Let's face it, as satisfying as last night's win over Montreal was, it doesn't change a darn thing about Cliff Fletcher's task at hand: overhauling this sad-sack collection of professional hockey players. This is a team from a bygone era; back when big hulking forwards like Nik Antropov didn't need to be as fleet of foot as they do now. When a defenceman like Bryan McCabe could get away with a cheeky hook, or clutch and grab his opponent and not be penalized for it. The game of hockey has passed this team by, they are the NHL's version of Rip Van Winkle.
The players who refuse to wave their no-trade clause, claiming loyalty to the team, need to wake up and realize that it's precisely this selfishness (under the guise of loyalty) that is preventing this team from shedding the very players that can help it turn this disaster around. Darcy Tucker needs to suck it up and accept that long-rumored deal to Calgary, Mats Sundin has to accept that a trade to Anaheim would yield a prospect/draft pick bonanza that could set up the Leafs for years to come. Bryan McCabe needs to be appreciative that any other team would even be willing to take on his salary and be thankful for the fresh opportunity (before another own-goal or miscue turns his Leaf tenure into a Larry Murphy-esque boo-fest).
It's time for the Robbie Earls and Anton Stralmans to start leaving their mark on this team, and as long as the veteran dead weight (Mats Sundin not withstanding) is dragging them down, this simply cannot happen...
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