With Day 1 of the draft behind them, the Leafs’ real work is just beginning…

I have to be honest, as someone who has followed a lot of NHL drafts (since it became the so-called “universal” draft in the late 1960s) through the years from a Maple Leaf “wish list” perspective, I couldn’t get too cranked up about their draft “opportunity” Friday night.  Not a lack of interest of my part, just the reality that the pick, and the draft overall,  is more of a long-term crap shoot.

I had mentioned him in my previous post that I anticipated Toronto would grab a defenseman at 5, and they did.  Predictably, Leaf fans were seemingly evenly divided, as best I could tell.  Many lauded the pick, because Rielly is considered to be a young guy who can move and make plays and should be a nice NHL player at some point.

At the same time, others were assuming that the Leafs, with plenty of young defensemen already and with their obvious need for big, strong, skilled forwards, would take one.  Some were available, though it soon became clear that this was (at least in the early going) a “defense-heavy” draft as far as NHL GM’s were concerned.

At the end of the day (literally and figuratively), my point is simply:  one way or another, we will be waiting for years for a draft pick to be a real impact player in a Leaf uniform.  Defensemen typically (not always, of course) mature a little more slowly than some forwards, but once they “get it”, they are sound and dependable for years. Regardless of whether we took a forward or defenseman, we would be waiting.  Maybe a little less time for Grigorenko or whomever, but waiting nonetheless.

Here’s the thing:  we’ve set the bar here in Leafland really, really low.  Brian Burke has been very fortunate that he walked into a situation that was perceived to be so desperate (and was, to a certain extent), that he has taken relatively little serious criticism despite presiding over a team that has missed the playoffs the past four springs that he has been in charge.

Even now, he continues to buy time with the public.  Many preach, perhaps with reason, that we need patience, patience.  And I often say that here as well.  But here’s the uncomfortable truth we perhaps don’t want to face up to:  other teams that were no better than the Leafs by any number of measures when Burke took over here are better now.

So worn down are Leaf fans that now, making a playoff spot in the watered down East (or as one prominent commentator said on TV yesterday, a close 9^th place finish next spring) will be enough for many Maple Leaf  fans see the promise of Burke’s “plan” and for Burke to be rewarded with a new contract.

We’ve all heard and wanted to believe the words: that the Maple Leafs under Burke would indeed be bigger, tougher, more skilled, as evidenced by statements such as “my teams are hard to play against…”, “I build my teams from the back end…”, “I have no patience for a five-year re-build…”.

Burke has overhauled virtually his entire roster.  It’s not like he has been inactive, eh?  But some other much less ballyhooed GM’s have done more, in less time, and the future of their franchises (e.g. Ottawa, Florida) is not necessarily any less promising than what we want to believe it is here in Toronto.

Burke has acquired some nice players, for sure.  Phaneuf qualifies, though we shouldn’t confuse the occasional big hit or an early-season display as proof that he is an elite defenseman.  (At least not after watching the recent NHL playoffs and seeing how true elite defensemen play…)

Kessel is a ton of fun to watch—and wonderfully skilled.  He sure could use a big center, though in truth, we have no idea how he would mesh with a supremely skilled playmaker.  (Perhaps beautifully.  But many thought Brett Hull—including Hull himself—would be even better with Wayne Gretzky.  That experiment failed miserably.)

But let’s be honest:  In the end, Kesse, as exciting as he is to watch, cost the Leafs a huge amount in Seguin and Hamilton.  And we have no idea if the young winger can handle the demands of being the go-to offensive player when faced with physical, tough checking by the opposition at playoff time.

That leaves us with Jake Gardiner as Burke’s prized acquisition.  But even there, because of that very reality (and Gardiner’s immense potential, too, I realize), Burke won’t move him to help acquire the much-needed offensive pieces that might launch the Leafs into more of a contending position.  (To be clear, I am not saying that Burke should trade Gardiner, simply that the Leaf GM is in a sense trapped, because that’s the one move he has been universally lauded for in his time in Toronto…)

Last night, I outlined what the 5 key “need” areas for the blue and white are that we have all bandied about here for months—some kind of goaltending help; a stud “D” man; an elite center; experience; and grit and overall team toughness.  The 2012 draft was not going to address any of those immediate needs, unless Burke traded his picks to obtain help for the here and now. 

But the really hard work starts (continues, in fairness) now.  The draft is nothing more than an annual asset purchase at the local mall.  If you’ve done your homework and the players you pick have great desire and a genuinely strong work ethic, you may be able to add one or two players who can help some day—some picks more than others, obviously. But you still need luck, eh?

But moves are needed here, and soon.  Infusing the line-up with “Marlie youth” may be an exciting idea, but I’m not sure it is the answer.  The Leafs need proven big-league talent, and can’t bet on a young roster that has no leadership and experience.

As we sit right now, (and this could change by the time you read this), the Leafs still need a goalie, a center, a true first-pairing defenseman, and a lot more skilled grit, if you know what I mean.  Burke says be believes in Reimer and Scrivens.  He should have faith in his guys.  He believes Bozak can be a number-one center.  The young man has skill, yes.  Are these just things Burke has to say?  Maybe.

But that doesn’t matter any more.  There is just a lot of work to be done.  Maybe Justin Schultz will be signed to add instant help on defense.  Maybe Kadri will be dealt for some other kind of need.  Maybe all those Marlie kids will indeed be ready to contribute come September.

But like all of you, I saw how good those last few teams in the NHL playoffs were.  (And it’s the same every spring…)  Did it look to you like the Leafs could compete with those teams—while performing under the kind of limelight and scrutiny the playoffs bring in a market like this?

I honestly thought we would be much further ahead by now than we are.  Even if Burke makes some significant roster moves in the days ahead, he’ll still be playing catch-up with teams in the East that already have a truly elite goalie, difference-makers on the blueline and tough, skilled forwards sprinkled throughout their roster.

Ten years ago the Leafs made the playoffs every spring, and were pretty darn good teams.  It was the pre-cap era and they could spend, yes, but is it really any different now?  Some teams still have limited budgets.  Some spend to the max.  But the Leafs back then were usually tough, entertaining and gave us some playoff thrills, if not a championship.

As much as Burke claims that’s what he is after—a championship—so has every other Leaf GM been since Fletcher.  We came pretty darn close to making it happen in 1993 and ’94, and again in ’99 and 2002.

No, we haven’t always been lousy here.  Burke didn’t invent plans, blueprints—or the roadmap for success.  And he still has a long way to go to get this right.

Patience, yes.  But time’s a ticking….