Last season, MacArthur got of to a bad start with the suspension and injuries from which he never seemed to recover to the previous seasons level of play.

On top of that Kulemin’s game went hugely flat as well. If the management says he goes as part of a trade, that’s the way it goes. But this year he could snap out of it and it would be a pity to loose him.

The truth is I may be being too nostalgic – remembering how great it was to see the way that line clicked so well.

So there is an issue – and a BIG ONE – in defence of the goal tending last year – and that is the defensive system was absolutely deplorable last season. That was down to the belief it would seem that the offensive unit needn’t necessarily defend but rather outscore the opposition.

Well that back-fired and fortunately, the main guy behind that little trip to OZ got relieved of his duties leaving the team in somewhat of a disarray – as we witnessed with the burnout.

There is no question that It is granted, a big risk putting the the lambs out in the forest with the wolves, however with the defence getting it’s act together and the forwards made to become more responsible defensively they could (bring in Lady LUck please) pull it off. We can’t rule out the possibility of this scenario.

Ha! ….And I know, I mention OZ earlier

So, there is a lot on Randy Carlyle’s table to get a real defensive system in place so that it will give the young goalies at least a chance to develop.

So if the cupboard is bare on the experienced goalies available…………… GOOD LUCK REIMER AND RANDY CARLYLE.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out Bell & Rogers will be much happier as soon as the Leafs are contending. It means more money for them all the way around.

But since Bell & Rogers now own the Leafs and Raptors, we’re already seeing a shift in the way the teams are being managed. Someone above was mentioning that the Leafs could make $2 million a game in the playoffs were they to make it. I think that’s underselling the potential financial windfall of a successful Leafs team. Rogers & Bell operate Canada’s two main sports networks (TSN & Sportsnet). Bell also owns CTV, one of Canada’s major television networks (and they show a lot of sports as well). I’m not a media business expert, but I would guess that both networks would do considerably better business if the Leafs and Raptors were contending teams, both at the gate, and from commercials and advertising on their respective networks.

On the Raptor side, we already saw them offer Steve Nash a three-year, $36 million contract offer to sign with the Raptors. I don’t think Burke has much of a leash, and I’d wager that if the Leafs start off poorly, he’s the first GM fired.

When you’re making money the way “Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment” is, there’s absolutely no need to go out on a limb for your customers … the fools will come regardless. The Maple Leafs are “by far” the wealthiest team in the NHL today and there’s a “reason” why the GTO has but one team. This is about maximizing profit, not giving happiness and hope to your people. Do you think that chairman Larry Tanenbaum (ie: Larry “Christmas Tree”) gives a rat’s ass about the Leafs’ current cup drought dating back to ’67 ? … or that the legacy of this “storied” franchise, which has attained more Stanley Cup Championships (13) than anyone else save the Montreal Canadiens (24) is today being irreparably damaged ? … of course not ! These people like Larry “Christmas Tree” and others only care about money and personal gain … not the betterment and happiness of their people. I can therefore see their “pitchman” Burke doing positively nothing in terms of a goalie and the team continuing to flounder … just as long as the “fools” keep coming back and opening their wallets …

This is what I’m talking about when I say Leaf fans are clueless. They think they can just go out and get whatever team they want and that the current players are the problem.

Kessel performed all year, almost every game except when Chara was pounding his face into the ice because no one on the team would step up to defend him.

The only cancer on the team is Phaneuf, he’s being paid too much and if he took a 2 million dollar pay cut and took the C off his sweater then he could stay. He doesn’t rate the pay or the recognition. The rest of the cancers on the team are all salary related. And Burke knows it.

That’s why Colby Armstrong is GONE. That’s why Komisarek would be gone if they could dump him.

The proof that Kessel doesn’t suck is that there are plenty of teams that want him. Burke can’t make trades because the only two players that anyone is dying to have from the Leafs are Gardiner and Kessel. Crappy players don’t get interest like that.

Saying a 2nd and 3rd over the next two drafts to take a contract back over and above the Komi/Lui part of the deal isn’t exactly enticing when they’re only $2-2.5M cap hits at most. Fratting and Blacker are ok, but the Nucks would rather keep Luongo than have to eat a contract coming back yet get little incentive otherwise.

Burke obviously exaggerated the 15 first-round picks but he has to be willing to give to get. The price won’t get any better the longer he waits: more UFAs will be signed and more teams will find what they have isn’t good enough by the 30-40 game mark. The price for good goalies that are available via trade will only get worse in that scenario.

A number of teams appear ready to gamble as they either couldn’t or wouldn’t find replacements that would obviously improve their goaltending this year. Tampa’s made some moves but are unproven, Washington is hoping two young goalies can do that job, Florida is hanging on to a steady tandem being enough, and Columbus is thinking it’s all been a mirage for Mason. Even Philly and Pittsburgh were left wanting last year and are hoping this year doesn’t repeat.

We’ll see what happens as we get closer to August, and beyond that, into December and January for what GMs will be willing to pay to keep their jobs.

This appears to be his Achilles heel.

Luckily for Anaheim, Bryan Murray already had Giguere and Bryzgalov on the roster before Burke took over.

Don’t worry about the goalies, just get 2 more responsible D-Men. Schenn, Phaneuf, Aulie and Komisarek were all liabilities for much of the year when they played, 2 of them are gone now. Get Franson, Liles, Gunnarsson and Gardiner all on the same page while simultaneously pulling the Captain’s head out of his butt and get 2 guys that can round out the group with some DISCIPLINED GRIT.