wyliepoon
Senior Member
Link to article
WAITING FOR A PARADE
TheStar.com - Sports - A title for Toronto: Who's next?
Which team has the best chance of bringing the next championship to Toronto? A panel from the Star's sports department has given its vote to the Argos
Aug 26, 2007 04:30 AM
Paul Hunter
Sports Reporter
Winning isn't easy.
Just ask any sports fan in Toronto.
This is a city with parade envy.
Since the Argonauts won back-to-back Grey Cups in 1996 and 1997, there has been only one other chance to celebrate – the Boatmen again in 2004.
It has been so long for the Maple Leafs that a championship ring from their last Stanley Cup victory was recently recovered from the ocean as a relic, its authenticity proven through carbon dating. Unless you're a fan of the Rock lacrosse team, which is more of niche sport, the confetti has stayed in the bag.
So what does it take to win something?
Not too many people around here seem to know, so we consulted with some architects of championship squads to see what is required to win the big prize.
We're also asking you which of the five most popular local squads is likely to first bring home a championship. A panel of Star staff ranked its choices (see odds in banners) and we'd like you to do the same at www.thestar.com/sports and offer your comments.
As for the experts, and winning a title gives you that label, the ingredients they deem necessary to put a team over the top are varied.
Scotty Bowman, a part of 10 NHL championships, believes, in this salary cap era, a team can give itself an advantage by putting its resources into scouting and development. Hugh Campbell and Pat Gillick say the secret is stable, long-term management with a plan. Brian Burke maintains it all comes down to assembling a team of talented players that have character, while Jim Rutherford, fitting of his team's Hurricanes' moniker, believes you need a perfect storm where "everything has to come together at the right time."
"Clearly there is more pressure in Toronto than any other hockey market, which is good and bad," said Rutherford, GM of Carolina's 2006 Stanley Cup champions. "It tells you the love of the game that exists there and the prestige of that franchise but, at the same time, there's always going to be different viewpoints on how to make the team better. It's not easy to do, but you really have to stick to your plan and believe in people in your hockey organization and not necessarily outside interests."
While it's hardly sexy – "blah" is the word Gillick used to describe his own strategy – that long-term, stick-to-itiveness is one constant in the approach of the reign-makers we talked to.
The Leafs – with seven general managers and nine coaches over the past 20 years – might want to take heed.
"The guy that is in charge has to have the expectation of being there for a long time," said Campbell, who won eight Grey Cups as a player, coach, GM and president of the Edmonton Eskimos. "If a person is desperate in that position, thinking, `We're all going to get fired if we don't win this year,' then they are going to get fired."
Gillick, GM of the Jays' two World Series victories and current head man with the Phillies, adds: "A lot of organizations are always changing their game plan. What happens a lot of times is you have competent people in place but, for one reason or another, be it impatience of ownership, etcetera, they remove that person. Now you've got to find a new person and start from scratch.
"Of course you need talent, but I think you need to put the right management people in place and just be patient."
Toronto Argonauts
Odds of becoming next local team to win a championship: 3-5
LAST PARADE: 2004
LATEST RANKING: Third in the East Division. Lost to Montreal in East final last year.
CENTREPIECE: After playing second fiddle and sometime even third to Damon Allen for the previous four years, Michael Bishop finally stepped up into the No.1 quarterbacking role this year and turned in two strong games before suffering a broken wrist. If he regains that level on his return he could be the one to lead them to their next Grey Cup title.
BLUE CHIP STOCK: Team has brought in a number of high-profile ex-NFLers over the years, but real strength of any CFL team is its Canadian talent and it's done an excellent job of acquiring some talented homebrews this season – rookie offensive linemen Brian Ramsay and Steve Morley, running back Andre Durie, receiver Obed Cetoute as well as veteran offensive guard Taylor Robertson and nose tackle Adriano Belli.
FREE AGENCY/SPENDING: The $4.05 million salary cap has put some restrictions on signings. Argos couldn't compete with Hamilton for B.C. defensive end Nautyn McKay-Loescher and sign Belli at the same time. Allen was placed on the nine-game injury list (making him ineligible to return until the third-last game) so that his salary would not count against the cap. The club will have to make other salary-related decisions following the Labour Day game.
ENVIRONMENT: Under the ownership of Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon and the leadership of president Keith Pelley, crowds have increased significantly at Rogers Centre. However, the team must remain in contention each year if it is to retain that support, especially with summer time competition now from Toronto FC. Argos host the Grey Cup for the first time in 15 years this November and being in that game would undoubtedly assure continued interest in the team.
