Thursday Mail Bag

The time has probably come to stop wondering why it is the Leafs are playing as they are, or why they didn’t do it earlier, and just accept the fact the club is delivering high-quality hockey at the moment.

In five straight games against opponents likely headed for the playoffs, the Leafs outshot every one of them, managing six of 10 possible points. The play of Carlo Colaiacovo, in particular, has been eye-popping, and the captain, Mats Sundin, has been out-and-out terrific since the pre-deadline, no-trade-clause fiasco was played out.

You don’t have to particularly like this team to admire what they’ve been able to do of late, as counter-productive to the long-term growth of the franchise as it may be, given that a lottery draft pick is fading into the distance.

Look, mostly meaningless hockey is a lot more interesting than watching completely meaningless hockey. Given that there’s something on the line, you can’t even say with total accuracy that the team is only playing well now that there’s nothing to play for.

None of this has a carry-over effect to next year, and if I was a member of Leaf management, I’d worry that what’s motivating this team is less about team and more about individual agendas. Moreover, if subtracting Wade Belak, Chad Kilger and Hal Gill has produced a much better team, why didn’t Leaf management figure that out earlier?

Right now, the Leafs are an interesting team to watch, which is more than could be said from October through to February.

Now on to this week’s mail bag - got a question for next time? Send it here:

Q: Greetings Damien, As we all witnessed during the deadline day fiasco, the real rebuilding of the Toronto Maple Leafs will begin this June at the NHL Entry Draft.

My question to you is this: if the Leafs fail to acquire the #1 pick in this year’s draft, should they consider taking a chance on top Russian prospect Nikita Filatov if he is still available by the time its their turn to select? Obviously the lack of a Russian transfer agreement will scare many teams away, with the Alexei Cherepanov situation from last year’s draft serving as a perfect example. Yet one cannot deny the fact that Filatov has top five potential, considering the fact that both ISS and RLR rank him #2 in their lists of top players available in this year's draft, after his strong performance at the Five Nations U-18 last month.

Thus, should the Leafs take a chance and select a prospect that could potentially be a building block toward respectability, or should the lack of a transfer deal with Russia scare the Leafs away and force them to make a ‘safer’ pick with a North American based player?

Brad Lloyd, Waterloo, Ont.

A: Tough, tough question. Well, you always take the best player available. But the best player now, more than ever, may be defined as much by price and availability as talent.

The problems with the Russian federation are indeed real problems, and the Leafs, among other teams, can’t afford to waste a pick on a player who might not come to North America for years, if at all. I guess the answer is that unless you are absolutely convinced Filatov is the real deal and you have a depth chart that allows you to be patient, he might not be worth a top 10 pick at this time. The Leafs have had enough difficulty getting a commitment that Nikolai Kulemin will be able to come over next year, and it’s hard to see them taking this risk unless, of course, they’re certain he’s a franchise-type player.

Q: Damien, which of the teams in the east currently in a playoff position do you think has the  best chance to make it to the final?  And do you think that team will be competitive with the best team in the west?

Also, does anyone know what is going on with Chad Kilger?  He is still AWOL from Florida due to "personal reasons." Does this have anything to do with the Leafs trading him?  Maybe not being happy about going to Florida? I have always liked Kilger and was wondering what was going on.

Julianna Ruffolo, Angus, Ont.

A: I really like Montreal, and I liked what they did with Cristobal Huet/Carey Price at the deadline, and I think they could challenge anyone coming out of the west if they can stay healthy and if Price can stand the heat.

Re Kilger, there’s lots of rumours, but nothing concrete. Hopefully, he’ll get it all worked out.

Q: Hi Damien,

With the season basically over, is there any reason why they haven't played Pogge yet? Also, how would you rate Pogge against Price in Montreal?

Raymond Young, Toronto

A: Personally, I would have given Pogge a start or two already. What’s the harm? But Price is obviously much further ahead in his development at this point. That said, it’s not a race, and the Leafs have shown good patience with Pogge. I just don’t think giving him an NHL start would mean they would be rushing him.

