The End of the Farce?

With goofy things happening all around the Maple Leafs, it was good for Ed Belfour to throw his two cents in.

He didn't have any time over the past few weeks until yesterday to tell Leaf fans, those who pay his salary, why he couldn't play any longer this season.

But he did notice that mean things were being said about him, and that mean things were being said about Mikael Tellqvist.

Not that he ever reads the paper or listens to TV or radio.

With Belfour, Eric Lindros, Jason Allison and Alexander Khavanov now all gone until the end of the season, it's now just a question of when the Leafs stop pretending that there is anything but a juicier draft lottery position to play for.

After all, it appears none of those above them in the Eastern Conference standings appears willing to fall quite enough.

Montreal, New Jersey and Tampa Bay all won Thursday evening, putting all three clubs nine points up on the Leafs, who have only 10 games remaining.

That's an uncomfortable number of games yet to play, wouldn't you say?

The official end to the season - unofficially, it ended last Saturday in Montreal - is going to be agonizingly slow for Pat Quinn and his squad, and, other than the final number of points this former 100 point squad accumulates, the issue appears only the timing of the post-season moves that all are expecting.

Based on history, the Leafs will screw that up, as well.

GM John Ferguson, you may remember, was hired late in the summer of 2003 after a painstaking search that amazingly turned up the most inexperienced candidate.

Former president Ken Dryden, if memory serves, once tried to hire a new GM, Bob Gainey, in training camp. Last summer, the Leafs made their free agent moves after most of the big names were gone.

Ideally, the Leafs will make their important organizational decisions sometime very soon after the season ends April 18th, but don't count on it.

Larry Tanenbaum is busy protecting his turf, as is Ferguson, as is Quinn, for that matter. Oh yes, and Richard Peddie, as well.

The likeliehood is this process will drag on for months, probably until Tanenbaum, assuming he stays as chairman, can figure out a way to affect change without anybody looking bad or appearing as though they were fired.

Apparently he wants Peddie, Ferguson and Quinn all to stay, which sends out a very peculiar message to Leaf patrons after such an unsuccessful season.

This season, the club's motto was "The Passion that Unites us All."

Next season, the best guess is that it will be "More of the Same."

Right now, this is a hockey club that needs somebody - anybody - to send out a strong, unequivocal message of change and bold leadership.

Instead, expect post-season meandering and politicking. Why get ready for next season now when you can wait for July. . .or August?

Comments

[Paul McDougall]

It's great to know what is happening in the front office of the Toronto Maple Leafs. But this is the only thing that matters: The Leafs will NEVER win a Stanley Cup until the fans realize they are getting suckered by this bunch of screw ups and stop showing up until MLSE can put a decent product back on the ice. Boycott, Boycott, Boycott.

[Arthur]

Agreed. The worst thing this team can do is dither at this point.

What incentive does a player have to come to Toronto now? The club is an embarrassment from top-to-bottom.

This, right before the biggest free-agent crop in history is destined to unfold. And we already saw what Ferguson does in a situation like that - he sits on his hands until the only remainders are the third-tier guys nobody wants. Will it happen again? I'd almost laugh to see Ferguson's stern face showcased in the paper in the days following another failed free-agent signing frenzy. "Ferguson Left Holding the Bag: 'He's a joke', scoffs rival GM".

The best thing they could do is come up with a decisive direction RIGHT NOW, so that everyone is on board for the draft and subsequent free-agent derby.

If only the Leafs would negotiate with an all-star GM to take the wheel, throwing Ferguson under the bus the moment this saviour is ready to sign. Why is the Board capable of making the big moves with the Raptors but not the Leafs?

[Roberto]

I believe whomever started the entire Eddiegate fiasco should be embarassed and offer Mr. Belfour and apology.
If in fact he has a herniated disc, which appears to be the case, the suggestion that he had quit on the team is insulting to a man with his credentials. He may not be media friendly, but after treatment and unsubstantiated speculation about his integrity, I don't blame him.
I think the media speculation on Eddie's injury being not real is shameful, and no doubt this type of bull is why many free agents will not come to Toronto. Who needs the aggravation?

[Joe]

Does anyone else feel like a second NHL team in Toronto, would end up winning the Stanley Cup before the Leafs. The Maple Leafs need one person owning the team, instead of this god awful mess that just cares about making more money. Too many people are always in on every decision and it always takes too long. Isn't that the sign of a bloated corporation that's too slow to act to change? As a Leaf fan, its very disheartening to see the way the team is run, as most people feel that they could do a better job managing the team, than those who are responsible and are getting the millions. More dispointment, more of the same crap will continue, until a second alternative NHL team can take hold in the GTA.

[norm depalma]

the question has to be: are the leafs the most unsuccessful team over the last 38 years of team sports? and is there any chance for improvement within the next 5 years?

[Joe D'Agostino]

I can't wait for the reality show series. Oh wait, it's been airing as we speak!

[royalscam]

What everyone here seems to forget is the fact that MLSE is in business to make money. Knowing that, it should come as no surprise the same monkeys will be running the zoo next year.Why you ask? Well because they will not pay the monkeys to NOT work. Get it! So now peeps find a different team to support. OUT.

[J Norman]

"With goofy things happening all around the Maple Leafs, it was good for Ed Belfour to throw his two cents in.

He didn't have any time over the past few weeks until yesterday to tell Leaf fans, those who pay his salary, why he couldn't play any longer this season."

Eddie probably didn't know "over the past few weeks". He saw a few doctors and was ordered to rest in bed. Maybe they had a "wait and see" if he could endure the pain before calling it a season. Anyone else ever have a predictable back problem in terms of pain ?

Then we have the media get in a tizzy because the agent and JFJ blurted out something before Quinn, on a road trip, heard about it. Big deal that they couldn't beat the media information age who swarm for every tidbit. It wasn't going to change anything in terms of who Quinn had to dress. Another "nothing event" for the media to try get all cranked up in because it might sell another paper or two.

Then we have the shameful media created "scandal" that Eddie supposedly bailed on the team which is promptly shown to be absolutely bogus.

The Leafs have got to the major league NHL playoffs 6 of the last 7 seasons. That's a better record than some of the media minor leaguers Toronto fans have to hold their noses for while flipping the paper or the channels.