MANAGEMENT: Pelley is expected to leave the club at the end of the year to manage TV coverage for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Will Mike (Pinball) Clemons give up coaching to return to the front office?
RINGS IN THE ROOM: 23 from 2004 champions; two others with other teams.
WHAT'S STOPPING THEM: Montreal Alouettes. Haven't been able to get by the Als in the past two East finals.
OUTLOOK: Despite a bad first half, they still have a chance to reach the Grey Cup with a strong finish. After all, it's the CFL.
-Rick Matsumoto
Toronto Raptors
Odds of becoming next local team to win a championship: 5-1
LAST PARADE: What's a parade?
LATEST RANKING: Toronto finished with the fourth-best record in the NBA East last season, tying a franchise record with 47 wins and winning an Atlantic Division title for the first time.
CENTREPIECE: Chris Bosh is 23 years old, a two-time Eastern Conference all-star and just hitting his prime.
Almost as important as his inside-outside scoring abilities is his work ethic and leadership skills, which have improved each of the four seasons he has been in the league.
BLUE CHIP STOCK: Bosh is 23, second-year big man Andrea Bargnani is 21 and point guard T.J. Ford is the old man of the group at 24. They present a solid core to build around in coming seasons. The draft won't produce much of anything – the Raptors hope and expect to be out of the lottery for years – so the improvement will mostly have to come from within.
FREE AGENCY/SPENDING: With the NBA's salary cap and tax structure, the Raptors won't ever be the highest-spending team in the league, but they will go right to the tax limit. And the way the contracts are structured, Toronto could have more than $25 million (U.S.) to spend two summers from now.
ENVIRONMENT: Expectations are big now and fans, while not exactly impatient, expect at least a win in a playoff series this spring. Gone are the days when just competing is good enough. One thing is for sure: If they win, the crowds will come, as sellouts are now the norm at the 19,800-seat Air Canada Centre.
MANAGEMENT: President and general manager Bryan Colangelo is a two-time NBA executive of the year; assistant GM Mauricio Gherardini piloted Benetton Treviso to four appearances in the Euroleague Final Four. Sam Mitchell was the NBA's coach of the year last season. They're okay off the floor.
RINGS IN THE ROOM: Rasho Nesterovic won an NBA title with San Antonio, and that's it. Oh, and Jorge Garbajosa and Jose Calderon won world championships with Spain, while Carlos Delfino got an Olympic gold with Argentina in Athens.
WHAT'S STOPPING THEM: Good teams in the West and inexperience. This group has played one playoff series together and needs to be post-season hardened in the coming seasons. And if San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas were to falter, that would certainly help.
OUTLOOK: An Eastern Conference title soon isn't out of the realm of possibility. Is that enough for a major celebration?
-Doug Smith
Toronto FC
Odds of becoming next local team to win a championship: 10-1
LAST PARADE: Waiting for it. They're a first-year expansion team.
LATEST RANKING: Currently 11th of 13 teams in MLS (eight make playoffs).
CENTREPIECE: Towering striker Danny Dichio has scored five goals in 15 games since coming to Toronto in late April. He's also by far the most popular player among the fans at BMO Field.
BLUE CHIP STOCK: Rookie midfielder Maurice Edu and second-year defender Marvell Wynne are skilled, athletic and still developing. They could anchor this team for years – if some rich European club doesn't lure them away.
FREE AGENCY/SPENDING: Toronto still hasn't taken advantage of the Designated Player Rule (aka the David Beckham Rule), which would allow them to sign an overseas free agent for whatever they felt like paying him, while counting only $400,000 of his contract against the $2 million salary cap. The rule has paid off for the L.A. Galaxy (off the field, where Beckham has helped a 12th-place team sell out at home and away) and for the New York Red Bulls (on the field, where Beckham rule signee Juan Pablo Angel is the second-leading scorer in the league). Head coach Mo Johnston has hinted making a similar move but doesn't appear to be ready to do it this season.
ENVIRONMENT: Toronto FC's loud, loyal fans regularly sell out BMO Field, where they shower the home team with love, and visitors with insults, streamers and expensive beer. We'll see whether this represents a honeymoon or whether Toronto FC has already engendered the unconditional local love the Maple Leafs enjoy.
