The 2015-2016 New York Islanders Will Be…

Toronto Maple Leafs

Mar 13, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman

(3) crashes into goalie

(34) during the first period against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

This has been quite the ride in the Air Canada Centre hasn’t it?  Another quality start to the season, another second half of nightmares for the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Inconsistent goaltending, the wars between the Toronto media and Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf in the trade rumor mill nearly all season and now Nazem Kadri gets a few games off as a disciplinary measure for over sleeping.

GM Dave Nonis and President Brendan Shanahan seem like they have their hands full turning around a franchise that has made the playoffs once since the 2004 lockout.  And you don’t want to bring that series up unless you’re a Boston Bruins fan.  Now the Leafs are heading into a full-blown rebuild after trading away Cody Franson, Mike Santorelli, Daniel Winnik, Carter Ashton and David Broll leading up to the trade deadline.

Whom is still there is important.  Phaneuf and Kessel are the two big players still under contract with Toronto, despite all the rumors of Phaneuf heading to the Detroit Red Wings at the deadline.  While both could be traded and would bring reasonable returns, I’m on record as saying trading Kessel would be a bad idea for the future of the Maple Leafs.  It still might be the best thing for Kessel, whom has had enough of the Toronto media spotlight and questions.  So what’s a GM and President to do?

For starters do not rush the development of recent top picks William Nylander and Frederik Gauthier.  Give both another year to develop and mature to prepare themselves for the NHL and the spotlight that Toronto brings.  Trading David Clarkson for Nathan Horton was a stroke of genius and, for me, the most impressive and savvy move of the entire deadline.  If Horton is healthy you get a productive power forward.  If he isn’t, you have cap relief.  Hopefully Horton does what’s in the best interest of his long-term health but the Maple Leafs are going to help no matter what.

Trading Phaneuf would be mutually beneficial for both the team and the player.  Phaneuf is paid like a top-pair defensemen and captain.  As a result is getting the lion share of the blame, along with Kessel, for the lack of team success in Toronto.  That’s not truly accurate. Phaneuf has been a solid player but not the élite defensemen Leafs fans thought they were getting.  Nonis should trade him and let Phaneuf continue his career elsewhere while getting appropriate future value.

Joffrey Lupul is another player the Leafs need to decide on.  He’s been reasonably productive when he’s healthy, which isn’t often enough to consistently make a difference on the ice.  Is his salary worth holding on to?  Can Nonis strike gold again and find a team to trade for him?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are likely to be near the bottom of the NHL standings again next year, but don’t expect the rebuild to take several years.  Having Nylander, Gauthier and Tyler Bozak as your top three centers is a nice start.  Keeping Kessel to play on one of the wings brings punch to the offense.  Defensive depth and goaltending will continue to be questions that need answers.  Expect to get a better idea about the time-table for rebuilding the Toronto Maple Leafs at the draft.  There are pieces here that could help Leafs fans only need a short-term pain tolerance.

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