2008-2009: The Toronto Maple Leafs.. Moving forward

  the past four decades, give or take a decent season or two, one of the most profitable and storied franchises in professional sports has treaded in mediocrity without waiver. With the 2008-2009 campaign at the gate and waiting to go, the Toronto Maple Leafs approach the first leg of there self declared re-building plan with or without there Capitan Mats Sundin. Speculation regarding the veteran center's desire to play professional hockey remains a constant unanswered question with no near future resolution. With that aside, the Toronto Maple Leafs have come leaps and bounds since being alleviated of the shackles that were in themselves, poor hockey decisions imposed by poor managers. Most recently, those poor decisions were made by, but not limited to, former GM John Ferguson Jr, who handicapped his club by awarding lofty and restricting contracts to players who may or may not have been worth a fraction of there signing total,
 Notorious meddling, infighting, corporate facelessness and misdirected management have all contributed to the years of the 'middle of the pack' mentality Leafs fans have come to not only tolerate, but to enthusiastically anticipate.
 Enter interim GM Cliff Fletcher. Upon his hiring, Fletcher conveyed his plan to introduce a better on-ice product concisely and unapologetically, with emphasis on the point that a few fan favorites, and some not so well regarded in blue and white circles, would be walking the plank of the house cleaning ship.
 a new...ish ear for the "buds" sees some familiar faces taking up key positions off the ice in Joe Nieuwendyk, who is most noted for his twenty year playing career and an impressive stop in Toronto, being hired as a special assistant to Fletcher, Doug Gilmore, who is among the Toronto faithful favorite captains, will be taking up a post behind the Marlies bench to aid in the development of young talent which is integral in Fletchers aspirations for a Stanley Cup contending hockey team. Ron Wilson, who was the san Jose bench boss, was brought on by Toronto expecting him to bring the Sharks' winning attitude and work ethic home.
 Allow there to be no confusion however. The Leafs will not be gallantly parading down yonge St. come next June. They do not possess a thorough-bread superstar scorer who is capable of scoring fifty goals, nor one that is capable of scoring forty. They can't even boast about potentially dressing a group that sees multiple thirty goal scorers. On the other hand, there is not a single inclination that fans will be able to cheer for a total collapse in hopes of obtaining a highly prized top five pick come next years wonderfully rich draft pool. The people who were hired to win, will professionally do everything in their power to do just that. Sorry John Tavares, the only blue and white you'll likely see is the jerseys trying to keep you from scoring.
 GM Cliff Fletcher has done a very nice job in adapting to the current collective agreement by ridding himself of expensive baggage and building a potential NHL best blue line for the organization for years to come. The likes of Tomas Kaberle, Ian White, Mike van Ryn, Anton Stralman, Pavel Kubina, Jeff finger Carlo Coliacavo and Jonas Frogren seem poised and ready to fill the ranks. Vesa Toskala did an outstanding job between the pipes and now has a content Curtis Joseph more than pleased to provide the back up role in net for Vesa.
 There is a long road to glory, and we're taught as children that patience is a virtue. This is perhaps, not the final destination we as fans would like to see "our boys" going. But hey! at least were going somewhere.

Justin Michaelov