MANAGEMENT: Johnston also makes the player personnel decisions. He's not afraid to trade to get what he wants (he turned over half his roster between opening day and mid-season), and he knows how to draft. He selected Edu with Toronto's first pick this year and in 2006, while coaching the New York Red Bulls, he picked Wynne and Jozy Altidore, who at 17 is developing into one of the league's top scorers.
RINGS IN THE ROOM: Do college rings count? Edu won one in 2006 with the University of Maryland. Beyond that, none.
WHAT'S STOPPING THEM: This year, injuries. In the future, nothing. Last season, Houston won the MLS Cup after winning only 11 of 32 regular-season games. Ties and playoff penalty shootouts can take you a long way in this league.
OUTLOOK: They won't head into next season as MLS Cup favourites, but as long as you can earn points for ties, everyone has a chance.
-Morgan Campbell
Toronto Blue Jays
Odds of becoming next local team to win a championship: 12-1
LAST PARADE: 1993
LATEST RANKING: Third in AL East this season. Haven't had a sniff of the playoffs since last championship.
CENTREPIECE: Like a pitching robot, Roy Halladay continues to dominate on behalf of a club that ebbs and flows around him. Despite missing a month after an appendectomy, the 30-year-old still lingers on the fringes of the Cy Young race with a .500 team.
BLUE CHIP STOCK: Travis Snider. After eschewing high schoolers for years, GM J.P. Ricciardi reached out for the robust outfielder in 2005. But at 19 years old, he's still years away from a move north.
FREE AGENCY/SPENDING: The payroll has jumped $30 million in four years. They cracked the piggy bank in the last two off-seasons to attract top free agents A.J. Burnett ($55 million), B.J. Ryan ($47 million) and Frank Thomas ($18 million plus). However, holes still exist – a left-handed power hitter, anyone? – and more money will be needed to close them.
ENVIRONMENT: TV money and baseball's staggering growth continue to keep this franchise in the black, meaning there is little financial pressure to win right now. But the same old excuses – injuries, small-market pressures – are wearing thin with fans.
MANAGEMENT: Nearing the unsuccessful end of year six in his five-year plan, the shine is coming off Ricciardi. The first victim may be Ricciardi's hand-picked man, manager John Gibbons.
RINGS IN THE ROOM: Four players have been part of a World Series champion, but Thomas and Burnett were on the DL when their respective teams got to the big dance, while Gregg Zaun was a backup. Troy Glaus, however, not only played in a championship, he was the World Series MVP when the Angels won in 2002.
WHAT'S STOPPING THEM: This year? Offensive fits. Last year? Spotty pitching. Next year? Who knows. Basically, it's hard to play the Yankees and Red Sox 36 times each season and emerge intact.
OUTLOOK: Third place-itis until a cure is found.
-Cathal Kelly
Toronto Maple Leafs
Odds of becoming next local team to win a championship: 41-1
LAST PARADE: 1967
LATEST RANKING: Finished 18th out of 30 teams last season. Missed playoffs past two seasons.
CENTREPIECE: Still superbly talented, Mats Sundin is, however, 36 and raised doubts about long-term commitment by inking a one-year contract extension. Most important contribution to future championship might be in allowing himself to be traded for picks and/or prospects.
BLUE CHIP STOCK: Team has a history of poor drafting. While GM John Ferguson has upgraded scouting, there are no studs coming through the system. In its Future Watch edition, The Hockey News ranked NHL team prospects under 22 years of age and Toronto finished 28th. Some quality young defenders portend decent blueline depth, but there is no feeling there is a core of future champions.
FREE AGENCY/SPENDING: Leafs have always been willing to write cheques – the cheap knock is baseless – but sometimes that largesse gets in the way of team building. A tendency to overpay wrong veterans at the expense of development.
Pavel Kubina makes $5 million (U.S.) a season, and the likely backup goaltender uses up $2 million under the cap.
Tie Domi is still getting paid.
ENVIRONMENT: While Toronto is reputed to be a tough media market, there is little financial pressure on the team to achieve success.
Love from fans is unrequited but steadfast, even through worst seasons. Building always full, team apparel flies off the shelf and condos are at capacity.
Veterans want to come here for one last contract.
MANAGEMENT: Ferguson never has been close to a Cup, but coach Paul Maurice guided Carolina to a final in 2002.
RINGS IN THE ROOM: Only one, on the finger of Kubina.
WHAT'S STOPPING THEM: Repeated changes in philosophy and direction. Under Ferguson, for example, Leafs have gone from trying to build to sacrificing their future in an attempt to win now.
OUTLOOK: Leafs a long shot to need a fleet of convertibles any time soon.
