Time to Fletch His Muscles

We'll know in a few hours whether dumping John Ferguson on Jan. 22 and repatriating Cliff Fletcher was worth the trouble for the Maple Leafs.

Today, the NHL trade deadline, is the day that Fletcher was brought back to navigate. After this, well, it's ride out the wave until mid-April, then sit back and watch the scouts do their thing until the entry draft in Ottawa. By then, or even sooner, the Leafs should have their new boss of hockey ops in place (of course, given that JFJ was hired in August, you never know with these people).

The interesting question will be, what exactly constitutes success for Fletch today?

Some have made this a no-lose situation for the Silver Fox, arguing Ferguson left him in an untenable situation with five no-trade contracts -- are those people aware, by the way, that players as peripheral as Mike Grier have such clauses in their deals? -- and so he can't be expected to do much.

Is moving Hal Gill for a draft pick enough? Or Alexei Ponikarovsky? Now that Alex Steen is locked up for two more years at $1.7 million per, should the Leafs listen to calls asking for the Swede?

Or does Fletcher, to be triumphant on this day, somehow have to figure a way to get one of the no-trade cabal to waive those rights and accept a trade, with Pavel Kubina and Bryan McCabe the only possible candidates, it seems.

To me, the dream scenario for Fletcher is if he can lay his hands on that first round pick owned by Anaheim but tied to the finish of the Edmonton Oilers.

Get that, and all past sins will be, if not forgotten, at least bathed in a new, forgiving light. Promise - the Kirk Muller for Jason Podollan deal and "draft schmaft" will not be brought up again if that pick ends up in Toronto hands.

The complication to all of this, of course, is that the trade market seems strangely slow, like Jason Allison on a shootout attempt.

Two weeks ago, the Sens and Canes did the Cory Stillman deal. Last week, Jaroslov Modry and Jim Vandermeer moved.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

On Monday, the drips became a trickle. Peter Forsberg signed in Colorado, and by last night, there were actual developments.

Tampa sent Vinny Prospal to Philly and re-signed Dan Boyle for six years, thus making the Brad Richards deal today a virtual certainty. St. Louis extended Barrett Jackman, taking him off both the trade market and the unrestricted list this summer. The Islanders, meanwhile, have contract offers on the table to Mike Comrie, Miro Satan, Josef Vasicek and Ruslan Fedotenko, and the deals that aren't signed could lead to moves involving those players.

Once Richards and Marian Hossa move, there's still the chance the dam will open, with Buffalo's Brian Campbell the next major domino.

The Leafs? They were trying hard into last night, talking to teams about five or six different players but with nothing concrete in place.

Should be an intriguing day.

Comments

[Rod]

Of all the professional sports teams in the world, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the Charlie Brownest.

[Andrew Barrie]

Yes, Ferguson may have proven just as effective clearing cap space and getting prospects/picks as Fletcher seems to be.

But what I am surprised you are forgetting is, that Ferguson was a man desperately trying to save his career, as he was last year, which means he'd be making deals for the present, not for the future, and we'd probably end up buyers three weeks ago, and we all know Ferguson would have seen the romp over Ottawa as proof this is a good team, and he probably would have gone out today, grabbed Hossa and Richardson and given up our first round picks for the next two years doing so.

[Michael]

Hi Damien, I love your blog and I like it that we can comment in here no matter good or bad. I totally agreed with you and your other article that we have to do something to get the No.1 pick and maybe getting the ducks(oilers) pick.

But noticed the leafs won 5-0 last night, I'm afraid they will make a run but not enough to make the playoffs and then we can't get better position in the draft. When we want them to win they just play so badly and now we want them to lose they play like a winning team? Why? I think it's the players that should get the blame. They're no winners. The dumb fans have to know even they make the playoffs they can't win the cup.

Why are these dumb fans can't see what really can help this team? We need to rebuild now and we need to move players. And these dumb fans just stand behind those selfish players. They're just so stupid. It's like those players FART in there face, they still don't wake up and think it smells good.

I really hope you allow me to post this so that some dumb fans can see this and hopefully they can wake up.

