Brophy on Leafs: What happens now?

Okay, so what happens now?

The Toronto Maple Leafs have slipped out of a playoff spot, have lost four in a row and eight of their past nine games and they did nothing to shake up their lineup at the trade deadline. They have slipped to 10th in the Eastern Conference and 21st overall.

GM Brian Burke warned that he might not be too active at the deadline and other than two deals involving minor league players, he stood pat.

“I think a lot of you know I don’t like the trade deadline,” Burke said. “I try to get my deals done in advance. This process started in earnest for us about eight weeks ago where we tried to identify an opportunity to add to our group. We weren’t able to do it today. We had numerous opportunities to trade players that would have involved futures and draft picks and we feel we have worked too hard the past three years to add organizational depth to change that blueprint right now. I think some people will be disappointed in that, but I am not. If I am a member of the Leafs I look at this as an endorsement that this group is capable of making the playoffs. Despite our recent stumble we believe in this group.”

Burke said he an offer for goaltender James Reimer, but rejected it immediately.

“We believe he’s going to be a real good NHL goaltender,” Burke said. “Obviously he’s scuffling a little bit now, but we believe he’s a key asset for us in the future.”

Burke said he was looking for additional size to add to his top six forwards. He also said he is concerned about what affect constant trade rumors has on his players the month leading up to the trade deadline.

“It’s to the point where I am debating doing the same thing I do at Christmas with this group and that’s starting our own trade freeze 10 days before the deadline,” Burke said. “That’s how distracting it is. We just had this discussion upstairs and I’m wondering if we have to do that here. Clarke MacArthur has been traded 10 times; Mikhail Grabovski has been traded 12 times. Luke Schenn has been traded 50 times. I think it remarkable that the players have kept their focus through this time. I think the trade deadline is hard on players (in general), but it is murder on players in Toronto. We had a serious debate if we’re going to do this 10 days earlier next year so our players can relax. I don’t know if that’s the right answer because I don’t want to tie my hands if there’s something we can do, but this is crazy here. They asked me about us doing (HBO) 24/7 and I said we already do it. It’s 24/7 here now.”

So, basically, what you see with the Leafs is what you get. And what you have seen lately has not been pretty. The team’s recent swoon has them three points out of the playoffs with 20 games remaining. The Leas have two games in hand on the eighth place Winnipeg Jets and host the Florida Panthers Tuesday night at ACC.

What has to be better for the Leafs to make the playoffs?

COACHING: The Leafs simply are not prepared to play at the start of games. In their current three-game losing streak at home, the Leafs surrendered at least a 2-0 lead in each game. Against the Washington Capitals Saturday night, it was 4-0 before the Leafs woke up. While coach Ron Wilson is quick to point out following a loss that his team could have used a few more saves, the fact the Leafs fall behind early so often brings into question exactly how prepared they are. Yes, the goaltending has been bad the past few weeks, but perhaps if the Leafs could give James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson a lead to work with, things might be different. The Leafs have shown the ability to come back in games when trailing, but need to come out fired up to start games. That is where a coaching staff can have an impact on the team. If the Leafs don’t make the playoffs for the fourth year in a row under Wilson, his chances of returning are slim. Burke said he has had no discussion of a coaching change.

GOALTENDING: Reimer and/or Gustavsson needs to step up and claim the starter’s job once and for all. There have been lots of questions about the impact goaltending coach Francois Allaire is having on the two young and inexperienced stoppers, but both have shown, at times, they can steal games. Even though Gustavsson has been the better of the two, the Leafs seem determined to make Reimer the No. 1 goalie. The Leafs are currently 28th in goals-against average.

THE CAPTAIN: Dion Phaneuf needs to be more of a consistent physical force. The captain is a big, strong young man who hands out big hits on occasion, but usually when he has an opponent in a vulnerable position. He has the physical capability to do more damage, but for that to happen, Phaneuf will have to change his mindset. It will mean initiating contact on a more often. Luke Schenn, who wasn’t traded after weeks of speculation, can’t be the only Leafs defenceman hitting.

SCORING SUPPORT: Good on Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul for remaining among the NHL’s top 10 scorers, but this team goes nowhere if others don’t pitch in on offence. The Leafs need more from veterans such as Nikolai Kulemin, Colby Armstrong and Tim Connolly. All three players are counted on for secondary scoring, but none has come close to matching his potential. Kulemin in particular has had an awful season. Given the fact he is set to be a restricted free agent this summer, you would think a strong finish would help erase the memory of a difficult year and help his bargaining power.

Burke believes his team will make the playoffs.

“We are sticking to the blueprint,” Burke said. “There was nothing we could have done today that would have made us better. It was all things that would have made us better down the road and our fans have lived through that. We have to see if this group can get it done.”

So what needs to change?

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