[pete_b]

I know that chances are slim but I just gotta ask. All you guys seem so knowlegdeable about Toronto I just had to. Do the Leafs have a chance to be in the playoffs this year? Any way of knocking off Montreal? Opinions please?

[blueandwhite]

A slim chance. But we lost last night to the Capitals 5-3 while the canadiens won, which puts us in 9th in the eastern division. It's a battle (Montreal, us, Atlanta, Boston). Aside from numbers, no I don't think we will make the playoffs. We don't have the goalie, we don't have the desire, it feels like, the drive.
There is always faith in Toronto-the eternal hope, the unconditional love of the team. but right now, it's hard to watch them.
seems as if we are rebuilding, which makes it tough on the fan.

[Peterborough]

I agree. I will be VERY surpised if the Leafs make the playoffs. Too much heated competition for one playoff spot, a very tough remaining schedule (lots of consecutive game days, lots of very good teams), and very little drive. Even if they defy the odds and make it in, it will probably be followed by a very quick first round exit.

Trade deadline is fast approaching (March 9). I'll be interested to see what kind of moves they make, but I doubt anything will help.

Unless John Ferguson can get John Muckler drunk and trade Antropov and Belak for Heatly and Chara, then ply Doug Armstrong in Dallas with a really amazing lap-dance convincing him to swap Belfour for Turco. Yeah, that's the ticket. I've got it all worked out. There's still hope!

Fat chance.

[blueandwhite]

That's some kind of dream world you've got going there, Peterborough.
Ah for the lap dance that will bring an end to all the Leafs' problems. If it were only so.

[Peterborough]

I'd say the lap-dance success chances are about on par with the Leafs playoff success chances.

Am I suffering from post-loss blues, or is it just reality sinking in?

[blueandwhite]

There's a habit of the Leafs management - and I don't know if it's a Quinn thing or a pattern from long before - where, when the ship is sinking, they do nothing but watch. It sucks for a player like Tucker who is having a stellar year or Sundin who deserves to be on a team that matches his abilities.
Trade deadline, I predict, will show no change, or very little change, for the Leafs.