Leafs Fans, Let's Forget About Rick Nash

     There has been much speculation lately as to whether or not the Toronto Maple Leafs' front office will attemt to attain Rick Nash through a trade. I personally wouldn't be against it, like c'mon it's Rick Nash who has been a 30+ goal scorer for most of his career. Also, he won a gold medal with Team Canada in the Vouncouver Olympic games. However, I think we need to forget about Nash for a moment, because people seem to be forgetting what the Leafs already have, especially in comparison to what the team was like when Brian Burke took over as general manager. Think about it...before Burke came along, the Leafs were terrible, a bottom-feeder of the NHL. However, came along Burke and within 3-4 seasons the team is now contending for a playoff spot. This type of turnaround doesn't just happen over night, and you have to admit it is pretty impressive, especially when you consider the average age of players on the team.

     When you watch the Leafs this season it is evident that they are now an exciting, young, and fast team that is quickly building the chemestry that would lead to a Stanly Cup finals berth. I think we need to ask ourselves: if the Leafs seem to finally be gelling as a unit, (despite the past five or six games) then why would Burke want to be active before the trade deadline? Since Burke has been in Toronto, he has surrounded the organization with young, raw talent, and people need to understand that development of these players takes time. People seem to feel it is necessary that the Leafs make the playoffs this season, which is why Leafs fans have been pushing for the trade that would bring Nash to Leafsnation, but, wouldn't this trade basically cancel out the entire rebuilding process? Wouldn't this trade destroy this developing chemistry? If your answer is yes, then we should just forget about Nash and think about the talent the Leafs already have. Players like Grabovski, Kulemin, Bozak, Schenn, and Crabb. If we lost any of these players in this trade, or all of them, then what was the point of even rebuilding in the first place? The Leafs could have just made a bid trade when Burke initally took over, and avoided the rebuilding process. The point I am trying to make is that fans need to recognize the job that Burke and the Leafs front office has done over the past few years. If the Leafs don't land Nash, I don't necessarily believe that it would be a bad thing, simply because it would be more efficient for the Leafs to maintain the chemistry they already have. Also, if the Leafs don't trade for Nash and don't make the playoffs, then you have to admit that fans will be blaming Burke for not making the trade because Toronto fans always find something to complain about...but let's be realistic, are the Leafs really going to make a legit push for a Stanley Cup finals appearance? So I say let's stay away from Nash, continute the rebuilding process, and allow these young players to build chemistry with one another.

Vince Cianciolo