What 2010 brings

Oh… the fortunes of Leafs Nation. They do rise and fall on a daily basis – just like the Jekyll – Hyde personality that is the Toronto Maple Leafs these days. You never know what you’re going to get. Don’t know what was dancing in their heads in Edmonton but sure as eggs is eggs it was something more akin to sugar plums than a playoff spot. But hey, Pat Quinn needs some relief as well. I’m sure he’s close to taking away everyone’s hockey stick and providing them with Samurai swords to fall on.

The countdown to the end of the Toskala era in Toronto continues. How quickly will it be forgotten? Never. It’ll be another equivalent of someone scraping their fingernails down a chalkboard. Wanna hear that sound?

Okay. Here you go:

Andrew Raycroft for Tuukka Rask.

The list of Leafs becoming UFA at the end of this season gives a hint of a major shakeup in Leafs Nation. I think Burke will likely trade some away, and let some skate away:

Lee Stepniak
Alex Ponikarovsky
Matt Stajan
Wayne Primeau
Richard Wallin
Jamal Mayers
Mike Van Ryn
Garnet Exelby
Jonas Frogren
Vesa Toskala

I think Stajan and Frogren stand the best chance of being in blue & white next fall. Some are destined for better things, just not in Toronto. I don’t know that Toskala will fair much better on another team. Like Raycroft, I think he overachieved for a season or 2, got big money, and crashed back to earth.

It was nice that Kessel finally found the back of the net. That boy’s making toothpicks out of his hockey sticks – he’s gripping them so tightly. The Leafs are heading into Calgary tomorrow night. The Flames wnt on a bit of a bender in December but are finding their way around the win column again, giving up just 1 goal a game in their last 3, including 2 wins in a home-n-home with the Oilers.

Eight of the next dozen games are on the road, including a swing up and down the eastern seaboard in th middle of the month.

GO LEAFS GO!!!