Motivated to Win. Or Not.

The nice thing to try to do is at least start every week with something for Maple Leaf fans to feel good about.

And it's getting harder and harder.

But let's try this. While late season playoff charges aren't out of the question, there are currently five NHL clubs unofficially out of playoff contention.

Carolina. Edmonton. St. Louis. Columbus.

And the Leafs.

Anaheim is close to joining this group, as are Tampa Bay and Florida.

But let's stick with the “Big” Five – Hurricanes, Oilers, Blues, Jackets and Leafs.

Only the Leafs, you figure, will soon have much of a reason at all to do anything other than dump players and lose, lose, lose down the stretch.

Not every manager is as noble as GM Brian Burke who, with John Tavares, Matt Duchene and Victor Hedman in his sights last spring, chose to sign goaltender Martin Gerber and keep at least trying to win hockey games.

For his trouble, the Leafs got the seventh pick in the draft, not the first, second or third, and still ended up with a pretty good prospect in Nazem Kadri.

With no first round pick in June, and with Toronto fans feeling more miserable every day with the possibility Boston will pick very high with the Leafs' selection, Burke has even more reason – even from public relations standpoint – to finish as high as possible among the non-playoff crowd.

Not so for Edmonton, Carolina, St. Louis and Columbus. The Oilers, in particular, are a franchise in need of a franchise player. The Canes have Eric Staal. The Blues have Erik Johnson. The Jackets have Rick Nash.

The Oilers surely need such a player, and as previously mentioned, wouldn't it be great to see a player like Taylor Hall stay in Canada rather than head off to one of these U.S. outposts (Long Island, Nashville, Atlanta, Florida) and never be seen again?

So that's your good news, Leaf fans, for this Monday morning. There are a growing number of teams that will have significant motivation to be much worse than the Leafs at season's end.

There's no reason to tank in Toronto. But there will be in many other cities.

If you worry more about where the Bruins will pick in June than whether the group of Jonas Gustavsson, Luke Schenn, Phil Kessel, Christian Hanson, Tyler Bozak, Viktor Stalberg and Kadri actually represents a meaningful young core than will become the foundation of a future winner in Toronto, then you should already feel better.

Comments

[tweeter]

The "noble" Brian Burke comment troubles me. I have to be honest, Damien, that the last little while it does seem you have been drinking a lot of the "Burkey" kool-aid, and go out of your way looking for a light in all the dark corners. The leafs have not progressed this season, even after the summer free agent signings, and have actually regressed to a large extent. However, you continue the near positive spin on the team, even telling us to feel better, because they will "keep trying". Well I hope so, it's what they are in the league to do!! That's why they get paid. And I will lay a certain amount of the teams failure on the coach and gm of this disaster. I know the world won't change in 1 year and time is needed to rebuild, but instead of tearing down and rebuilding properly, they are trying to build on the fly, trading important draft picks to get a player who was sat out games in the playoffs due to inconsistancy. As for the tanking of other teams, I don't call it tanking when the respective gm's trade away assets no longer needed to build for the future. It's what needs to be done in Toronto, and hopefully will start now. Your objectivity was always an admirable trait, but I am questioning it in light of your current Burke love affair. It's okay to honestly critique him when you question his ideas, especially when they are not working.

[Paul Selby]

To the comment above. Yes, it is clear that Damien is a HUGE Burke fan..but so what?! THere's nothing wrong with that. Just as there's nothing wrong with him WAITING to see how Brians plans map out. If I showed you a pencil sketch of a Monet, it may not look as impression as the final painted picture...
What i'm saying is... many seem to be judging Brian on a team that is UNFINISHED. He inherited an AWFUL team, and has a plan for it...just because that plan hasnt come to fruition in a years time, doesnt mean that Brian is hopeless and doesn't know what he's doing. It could very well mean that this pencil sketch of a team he has right now, will need more time to develop into the full painting he has imagined. Damien, along with many others, understand that, thus that is why he, like myself, isnt so quick to jump and attack Brian Burke because of the way the season has gone. Give it time. Now if 5 years down the road not much has changed...well that's a different story then.

