staal and Malikin everyone else is expendable.

I agree. As much as changing the GM will help, trading Mats Sundin is about the only bargaining chip they have. I just don't trust JFJ to make that decision though as he's proven to me he's not a capable hockey man so replace him first and then trade Mats as he sure deserves to win a cup and sadly for Mats, it won't be in Toronto.

Whatever Mats Sundin's future may be, it is not going to be the ultimate solution to the woes of the Leafs.

It was always about the money, and as long as there was money the largest-grossing hockey market in the world--Toronto--then all was well, that is until the salary cap came into effect.

There were years of "buying" players who came to Toronto to dawn the blue and white, and little emphasis was placed on drafting or developing players. This franchise has been, and continues to be, run like a sleezy business. You will not win a Stanley Cup like that. Winning is chemistry; winning is heart, and it's about the love up the game.

Sure, some of the most talented players in the world will win the Stanley Cup. But look at all the guys who've fought hard, and grinded out wins in the playoffs because they wanted it - deep down it wasn't about the money, it was about the love of the game.

I think there's been something missing in the city of Toronto and the Maple Leafs organization for a long time now.

Ironic that we have to trade our best player in years to make our team better. Out of all the sub par playing players we have right now---they get to stay. Trades Mats, keep Ferguson. What is wrong with this picture. However, i completely understand where Elliot is coming from but it's unfortunate that Mats may go. He's one of the best in the league---he and most leaf fans will have to suffer the consequences of the inexperience and "grinchesque" leaf administration.
I think Ferguson should've been gone two years ago. He has done nothing to make me feel that the Leafs are in his best interest.

This team and organization right now has me longing for the Ballard years. What a disgrace.

I have been a Leafs fan for years. Like all of us, we live in a state of denial waiting for the cup to come back! just making the playoffs is painful!
I believe Sundin should retire as a Maple Leaf! Fire JFJ.
Don't even think of hiring Messier, Yzerman or Healy!
Yeesh! They were players and have no managerial skills!
As for the lack of Defence, Trade McCabe and Kubina. Ask Borje Salming to come back!

I have to say the state of the TML organization or disorganization for that matter is disgraceful. Only in Toronto could you get away with charging hundreds of dollars for tickets and not win a game. The stands are filled each night with die-hard fans from across generations hoping to repeat '67--and nothing. The fat cats behind the scenes need to get rid of Ferguson and bring in a guy like Scotty Bowman.
As for Sundin, I agree he is our best and perhaps our only bargaining chip at this point, but really the team should have been built around him years ago. I personally don't see us acquiring anyone with his caliber of play anytime in the near future. One great player per decade (Gilmour in the 90's), is not enough for a hockey town like Toronto. I would want to keep Sundin and possibly trade McCabe and Tucker, 2 players who the leafs can win without.

It's sad but true. I'd love to see Sundin win a Cup before he retires, even if it's not with the leafs. I wonder what team would be a good fit for him? Where does he have a good chance to win (this year or next)?

Fact is that Sundin is one of the main reasons why Toronto hasnt won. Get rid of him. All you Leaf fans out there have no idea what these guys get up to in the big city but I do. Trade all of em and start from scratch,these guys have way to much fun here if you know what I mean (Sundin isnt the good boy everyone thinks he is).

I have been a die hard leaf fan for the last 17 years, ever since I moved to this city and still am. As much as I and everyone would like to think that firing JFJ and brining in someone like Bowman, Muckler or someone with half a brain would be the Answer, it will not change the end result.
First, of all if the leafs are going to get anything manageable, salary cap wise for Sundin, JFJ has got to go. It is clear he has not idea about the salary cap world when he signed McCabe and Kubina for over $11 million + this year alone.
Now if by some miracle the leafs do get fair return for trading Sundin the supporting cast will always be window dressing by management who are puppets of the teachers pension who are majority owners.
The leafs are only concerned with making a return on their investment which is evident in Mr. Tucker's comments last year. He said after the season was over, "We were not too far from where we want to be!"
Where is that? 8th place and one round of playoff revenue to pad the bottom line!!!!
Gimme a break, I thought you wanted to win the stanley cup, Mr. Tucker. All the suckers that fill the stands day in and day out are only fueling this mentality. The only way the leafs will ever contend for the stanley cup in the new NHL is if the Teachers pension are bought our by someone with a lot of money who loves the leafs as much as I do.

Stop dreaming Leaf people. You won't get too much for that guy, he's over the hill. It would free up cap space though, not that good players would ever want to come to this loonie bin. Toronto is probably at the bottom of most player's lists.

