Rigamarole - A Foot In The Crease - Episode 3.17

www.afootinthecrease.com

Back in mid November when the Maple Leafs suffered through a one win in eight game stretch, it was thought that the end was near for the jobs of one or even all of Paul Maurice, John Ferguson Jr. and Richard Peddie. Upper management professed patience to the riled up members of Leaf Nation, suggesting that all teams, even defending Stanley Cup champions, go through difficult times over the course of a season. Almost on cue, the Maple Leafs turned around and rolled off four consecutive wins silencing many of their critics. Hell, we even heard some people start suggesting this Maple Leaf team could do some damage in the playoffs.

Then came a seven game road trip that we suggested on this very program would hold the fortunes of the Maple Leafs season in its hands. After a disappointing 2-3-2 record during this sojourn away from Air Canada Centre, followed up by a despicable effort in their return home against the Rangers, it appears we can expect a lot more of the one win in eight games team from November instead of the team that won four in a row to start December.

The question now is how much worse does it have to get before changes are finally made? Since taking over as GM from Pat Quinn in 2003, the Maple Leafs have gone from a legitimate Stanley Cup contender to perennial straggler in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The goaltender acquired in exchange for top prospect Tuukka Rask may never win another game for the Maple Leafs. Eric Lindros, Jason Allison, Alex Khavanov, Mike Peca, Pavel Kubina, Hal Gill, Jason Blake, Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker have all signed lucrative contracts under JFJ and not one has been even remotely worth their money.

In the years to come, the contracts of Kubina, Blake, McCabe and Tucker will loom over the Maple Leafs putting a severe anchor on any ability to quickly rebuild. If all this cannot prompt a significant shakeup of the Maple Leafs management structure, I’m honestly not sure what will. But hey, all that was just rigamarole.