Q: Damien, I was wondering your thoughts on two people that I think the Leafs should go after this summer. 1. Darcy Regier. What is his contract, can he get out of it, would the Leafs be interested? Look at all the players the Sabres have lost but they still always seem to have a pipeline of young talent that the Leafs lack.

2. Dale Hunter. It seems that all his London teams do every year is win but he does not get the same print or exposure that a Brent Sutter/Craig Hartsburg gets. Would he be a good fit in the NHL? Especially after the success that Sutter has had.

Andrew Stevens, Burlington, Ont.

A: Interesting possibilities. Regier appears pretty married to that Buffalo situation, and obviously he doesn’t meet the Leafs criteria of a new man having to have won at least one Stanley Cup. He’s solid, resourceful and a worker, but not necessarily the kind of star candidate the Leafs are looking for.

Hunter, like Quebec Remparts owner/president/GM/coach Patrick Roy, is a very intriguing possibility, and he would certainly give the Leafs a very different look and attitude. Having gone the route of hiring a GM with no experience (John Ferguson), I doubt the Leafs would want to head down this road again.

Comments

[Tim Banks]

Just want to remind Leafs Nation,if you are feeling down,do what I do.Dig out that old VHS of "The Passion Returns".If nothing else you get to see Damien with hair.

[Dan]

Mr. Cox, normally I'm the first one to rag on you about your articles and your opinions.

I have to say today though, thank you for suggesting that the Leaf fans appreciate what they're doing and how they're playing with only a mild smattering of disdain for the players.

Seriously though, what more can a fan ask for in today's leagues of "More money for me, whatever it takes" sports, than to watch a team the love, rightly or wrongly, not give up?

[Guido]

I don't get the outcry for Pogge ? Who cares. Toskala is a top tier goalie in this league, plus he's young. He's going to be the keeper here for the next 10 years.

[Cory]

Good call Tim. What an incredible video that is. And watching that ultra hip "The Leafs Are The Best" song just tops it off. I think I'll watch it right now.

[Matt]

Re: the Kilger question.

I find it totally hypocritical of the media to shield Kilger while they gleefully ripped Jiri Tlusty for his naked cell-phone pics. Kilger's situation is known by the media -- and by people who know those media folks, like me luckily -- but since it involves his family the info is being withheld.

Now don't get me wrong, Kilger's situation should be kept private since its a sensitive and personal issue, and we as fans don't really need to know. But the media did not show this concern with Tlusty. He's a 19 year old kid who did something stupid that has kinda changed his life. Kilger is a 30-something year old man who has done something stupid that has totally changed his life. But why treat them differently?

I would share the details that I have been told, but it would keep my comment from being approved on this blog, I suspect. But its not my job to report on it, its the media. If they really wanted to share the details they would. Why the secrecy, I'm not sure. But I suspect is has to do with hockey writers also having families and not wanting that to happen to them.

[KAB]

I agree with Cory. Lusty Tlusty is always going to be known as the "Naked Russian Leaf".

[Paul Stephens]

Just a note to you long suffering Leaf fans. My beloved Red Wings have just qualified for the playoffs for the 17th straight year. I have no advice for you on how to get over the pain of missing the playoffs. I am still not over the Red Wings missing the playoffs when I was 13. It was a tough spring.

Take care now, by by then.

[Dan Lawson]

What has happened to Kyle Wellwood? Did anyone else notice that he spent most of an early shift on Saturday with his glove off trying to do up his helmet. Watch the video and you'll see what I mean. This guy has seriously lost his passion - he (almost) never engages in physical battles and when he does (usually because the opponent initiates it) he loses the battle or just gives up and skates away.

How can a player with so much promise go south so quickly and is there any hope for him? The way he's played this year I can't imagine any NHL team taking a chance on him. Sure Jason Allison is slow and a defensive liability but I can't imagine he's any worse than Wellwood and at least he tries!