WAITING FOR A PARADE
TheStar.com - Sports - A title for Toronto: Who's next?
Which team has the best chance of bringing the next championship to Toronto? A panel from the Star's sports department has given its vote to the Argos
Aug 26, 2007 04:30 AM
Paul Hunter
Sports Reporter
Winning isn't easy.
Just ask any sports fan in Toronto.
This is a city with parade envy.
Since the Argonauts won back-to-back Grey Cups in 1996 and 1997, there has been only one other chance to celebrate – the Boatmen again in 2004.
It has been so long for the Maple Leafs that a championship ring from their last Stanley Cup victory was recently recovered from the ocean as a relic, its authenticity proven through carbon dating. Unless you're a fan of the Rock lacrosse team, which is more of niche sport, the confetti has stayed in the bag.
So what does it take to win something?
Not too many people around here seem to know, so we consulted with some architects of championship squads to see what is required to win the big prize.
We're also asking you which of the five most popular local squads is likely to first bring home a championship. A panel of Star staff ranked its choices (see odds in banners) and we'd like you to do the same at www.thestar.com/sports and offer your comments.
As for the experts, and winning a title gives you that label, the ingredients they deem necessary to put a team over the top are varied.
Scotty Bowman, a part of 10 NHL championships, believes, in this salary cap era, a team can give itself an advantage by putting its resources into scouting and development. Hugh Campbell and Pat Gillick say the secret is stable, long-term management with a plan. Brian Burke maintains it all comes down to assembling a team of talented players that have character, while Jim Rutherford, fitting of his team's Hurricanes' moniker, believes you need a perfect storm where "everything has to come together at the right time."
"Clearly there is more pressure in Toronto than any other hockey market, which is good and bad," said Rutherford, GM of Carolina's 2006 Stanley Cup champions. "It tells you the love of the game that exists there and the prestige of that franchise but, at the same time, there's always going to be different viewpoints on how to make the team better. It's not easy to do, but you really have to stick to your plan and believe in people in your hockey organization and not necessarily outside interests."
While it's hardly sexy – "blah" is the word Gillick used to describe his own strategy – that long-term, stick-to-itiveness is one constant in the approach of the reign-makers we talked to.
The Leafs – with seven general managers and nine coaches over the past 20 years – might want to take heed.
"The guy that is in charge has to have the expectation of being there for a long time," said Campbell, who won eight Grey Cups as a player, coach, GM and president of the Edmonton Eskimos. "If a person is desperate in that position, thinking, `We're all going to get fired if we don't win this year,' then they are going to get fired."
Gillick, GM of the Jays' two World Series victories and current head man with the Phillies, adds: "A lot of organizations are always changing their game plan. What happens a lot of times is you have competent people in place but, for one reason or another, be it impatience of ownership, etcetera, they remove that person. Now you've got to find a new person and start from scratch.
"Of course you need talent, but I think you need to put the right management people in place and just be patient."
Toronto Argonauts
Odds of becoming next local team to win a championship: 3-5
LAST PARADE: 2004
LATEST RANKING: Third in the East Division. Lost to Montreal in East final last year.
CENTREPIECE: After playing second fiddle and sometime even third to Damon Allen for the previous four years, Michael Bishop finally stepped up into the No.1 quarterbacking role this year and turned in two strong games before suffering a broken wrist. If he regains that level on his return he could be the one to lead them to their next Grey Cup title.
BLUE CHIP STOCK: Team has brought in a number of high-profile ex-NFLers over the years, but real strength of any CFL team is its Canadian talent and it's done an excellent job of acquiring some talented homebrews this season – rookie offensive linemen Brian Ramsay and Steve Morley, running back Andre Durie, receiver Obed Cetoute as well as veteran offensive guard Taylor Robertson and nose tackle Adriano Belli.
FREE AGENCY/SPENDING: The $4.05 million salary cap has put some restrictions on signings. Argos couldn't compete with Hamilton for B.C. defensive end Nautyn McKay-Loescher and sign Belli at the same time. Allen was placed on the nine-game injury list (making him ineligible to return until the third-last game) so that his salary would not count against the cap. The club will have to make other salary-related decisions following the Labour Day game.
ENVIRONMENT: Under the ownership of Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon and the leadership of president Keith Pelley, crowds have increased significantly at Rogers Centre. However, the team must remain in contention each year if it is to retain that support, especially with summer time competition now from Toronto FC. Argos host the Grey Cup for the first time in 15 years this November and being in that game would undoubtedly assure continued interest in the team.
