Leafs in transition: So, now what?

The Maple Leafs are going to empty their lockers today, having missed the playoffs for the fourth season in a row. Coach Ron Wilson believes some of the building blocks of a winner have been put in place. Changes are sure to come. GM Brian Burke has said he wants the 2009-10 Leafs to challenge for a playoff spot. Wilson has warned there could be stretches next season that could be worse than this one, with the team expected to add anywhere up to six rookies.

The focus is making everybody better," said Wilson. "We want to be better than we were this year." Here's a thumbnail look, on a player-by-player basis, at how the team did this season; and its prognosis for next season. All contract figures are in U.S. dollars and expire after 2009-10 unless otherwise noted

GOALTENDERS

VESA TOSKALA

Contract: $4 million

Status: Gets a mulligan for playing the year hurt, but needs a strong start next season to keep his job.

MARTIN GERBER

Contract: Unrestricted free agent

Status: Played well enough down the stretch to land an NHL contract, but did himself no favours by getting suspended. Not likely to be back.

CURTIS JOSEPH

Contract: Unrestricted free agent

Status: Ever popular, but Leafs will look for a backup to push Toskala for the No.1 job.

JUSTIN POGGE

Contract: Restricted free agent

Status: Needs a strong playoff run with the Marlies to regain confidence of management.

DEFENCEMEN

PAVEL KUBINA

Contract: $5 million

Status: Puzzling penchant for forechecking explains his minus-15, worst among Leaf defencemen. Good offence, but if Tomas Kaberle's not moved it will be Kubina who's sent packing.

TOMAS KABERLE

Contract: $4.25 million per year until 2011

Status: Still the one Leaf who'd garner the biggest return on the trade market despite uneven season. ... Averaged 23:27 of ice time to lead the team.

JEFF FINGER

Contract: $3.5 million per season until 2012

Status: Erratic at times, but solid enough in own end. ... Led team with 158 blocked shots.

MIKE VAN RYN

Contract: $2.9 million

Status: The Leafs were 12-9-6 when he was in lineup and Wilson doesn't think that's a coincidence. Van Ryn is brittle, having last played a full season in 2006-07.

LUKE SCHENN

Contract: $2.975 million per year until 2011

Status: Here's hoping solid rookie avoids sophomore jinx. ... Led team in hits (206), giveaways (74).

JONAS FROGREN

Contract: $1.065 million

Status: Learned great deal in first year. ... Needs to stay healthy.

IAN WHITE

Contract: $850,000

Status: Won over the coach with solid play. Could replace Kaberle on power play. ... His plus-6 was tied for best on team; was only defenceman on plus side.

FORWARDS

JASON BLAKE

Contract: Three years remaining at $4.5 million, $3 million, $3 million.

Status: Rebounded from cancer, rediscovered his gritty side, learned to score again. ... Unmovable contract, will return. Wilson has to get him to be less selfish (302 shots again led team by wide margin.)

NIKLAS HAGMAN

Contract: $3 million per year until 2012

Status: Decent scorer, solid work ethic, good character. ... Can fill a gap on offence and, when someone better comes along, can be solid third-liner.

LEE STEMPNIAK

Contract: $2.5 million

Status: Figured out by Game 79 he has to work harder. Will be on a short leash next season.

ALEXEI PONIKAROVSKY

Contract: $2.105 million

Status: Thrived once Nik Antropov was traded and had career-high in points (61). ... Good one to keep around to help Grabovski and Kulemin.

MATT STAJAN

Contract: $1.75 million

Status: Stature rose in Wilson's eye, but best suited for third-line duty.

NIKOLAI KULEMIN

Contract: $1,487,500

Status: Loves to play in front of the net.

If he keeps doing that, he'll easily build on

his 15-goal rookie campaign.

JAMAL MAYERS

Contract: $1,333,333

Status: Wasn't quite the presence expected.

... Led team in faceoff circle, winning 57.3

per cent of his 429 draws.

CHRISTIAN HANSON

Contract: $875,000

Status: A year with the Marlies would help

him adjust to life in the pros.

JOHN MITCHELL

Contract: $487,500

Status: Had trouble keeping his game at a high tempo, but team brass see top-6 forward potential. ... His minus-16 would make him the clubhouse leader in golf but leaves something to be improved upon.

MIKHAIL GRABOVSKI

Contract: Restricted free agent.

Status: Has heart to go along with that talent. ... Tries to do too much by himself. ... Won only 44.5 per cent of faceoffs. ... Could use Kontinental Hockey League as bargaining chip.

BOYD DEVEREAUX

Contract: Unrestricted free agent

Status: Hard-working role player with speed should land a job somewhere.

BRAD MAY

Contract: Unrestricted free agent

Status: Popular in dressing room and Burke loves him, so don't be surprised if 37-year-old is back.

SUBS AND GRUBS

Jeff Hamilton, Tim Stapleton, Anton Stralman, Jamie Sifers,

Phil Oreskovic, Erik Reitz