Ive been a leaf fan for ages. The problem with the leafs is that the ownership love money not the leafs. They cater to executive seats and boxes not the real fans.
I say torontonians do what consumers do with other bad businesses-Dont buy from them-dont buy tickets, dont watch televised games (they are a waste of time anyways)
Mats Sundin deserves a much better team than this. A word to ownership-every empire falls-yours will too.

Who said, "Why should I put a better product on the ice, when I can't put more people in the stands"?

Sounds like sound advice when dealing with Toronto fans... They get exactly what they deserve... Ferguson and a losing team!

Will you please just stop talking about the Leafs! No one cares. Let them be the miserable lot they are so that the rest of us who like good hockey have something to laugh about.

Right you are, Elliotte. The Flyers and Blues got a king's ransom for vets (Forsberg, Tkachuk, Guerin) who were playing far below Sundin's level this year. Next year is a stronger draft as well. It's really the Leafs only chance to turn around their franchise, as it's been going downhill for about a decade now. Sundin can always re-sign with the Leafs next season, a la Tkachuk.

Whoever is GM will have to be trusted with moving some big salaries as well to make a little room. Likely Raycroft and Kubina - if a GM can actually get a decent return for either, he's a keeper!

If the Leaves plight continues to spiral down,
Sundin may have to go. He is the only player
on The Leaves that any contending team might
want for a cup run. If a contending team is
hungry enough, they would offer some draft
possibilities in return. Would also free up
salary cap $$ for Leaves . I can understand
fan loyalty to Sundin , but it is also about
good business decisions and some reasonable
dedication to improving an organization.
Change must be embraced or simply live with
no achievement and mediocrate at best.

You are 100% accurate. There is no other way to begin the rebuilding process, as painful as it will be to lose Mats he deserves better. The organization will also need to approach the many players they have under contract with the "no trade clause" and have them agree to be moved, give them the courtesy of providing the Leafs with the names of teams they will go to and then move them. But, these moves must benefit the future of the organization – not just a dumping of a player and his contract.
The next step is to sell the organization to one individual who has a passion for the game and wants to win.
The Teacher’s purchased the Leafs to gain a return on an investment, nothing more, they will realize that return when they sell. For the sake of the team and the members of Leaf Nation I hope they sell sooner rather then later.

I hate to see Mats go, he is the face of the franchise and the only player in recent years (since Doug Gilmore) to carry the team. Such a loyal and hard working player, an all-time leafs scorer and record holder; it would be really nice to see Mats retire in the double blue, sort of a storybook ending. Alas Toronto winning the cup anytime soon would definitely be a fairy tale. In a way Elliot is right. Not that I feel we should use Mats to rebuild the Leafs. I think the organization gets what it deserves for such pathetic mismanagement; but any move should solely be done to reward Mats for his years of excellent service. Mats deserves the chance the Leafs organization especially the owners DO NOT.

The Maple Leafs should offer the post of general manager to Pierre McGuire. They could hire someone like Scotty Bowman or Cliff Fletcher as senior advisor, sort of the same role Wayne Embry has with the Raptors.

What type of managerial experience would guys like Yzerman, Messier,or Healy be able to provide for the Maple Leafs? My guess is that they have no experience whatsoever. Messier and Yzerman would fit well in the locker room (ten or so years ago), maybe in a scouting position, but definitely not in a managerial position - Healy? where did that idea come from?

I think just by naming these names, you're stirring up a whole new pot of controversy that will only reflect the current situation the Leafs are in right now.

As for Sundin, has anyone actually sat down with him and asked for his opinion? "Hey Matts, who do you think would be a fit for you on the wing?" Sheesh, he's the only one doing anything productive on this team, you think he would deserve to be at least part of the decision-making process?

The guys on the "front line" know what it takes to win - just simply ask them instead of slinging mud at each other while the fans continue to show their disapproval.

Healy? Serious?

As a Leafs fan, I can do little but shake my head in disgust right now. The greatest irony of it all is "The Board" not allowing Ferguson to rebuild the team. Had he been allowed to start that process the first year he arrived, the team would probably be pretty good right now.

Ferguson certainly deserves some share of the blame, but was he even given the chance to do his job? No matter what you think of his front-office performance, the way he has been treated by his bosses is worse than disgraceful. If I were JFJ, I wouldn't want to come back, fired or not!