MANAGEMENT: Pelley is expected to leave the club at the end of the year to manage TV coverage for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Will Mike (Pinball) Clemons give up coaching to return to the front office?
RINGS IN THE ROOM: 23 from 2004 champions; two others with other teams.
WHAT'S STOPPING THEM: Montreal Alouettes. Haven't been able to get by the Als in the past two East finals.
OUTLOOK: Despite a bad first half, they still have a chance to reach the Grey Cup with a strong finish. After all, it's the CFL.
-Rick Matsumoto
Toronto Raptors
Odds of becoming next local team to win a championship: 5-1
LAST PARADE: What's a parade?
LATEST RANKING: Toronto finished with the fourth-best record in the NBA East last season, tying a franchise record with 47 wins and winning an Atlantic Division title for the first time.
CENTREPIECE: Chris Bosh is 23 years old, a two-time Eastern Conference all-star and just hitting his prime.
Almost as important as his inside-outside scoring abilities is his work ethic and leadership skills, which have improved each of the four seasons he has been in the league.
BLUE CHIP STOCK: Bosh is 23, second-year big man Andrea Bargnani is 21 and point guard T.J. Ford is the old man of the group at 24. They present a solid core to build around in coming seasons. The draft won't produce much of anything – the Raptors hope and expect to be out of the lottery for years – so the improvement will mostly have to come from within.
FREE AGENCY/SPENDING: With the NBA's salary cap and tax structure, the Raptors won't ever be the highest-spending team in the league, but they will go right to the tax limit. And the way the contracts are structured, Toronto could have more than $25 million (U.S.) to spend two summers from now.
ENVIRONMENT: Expectations are big now and fans, while not exactly impatient, expect at least a win in a playoff series this spring. Gone are the days when just competing is good enough. One thing is for sure: If they win, the crowds will come, as sellouts are now the norm at the 19,800-seat Air Canada Centre.
MANAGEMENT: President and general manager Bryan Colangelo is a two-time NBA executive of the year; assistant GM Mauricio Gherardini piloted Benetton Treviso to four appearances in the Euroleague Final Four. Sam Mitchell was the NBA's coach of the year last season. They're okay off the floor.
RINGS IN THE ROOM: Rasho Nesterovic won an NBA title with San Antonio, and that's it. Oh, and Jorge Garbajosa and Jose Calderon won world championships with Spain, while Carlos Delfino got an Olympic gold with Argentina in Athens.
WHAT'S STOPPING THEM: Good teams in the West and inexperience. This group has played one playoff series together and needs to be post-season hardened in the coming seasons. And if San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas were to falter, that would certainly help.
OUTLOOK: An Eastern Conference title soon isn't out of the realm of possibility. Is that enough for a major celebration?
-Doug Smith
Toronto FC
Odds of becoming next local team to win a championship: 10-1
LAST PARADE: Waiting for it. They're a first-year expansion team.
LATEST RANKING: Currently 11th of 13 teams in MLS (eight make playoffs).
CENTREPIECE: Towering striker Danny Dichio has scored five goals in 15 games since coming to Toronto in late April. He's also by far the most popular player among the fans at BMO Field.
BLUE CHIP STOCK: Rookie midfielder Maurice Edu and second-year defender Marvell Wynne are skilled, athletic and still developing. They could anchor this team for years – if some rich European club doesn't lure them away.
FREE AGENCY/SPENDING: Toronto still hasn't taken advantage of the Designated Player Rule (aka the David Beckham Rule), which would allow them to sign an overseas free agent for whatever they felt like paying him, while counting only $400,000 of his contract against the $2 million salary cap. The rule has paid off for the L.A. Galaxy (off the field, where Beckham has helped a 12th-place team sell out at home and away) and for the New York Red Bulls (on the field, where Beckham rule signee Juan Pablo Angel is the second-leading scorer in the league). Head coach Mo Johnston has hinted making a similar move but doesn't appear to be ready to do it this season.
ENVIRONMENT: Toronto FC's loud, loyal fans regularly sell out BMO Field, where they shower the home team with love, and visitors with insults, streamers and expensive beer. We'll see whether this represents a honeymoon or whether Toronto FC has already engendered the unconditional local love the Maple Leafs enjoy.
MANAGEMENT: Johnston also makes the player personnel decisions. He's not afraid to trade to get what he wants (he turned over half his roster between opening day and mid-season), and he knows how to draft. He selected Edu with Toronto's first pick this year and in 2006, while coaching the New York Red Bulls, he picked Wynne and Jozy Altidore, who at 17 is developing into one of the league's top scorers.
