tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Leafs Need To Make A Big Move

Yesterday I was thinking about the day the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Doug Gilmour. I was in Toronto that day shopping with my family when I heard the trade over the radio in one of the stores at the Eaton Centre. As we know that acquisition turned the franchise around and gave Leaf Nation some exciting moments in the early 90's. As I was thinking about that day I began to wonder, is it possible for Brian Burke to make a Gilmour type acquisition this season??

The salary cap probably makes a blockbuster trade difficult but not impossible. Think Flyers moving Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. Everyone thought the Flyers would take a step back but that has not been the case. Looking at the Maple Leafs, it is becoming apparent to me that it will be a struggle to make the playoffs this year. There is an inconsistency with this team that is reflective in the current scoring drought. Coach Ron Wilson indicated that his team needs to be willing to pay the price in order to get scoring chances. The forwards are not driving the net and seem content to stay on the edges and try to make a pretty pass or make a fancy deke. So the question becomes: are the players on the current roster willing to pay the price??

I'm not so sure. When you look at the Leaf forwards there are not many big guys. The talented forwards are on the small side and can easily be banged around as evidenced by the Rangers and Senators games last week. Maybe Mike Brown needs to be placed on one of the top 3 lines. When Colby Armstrong comes back maybe he needs to be on one of the top lines. What's clear is that the Leafs need some muscle up front. It's rather ironic that seven years after the lockout, a lockout that was suppose to bring back more emphasis on skill not brawn, that the Maple Leafs are in need of some physical presence.

What would you give to have a Gary Roberts type player on this team?? Think back to those late 90's early 2000's teams. The Bay Street Bullies: Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Shayne Corson and Tie Domi. All four of these guys were physical and gritty and they all had the skill to be an offensive contributor. These are the type of players the Leafs need now. On the current roster, the closest that they have to this type of player is Colby Armstrong and possibly Mike Brown. However, both have been plagued by injuries particularly Armstrong.

These types of players aren't easy to acquire. Currently, think Scott Hartnell and Milan Lucic. I'm not saying that the Leafs can get either one of these guys but these are the type of players they need. In essence a power forward and they currently do not have one. Ryan Malone would certainly fit the bill but its unclear whether Malone would approve a trade to Toronto.

I have extreme confidence in Brian Burke. He has turned this team around from a talent standpoint. The Leaf farm system is the best its been in the 44 years that I have followed this team. The trades that he has made with Calgary, Anaheim, Nashville and Boston have made this team an exciting one to watch and certainly has provided some hope as a result of the young players brought in. It would be shocking if Burke doesn't make a trade before the trade deadline. What will be telling is who he targets because it will give us an indication of where the Leaf General Manager sees his team at this point. If he goes after an established forward who would be considered a Gilmour-type acquisition (think Ryan Getzlaf or Bobby Ryan) then it would tell us that Burke believes that this team is only a couple of players away from securing a playoff spot and doing some damage in the post season. In order to make that type of acquisition, he will have to give up some top young prospects (think Nazem Kadri and/or Joe Colborne) and someone else from the roster (think Mikhail Grabovski).

If Burke sees this season as another step in the building process, with youngsters such as Colborne, Kadri, Frattin and Blacker being a season away from really breaking out, then he may be willing to part with some older players (think Clarke MacArthur, Colby Armstrong & Mike Kommisarek) to get some younger bigger players who could grow with Phil Kessel, Colborne, Kadri, etc. Either route I'm ok with as long as Burke is able to get some big bodies who can play. I agree with Burke when he says that just making the playoffs isn't enough. Remember the John Brophy quote when asked about his team making the playoffs because of the divisional playoff format back in the 80's (similar to what was being proposed with the realignment), "if we needed 50 points will get 50 points". This isn't about squeaking into 8th place. This is about building a team that is a legitimate contender for the Stanley Cup.