Fixing the Maple Leafs

With no true vested interest in the outcome of the Stanley Cup Finals, as both of my teams were gone after the first round, and with the Toronto Maple Leafs fans continuously gnashing its teeth every time the playoffs go on, today, I will put on my GM hat and attempt to get Toronto back to the playoffs next year and beyond.  As with the post about possibilities for fixing the Calgary Flames, any and all comments are welcome, so as long as they pertain to actually fixing the Leafs.

As I look at the Maple Leafs in their current state, I can identify three things the Leafs need: a top-line center, a solid defenseman, and someone to challenge James Reimer for the starting job in goal.  First, the top-line center.  It would be great if either Nazem Kadri or Joe Colborne could seize that role, but realistically, the best I can hope for either one to be is a second-line center.  Tim Connolly was the same injury-prone player he has been in his career, and Tyler Bozak is realistically a third-line center miscast as a top two line center.  A solid defenseman is another need, as our group features a mercurial Dion Phaneuf, an inconsistent Luke Schenn, and Mike Komisarek, who if we can get out from under his contract, we would.  In short, consistency is needed, and right now, I don't know if we can solve that problem from within like we could with our center problem.  As for our goaltending problem, Reimer had a bad year, but he was also beset with injuries.  Jonas Gustavsson is likely not coming back, and we need someone like a Jean-Sebastien Giguere to challenge for a starter's role, if not provide a reliable backup as insurance.

Now, how can we solve all of those problems?  As I said earlier, either Kadri or Colborne could solve our front-line center problem.  However, both come with question marks.  Kadri still needs to put on weight and Colborne hasn't shown enough to be an everyday player in the NHL.  Training camp will hopefully show how far both have come along.  A solid defenseman is another need, and though the solution is not as clear, it would help immensely if Komisarek's contract can be taken off the books without much penalty.  If we can find a taker for Schenn, it would have to be filling a need or two mentioned, and top prospects won't hurt much, either.  A goaltender who challenge Reimer for a starting role is needed, and rumors are floating around that we're in talks to get Roberto Luongo.  It would be wise to see what Vancouver wants for him and who else we can get with him.  It would also be wise to look into deals for guys such as Antti Niemi, Tuukka Rask (oh, the irony if we can get him, though it would be tough, as he has the RFA tag), Tomas Vokoun, and likely the loser of the Robin Lehner/Ben Bishop battle in Ottawa (blasphemous, I know, to inquire about a player from the provincial rivals).