[OSTRICH_LOVER]

That comment is entirly unfair, because the poster making it doesnt know anything about hockey, whereas Cox is an expert. How are the Leafs not building through the draft? 2006: 5th overall 2008: 5th overall 2009: 7th overall. I am so sick of uneducated morons offering their opinion that b/c burke traded 2 draft picks for a player 22 years old, he is somehow not building for the future. Ill say it again: Kessel, Kadri, Schenn, Komiserik, White, Beachiman, Gunnerson, Gustuvcson: thats a pretty good core, all under 30 , most under 25. I am honestly starting to think Leafs fans are mental, Kessel's slump is a great example. he missed training in the summer, training camp, hes on a new team, has no centre, and he is on a team with the worst group of assembled forwards in nhl history, so cut the guy some slack. Another thing, all this talk about boycotting the leafs because they "dont try to win b/c they sell out everygame" is complete horse crap. They have the most expensive gm/coach combo, spend to the cap and have the highest paid scouting department. What else could they possibly do to try harder to win?

[robert eden]

If the price was right and the qualty was better maybe more would come to see the games.The cost is out of reach to most of us other than big companies with tax wright off . maybe that should be cut out too.

[Cavan]

I agree with Tweeter, any real hockey fan knew at the beginning of the season the leafs were not a playoff team, yet Burke said they were. Instead of taking the time to rebuild properly, the Leafs are sweeping the dirt under the carpet. The way things are going this team will be mediocre for a long time.

[James]

Why not trade Kaberle and some significant other to the Bruins and get the draft pick back? Kaberle and Stajan? Kaberle and Schenn? What would it take?

[Lewis McClain]

Burke has been noble, and tries to win in spite of what some think. Wilson is the problem. He has been a good coach at times, but in todays world he is not. You cannot keep telling players they are second rate,or third line at best, and expect them to play like all stars. Kessel is good, but he is not a franchise player. Crosby,Iginla,Ovetchkin now they are truly star material. But berate those guys every day,and watch their production fall as well.

[Joe L]

Stop blaming the players, WIlson or Burke. The blame falls on the shoulders of Mr Peddie. The blame must be placed at the the top. He has been the common denominator on the fall of the Leafs. It was his decisions on hiring JFJ and Burke that have brought us to this point. Until he is gone, there will be no change in sight.

[nugentmania]

They may have no reason to tank this year, so how unfortunate if this is the season they fail to make that last-quarter surge to 9th place. Well, maybe not unfortunate for the Bruins. But....I do think Burke has one area he needs to concentrate his efforts once the playoff races start to eliminate the pretenders. Who needs cap space, and what are they willing to give up to get it. The idea of getting something to build with in a Tomas Kaberle trade (including a 1st rounder) may be more palatable if the Leafs could swing another deal for, lets say, Cam Barker in Chicago, someone younger who can at least move the puck and play on your first PP unit and not cost you as much since the real value you're trading is room under the cap. (not that much of a stretch with 3 other guys in Keith, Seabrook and Campbell who can skate and make a combined 19 million a year). When Burke takes advantage of those teams up hard against the cap, then maybe I'll think he's the guy to fix this mess.

[Spanky]

Sad to say, but I do feel better so thanks for that Coxy...I guess. Kessel is a good deal provided the B's don't draft in the top 5 with our (the Leafs) former 1st round pick. Hall, Sequin or Fowler going to Boston might still happen with the # of 1st round picks Boston has available to package and trade for the # 1 slot. But just handing them an easy single lottery shot with our former pick would be very painful to hear about for the next 15 years. Lots of time to watch the young guys develope as hopefully the meaningful young corp of the future. Note: If I were Chiapet the Boston GM I would seriously consider packaging maybe both 1sts and one or both 2nd round picks for a shot at Hall.

[PAT]

Doesn't matter any more, after 38 years of almost never missing a game, I have decided to turn off the Leafs, I've finally had enough. I know this will have no affect at all
for the Leafs but it's just getting too depressing.