[Buck16]

Unfortunately, I don't think there's any possible way of landing that pick from the Ducks. Sundin was our only bargaining chip to getting a head start on re-building (if, in fact, MLSE is true to its 'word' and why would we believe that?).

I respect Mats' decision because he earned that NTC, but if he retires/signs elsewhere this summer I fear his legacy in Toronto will not be a good one, which is sad, considering how committed he's been to his normally crappy team and his revolving door of crappy wingers.

What I worry about is the desire of players like Tucker, McCabe, and Kubina (I wouldn't trade Kaberle at that price) to play on such a bad team. Their money is guaranteed, so why not play for a team with a chance to win?

After today, all the pressure will be off, the Leafs will string together a bunch of wins and finish about 20th overall, ruining any chance of getting a blue-chip prospect.

And yet, we still love this team ...

[Roger]

Fletcher won’t be doing anything of note. No just because of the Sundin’s refusal to waive his NTC but simply because he’s not with it any longer. The guy should be in Florida or Arizona on the golf course or playing shuffle board. Because of the Leafs’ inept senior management, Fletcher scammed them into thinking he was the man to start the re-building of this team. Clearly he's not!

As a leaf fan I just hope and pray they actually go out and hire qualified, experienced person and not another member of the lodge who Peddie can maneuver.

[Paul]

Damien, This is the best article you have written. I absolutely agree. If Fletch can fetch that Edm pick, he will have done his job.

[RICK]

Hi Damian,

i am all for your suggestions in yesterday's note except I would tell all the NTC guys (except for Kaberle who is worth the money we pay for him), stop coming to the arena immediately, do not come to practice and don't bother showing up for team meetings, you have all played your last game in the blue and white.You can collect your paycheques at home in the mailbox but you will not skate until your contracts expire or you ask to be traded.Then I would look for a GM who is not afraid to do what is necessary to build a winning team. As far as Vesa Toskola is concerned he has shown he can be a number 1 goalie so we should also keep him for 3 more yrs (Leaf goalies seem to be good for a maximum of 4 yrs).I have cheered and cried for the leafs since landing in Toronto in 1964 and would like to see them restored to a contender, and champion before i pass on.

[Tim]

It must be nice, being able to come up with all these hare brained schemes to rebuild the team, with no way for anyone to validate whether or not they were any good or even plausible. It does take two to make a trade.
Gee Damien, what a nice gig you have.
Of course to my knowledge you have never accomplished anything in the sports world yourself but I guess that doesn't really indicate anything because in your own mind, you are a genius.
Maybe they could have traded Belak for another higher draft pick in your little fantasy world so I am looking forward to hear your comments on this trade.

[Drew]

Hey Tim ... nice!
what a class guy you are ... why not stop reading Damien, and of course everyone else who has not "accomplished anything in the sports world" ... I suppose you have accomplished a great deal, and so we should all listen to you!! or of course, maybe Tie Domi could become a commentator again!! I suppose writers who have never killed anyone should also not write mystery novels! ... thanks for your brilliant addition to the post!! Must be a Leaf’s fan ...

[Colin]

Damien,
I agree with Rick in that you seem to think you have all the answers but, curiously enough, are writing for a newspaper rather than working as a GM in the NHL. You know what they say Damien - those who can do, and those who can't write about it. Seriously, Fletcher is not the Second Coming but he is FAR better than Ferguson. The problem is that Fletcher is saddled with no-trade clauses that have left him stuck.

That aside, I think Fletcher should do the following to work his way around the no-trade clause:
He should check which team is the first on the waivers list and then work out a deal with them. It could go something like this: give us a couple of prospects and a couple of draft-picks (likely to be very high draft picks) in exchange for our fifth round pick in 2010 (or whenever). That can be the trade. But we will also immediately place Sundin on waivers at which point you can claim him. That way we get around his no-trade clause and there is nothing the selfish bugger can do about it.

He should do the same to the other players who have no-trade clauses.

[Gordon]

We got the wrong Fletch. We'd be better off with the one that supports the lakers and is an under cover beat reporter. To be true, the guy we got is a sure fire hall of famer....but his best days are way past him. Wrong guy for the job, again.