Usually before any team in pro sports completely blows up a team to start over it's something for management to think long and hard about, something to be contemplated and speculated on. They get concerned about what's happened to teams like the Oilers when they went in that direction, but you can also look at teams like the Blackhawks to encourage it. However, there is no doubt in my mind that if the Leafs ever want to get past being mediocre and a fringe playoff contender at best they need to blow it up. I know that they look close with some players they have and they might be able to put something together. However, this just isn't the case when you look at it. Before judging, hear me out and allow me to show you why.The Leafs have had the same basic core in place for about three years now. It's basically been Kessel and Phaneuf as the main two guys with Bozak, van Reiemsdyk, Kadri, and Lupul being other prominent players for quite some time now. In the three years where this has been more or less the core the results have been average at best. The 2012/13 season was the only time they made the playoffs with this group, and just when they looked poised to advance to the next round and defeat the Boston Bruins, they suffered an epic collapse and fell well short in what was a lock out shortened season. Last year, they had a playoff spot all but clinched but they fell short by losing big down the stretch, they could barely win a game to save their playoff lives and couldn't edge in just two more wins which would have clinched a playoff spot, keep in mind that before this run they weren't barely clinging to a wild card spot, but they had full control of actually getting a decent birth, and failed. Then this season, they aren't even in a playoff spot right now and have managed to hit a slump of epic porportions. This really brings up some major questions about the club and their direction, however, this alone isn't reason enough to blow up the team, after all there is still something to build around....isn't there?
If a team had similar pieces that the Leafs had I might agree depending on the team. However, there are some really major flaws with the Leafs team as it is. The first is that they have guys playing the top minutes, who aren't top minute players. Kessel would be better suited not having to be the man on the offensive side, and Phaneuf would be much better as a 2nd or 3rd defenseman, where he gets to play beside another star. This is part of what has led to the mediocrity of the Leafs. They have the players who are bonafide, solid, and even star NHLers. However, they aren't superstars or spot light NHLers. They would be more suited as secondary guys. When guys who aren't necessarily meant to be the top guys have to be the top guys they will be prone to disappear, and when those guys disappear, it's unlikely the secondary scoring will be able to completely take up the slack, and the team will struggle. We have seen this happen at least once every year from the Leafs. This leads to the question of why not trade for number one players?
Well being an Oilers fan has taught me and many other Oilers fans that trading for number ones is very difficult. Every week rumours pop up about the latest number one player at whatever position the Oilers might be interested in, however, as of yet no deal has happened. Why do you think that is? Teams are very reluctant to give up number one players at any position unless they're having a fire sale (and even in this case they can still be somewhat expensive), or they're getting a really good package in return. Just look at what the Leafs gave up to get Kessel for example, one of the draft picks they gave up turned into Tyler Seguin. How much would the Leafs like to have him right now? Quite often giving up what it takes to land a number one player will leave a hole in another position, which will lead the team to either overpay in another trade or overpay at free agency and it can be a black hole that just sucks them in with no way to get out. There's also the other issue of changing a culture and getting almost anything and everything that's leftover from being a team that can't win out of the organization and locker room.
Even if the Leafs were to trade one key player for a massive upgrade, there would still be prominent players left over from the mediocre years. Players who couldn't win and suffered really bad collapses. Would a team really want these players left when they're trying to reinvent the team and become winners? I don't think so. When a team rebuilds, or is trying to win they generally don't want any players left over from the losing years to still be on the team, it usually doesn't work. Especially when players have been called uncoachable.
For me the final dagger in blowing this thing up is that former Leaf coach Ron Wilson called the core uncoachable. Now you do have to take what a former coach says with a grain of salt. However, considering what we've seen from the Leafs recently I don't think it's surprising. Why would a team want uncoachable players if they want to change the way things are going? Having uncoachable players is another really good way to maintain mediocrity.
I think at the end of the day blowing things up is the only way for the Leaf to eventually achieve consistent success. Their current core are players who might not be meant to be a core and trading for actual core players would take too many assets. It generally isn't a good idea to have pieces left on the team that couldn't win, especially when these pieces are uncoachable. At the end of the day it looks like the best thing the Leafs can do is blow it up and start over.
-Darren
-Do you think the Leafs should blow it up or is there another way for them to improve? Let me know by either commenting below, or find me on twitter @thewildman111
photo taken from thehockeynews.com
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