The Purgatory state of the Maple Leafs

I've noticed that the Hockey talk around the "office water-cooler" has been sorely lacking Toronto Maple Leaf content. For this, I have to blame the Leafs team and staff. The boys in blue are in hockey purgatory.

In past years, when the leafs were this close to the bottom, we'd be talking about the potential of drafting a top prospect. This year is different because the potential draftee was fast-forwarded via trade in to Phil Kessel. Then again, being 11 points out of a playoff spot & having 28 games left to play doesn't completely shut the door on the post-season. The problem with the team is that they're just not good enough; essentially shutting the door o the post-season. This situation negates both the "Tank Nation" and "White n Blue - Tried n True" talks.

One might think that player-movement may spark up some Leaf talk. The leafs are pressed for cap space, so adding players in hopes of making a run for the post-season is out of the question, so player subtraction is the only option. Unfortunately, one of the most coveted Leaf assets in Tomas Kaberly has a no-trade-clause, and looks to be unwilling to be shipped out of town. To make things worse, The General Manager, Brian Burke, will not ask Kaberle to waive his NTC. When you look through the roster there aren't many big name players on the team that would garner enough attention to make a significant impact on the current or future rosters. The Leafs have a roster full of hard-working players. Each of the hard-working players would only garner a late draft-pick or possibly a lost-cause prospect. Neither trade-type discussions would arouse much interest.

Maybe the Leafs fans can discuss the off-season early. There's bound to be some excellent unrestricted Free Agents coming up as of 2010; The only problem with speculating in these cases, is that we're so far away from the opening of Free Agency, that any acquisition-talk would most likely be in vain.

So, here we sit, in hockey purgatory. All the standard mainstays of hockey discussion are exhausted for the boys in blue. All I can do is wait and hope that something interesting presents itself before the Stanley cup is awarded.

Could The Toronto Maple Leafs Be Out Already?

Brian Burke looks on all the while contemplating the fate of his players

There are 76 more games in the schedule for the Leafs and even if they play .500 hockey from now on the most points their going to get is 76 + the 1 point they have; that's 77 points by years end....

If you need 92 to 93 points to get into they playoffs.... well... you do the math, could The Toronto Maple Leafs be out of contention before December?...

Last year (2008/09) the Leafs scored 244 times and allowed 286.

This year Toronto is on pace to score 177 times and allow 383 ... again you do the math.

This has been a very frustrating start to a season that was, and maybe still is, full of hope to some of the real blue and white faithful. Unfortunately I am one of the true faithful who will stick it out to the bitter end. Shame on me I guess...

The Ten Leafs Jersey Commandments

I came up with this idea while listening to 550AM buffalo Sports Radio. They were talking about ways people ruin jerseys. I thought it would be fun to compile a list of commandments one must follow in order to properly don the Blue and White, while watching the greatest franchise in Hockey history.

1) Though shalt not wear the Jersey of a player who has left the leafs, and currently plays for another team

2) Any Jersey, too short to hang beyond the belt buckle must never be worn by a male sports-fan

3) All half-home/half-away Jerseys should be burned on-sight

4) Jerseys with custom names must not be worn with the following numbers: 67, 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 13, 17, 21, 27, 93, 99

5) Though shalt not get a Jersey made with the name of a player who has spent less than one season with the leafs, with the exception of rookies and tough-guys.

6) Though shalt never wear a paper bag over one's head while wearing a leafs jersey

7) Whilst wearing a leafs Jersey though shalt always ridicule any vicinity fans who wear opposing teams paraphernalia

8) Beer and condiments spilled on a jersey should not be cleaned until after the game (Dab, don't rub & Dry Clean only)

9) Whilst wearing a Leafs Jersey, and 50 mission cap by the Tragically Hip is played, though shalt jump up and dance

10) Though shalt not wear Thy Leafs Jersey to a game in which the Leafs are not participating. The only exceptions to this rule being in attendance of a Marlie's & Reading Royals games... and the occasional Ottawa Senators game