[Claudio]

PLEEAASEEEEEE get rid of that wheel weight Wallin and sign a proven defensive forward who is available probably for cheap, who may I add is a two time Selke trophy winner... MIKE PECA!!!! theres some help for a last place PK unit if you ask me!!!!

[ram88]

Some of you come to the conclusion that young talent = good talent. So what if the core is under the age of 25. Other than kessel and maybe kadri, they are not A level players. It may be too early to tell, but the young talent on this team is no where near the level of other rebuilding teams in the past such as the blackhawks, pens, kings. Don't be surprised if you see players like bozak, stalberg, schenn play on the third or fourth line in the future. The skill is just not there.

[Jani7]

I think Tweeter is more accurate of the Leaf's situation than the others stepping right in line behind Coxxie. Beginning with last year's signing of Gerber to win a few more meaningless games, then BB's refusal to trade Kaberle when he could, then to him trading away some significant prime draft choices for a good (not great) player who can easily be neutralized when the going gets tough.
BB is following in the footsteps of his predesecors in building quickly for another 8th place team.
Yippee!

[Steve C.]

For those who say 'be patient', you're missing one important element: there is no 're-building' to be done in the foreseeable future due to the draft picks traded away. Only 're-tooling' can be done now. We WERE patient up until the Kessel trade when suddenly the legendary 'DraftShmaft' mentality came back and hit us harder than we've ever been hit before - (and we've taken a beating over the years). Re-tooling is what any team can do at any time - there's no particular reason Burke will be better at it than anyone else. Really, we've been re-tooling for decades now, and in today's game the draft is the ONLY way to go because superstars cannot be traded for (Kessel is NOT one) because they get locked up for eternity. If Burke can get a first-rounder back (top ten) then he will be off the hook, but it isn't going to happen.

[OSTRICH_LOVER]

The draft is the only way to go eh? I guess if youre one of the 3 teams in the last 20 years to build through the draft - due to extreme luck i might add- then i guess you are right. However, ask columbus, the islanders, thrashers, coyotes, panthers and a few more how building throught the draft is working out? It doesnt take a genious gm to draft malkin, crosby, fleury, malone, whitney and staal in a row. The thing is, Kessel was a potential number one overall. And when he scores fifty, you idiots will say you loved him all along.

[Reality]

A top six draft pick is like rolling a pair of dice: you may get a good result, you may get "craps". Kessel is a proven scorer, when he has the appropriate line mates. Will this be a good trade "in the long run"? That is open to debate and will continue to be for years. Will Kessel flourish again with Kadri and Stalberg? Will Bozak centre a working second line with Hanson and to be announced? Will Ponikarovsky, Stajan, Kuleman, Hagman, J Mitchell, Orr, Deveaux, Hamilton, D Mitchell, and Grabovski be around to contribute next year or will they be demoted, traded or released?
When you are starting with a lack of talent base, you have to add sure things and take gambles. The free agent signings from college are equal to first round draft picks. If/when they develop is no different that a first round pick. Kessel is a known NHL product. Burke has to keep adding sure thing pieces and long shot pieces until enough of them start producing. Did anyone see this team being worse talent wise and effort wise than last year? Talent - possibly, effort - not at all. This group of players is a work in progress. Mabe next year they will have enough parts to be called a team.
Keep gathering pieces Burke. Hopefully Wilson can put the jigsaw pieces together to make a picture that will be popular with the fan base.
This may not be a popular opinion, but it is Reality

[don maxwell]

This young fellow Phil Kessel has been burdened with being the savior of this disgraceful team...what was Burke thinking? We have a "hot and cold" player in Kessel who will remain as a 1st or 2nd line winger and no more. WHY?
- He was a healthy scratch in the Bruin's playoffs last year.
- He refuses to go into the corners or back check.
- He has a reputation of not being in shape (Wellwood mentality)
- In Boston he was called "Mr Giveaway" and not being a team player.
Burke will live with this highly priced transaction the rest of his career...Boston wants to deal with Burke again, so do most teams...who would blame them!!