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Dudley: Leafs close to becoming “really, really good”

Leafs score

Rick Dudley may be leaving his post as Toronto’s director of player personnel to become the assistant general manager in Montreal, but it’s not because he believes the Maple Leafs are a lost cause.

In fact, Dudley told the Globe and Mail the Leafs need only make “three moves and maybe two to become a really, really good hockey organization.”

Above all, he says GM Brian Burke needs to acquire an established goalie.

“The whole team gets better [with good goaltending],” Dudley said. “It took me a whole lifetime in hockey to realize that. But it puts confidence in your players and makes them all better.”

Thus all the Roberto Luongo-to-Toronto speculation (much of it here!)

Dudley also sang the praises of Leafs youngster Jake Gardiner, as well as prospects Joe Colborne, Jesse Blacker, Korbinian Holzer and Stuart Percy.

“They are all going to play in the league and they’re going to be good,” he said.

We tend to poke fun at the Leafs on PHT. However, based on the Marlies’ strong showing in the AHL playoffs, we do recognize there’s reason to believe things could get better.

Not quite ready to predict “really, really good” though.