RINGS IN THE ROOM: Do college rings count? Edu won one in 2006 with the University of Maryland. Beyond that, none.
WHAT'S STOPPING THEM: This year, injuries. In the future, nothing. Last season, Houston won the MLS Cup after winning only 11 of 32 regular-season games. Ties and playoff penalty shootouts can take you a long way in this league.
OUTLOOK: They won't head into next season as MLS Cup favourites, but as long as you can earn points for ties, everyone has a chance.
-Morgan Campbell
Toronto Blue Jays
Odds of becoming next local team to win a championship: 12-1
LAST PARADE: 1993
LATEST RANKING: Third in AL East this season. Haven't had a sniff of the playoffs since last championship.
CENTREPIECE: Like a pitching robot, Roy Halladay continues to dominate on behalf of a club that ebbs and flows around him. Despite missing a month after an appendectomy, the 30-year-old still lingers on the fringes of the Cy Young race with a .500 team.
BLUE CHIP STOCK: Travis Snider. After eschewing high schoolers for years, GM J.P. Ricciardi reached out for the robust outfielder in 2005. But at 19 years old, he's still years away from a move north.
FREE AGENCY/SPENDING: The payroll has jumped $30 million in four years. They cracked the piggy bank in the last two off-seasons to attract top free agents A.J. Burnett ($55 million), B.J. Ryan ($47 million) and Frank Thomas ($18 million plus). However, holes still exist – a left-handed power hitter, anyone? – and more money will be needed to close them.
ENVIRONMENT: TV money and baseball's staggering growth continue to keep this franchise in the black, meaning there is little financial pressure to win right now. But the same old excuses – injuries, small-market pressures – are wearing thin with fans.
MANAGEMENT: Nearing the unsuccessful end of year six in his five-year plan, the shine is coming off Ricciardi. The first victim may be Ricciardi's hand-picked man, manager John Gibbons.
RINGS IN THE ROOM: Four players have been part of a World Series champion, but Thomas and Burnett were on the DL when their respective teams got to the big dance, while Gregg Zaun was a backup. Troy Glaus, however, not only played in a championship, he was the World Series MVP when the Angels won in 2002.
WHAT'S STOPPING THEM: This year? Offensive fits. Last year? Spotty pitching. Next year? Who knows. Basically, it's hard to play the Yankees and Red Sox 36 times each season and emerge intact.
OUTLOOK: Third place-itis until a cure is found.
-Cathal Kelly
Toronto Maple Leafs
Odds of becoming next local team to win a championship: 41-1
LAST PARADE: 1967
LATEST RANKING: Finished 18th out of 30 teams last season. Missed playoffs past two seasons.
CENTREPIECE: Still superbly talented, Mats Sundin is, however, 36 and raised doubts about long-term commitment by inking a one-year contract extension. Most important contribution to future championship might be in allowing himself to be traded for picks and/or prospects.
BLUE CHIP STOCK: Team has a history of poor drafting. While GM John Ferguson has upgraded scouting, there are no studs coming through the system. In its Future Watch edition, The Hockey News ranked NHL team prospects under 22 years of age and Toronto finished 28th. Some quality young defenders portend decent blueline depth, but there is no feeling there is a core of future champions.
FREE AGENCY/SPENDING: Leafs have always been willing to write cheques – the cheap knock is baseless – but sometimes that largesse gets in the way of team building. A tendency to overpay wrong veterans at the expense of development.
Pavel Kubina makes $5 million (U.S.) a season, and the likely backup goaltender uses up $2 million under the cap.
Tie Domi is still getting paid.
ENVIRONMENT: While Toronto is reputed to be a tough media market, there is little financial pressure on the team to achieve success.
Love from fans is unrequited but steadfast, even through worst seasons. Building always full, team apparel flies off the shelf and condos are at capacity.
Veterans want to come here for one last contract.
MANAGEMENT: Ferguson never has been close to a Cup, but coach Paul Maurice guided Carolina to a final in 2002.
RINGS IN THE ROOM: Only one, on the finger of Kubina.
WHAT'S STOPPING THEM: Repeated changes in philosophy and direction. Under Ferguson, for example, Leafs have gone from trying to build to sacrificing their future in an attempt to win now.
OUTLOOK: Leafs a long shot to need a fleet of convertibles any time soon.