Elliotte is absolutely correct in his assessment of the situation. Keeping Sundin only serves one purpose: Selfishness.
Think of everything that Sundin has done on and off the ice. He is never truculant with the media, with his teammates, with the coaches or the GM's. He always puts the team first and never considers himself above the team. It's time to TRADE this guy while you still can. Let him win a cup somewhere where they have a good team. Pittsburgh comes to mind..they could trade him for some of their younger players that are not playing regularly. What about a trade to Ottawa? Either way, trading Sundin is just the start of what the leafs need to do. Getting rid of stiffs like Battaglia, Gill, McCabe, Kilger and the like would be the other start. Build a young team around a few guys, Wellwood, Kaberle, and Toskala...draft young talent, develop them into good talent and with 7 years, you have a winner.

Good commentary. Raycroft cost the team a chance to make it to the playoffs last year, and the contract Ferguson gave to McCabe is going to be brought up every time he makes a mistake on the ice. In addition to trading Sundin to a contender for draft picks, the GM has to move Raycroft, convince McCabe that life would be better outside of Toronto so he will waive his no trade clause, and upgrade the defence in front of Toskala. If the board doesn't believe Ferguson can do this, they have to remove him now and find someone who can.

keep the core 5 best players nobody is untouchable , we are not contenders this year so start rebuilding right away , get rid of paul maurice he is not a nhl coach

Sundin should ride out the rest of his career in Toronto. Toronto fans love Sundin and proof of that can be found everytime he reaches a milestone. Trading him would be a disaster. Leaf fans have stuck with the team through the worst, but I feel this is something they would not forgive. Let him retire as the Maple Leaf that he is and always will be. Besides, Mats is one of the few players earning his salary in the past few years. Fergie sure isn't.

We love you Mats!

The best thing the Leafs could do this year for a rebuild is to finish dead last. That way they get a first-round pick but more importantly, perhaps the "Board" will sack Peddie. The guy is such a suit. All he does is speak in corporatese. My goldfish knows more about hockey than he does. Listen, I'm a Habs fan and absolutely despise the Leaves, but I feel for the fans. Forty years without Lord Stanley and counting. It's a shame.

Mark Messier would be my choice because he’s great leader, Motivator, Works great with the players, Understands the game and knows what it takes to win. The Toronto Maple Leafs should have a
10-foot poster in there dressing room and another on to take on the road that says “SHOOT THE PUCK”.

Everyone knows it won’t go in by it self.

Thank you kindly for your time.

Toronto based CBC staff like Friedman know as little about hockey as does the Leafs board and management staff.

The problem is that no-one could trust Ferguson to make a good trade, even if Sundin agreed to move to another team.

I think that it would be a bad idea to trade Sundin. He is the heart and soul of the team. Not to mention the fact that every other time in the teams past when they got rid of a team leader the team went downhill fast. The owners of the leafs know that they will make money on the team no matter whether they win or lose so why hire top notch management when you can pay less and make more.

the problem is no ones fault but the fans or should i say the toronto maple leaf patsies.

There is nothing that can bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto. It's not the fault of the players or of management.
The Leafs are haunted.
The ghost of Connie Smythe, the combatative founder of the franchise and builder of Maple Leaf Gardens has cursed the team. Smythe's spirit is enraged that the teams tradition of triumphing at any cost is gone, replaced by a management contentment that all the seats are always sold and the franchise is the richest in professional hockey.
This angry ghost declares that winning the cup is all.
Another problem posed by this vengeful ghost is the insistance that the Leafs can only win the cup if they play in the building that Smythe built, Maple Leaf Gardens.
He is enraged that his Leafs abandoned the sacred building.
Watch carefully, see how pucks mysteriously miss sure goals, shots the goal tender should have caught evade his glove. Opponents endlessly score on turnovers while Leaf defensemen's clearing passes always seem to be intercepted.
It's like a jinx, it is a jinx.
The Maple Leafs will never again bring a Stanely Cup to Toronto.

So why is Peddie still around? It was his decision to hire Ferguson.
Get rid of Peddie.

You're dreaming in technicolor if you think the Leafs could get a good young player for Sundin. All you sorry saps in the Leaf Nation provide comic relief for the undeluded.

Elliote you hit it right on the nose. I am a Flyers fan and last year hurt real bad. Trading Forsberg who I was so excited about being a Flyer was the best thing they could do. It set up everything for them, the deals and signings later and look at them right now. They are playing hard, tough (despite what everyone is writing) and are winning. At the end of the day, winning really is everything in the NHL and MLS needs to finally realize that. I am a Flyers fan, always have been and always will be, but in this day of the salary CAP , my advise to the Leafs is , monkey see monkey do !

It's going to be one long season for the leafs I tell you what.