TORONTO (Mar. 19) -- As was widely suspected prior to the season, it will be another unfulfilling spring for fans of the Maple Leafs. Though the phenomenon defies explanation, this clumsy franchise continues to cast a spell over its legion of followers, whose unmitigated devotion is the source of wonderment in many parts of the league. E-mailer Norm from Scarborough, Ont. likely spoke for many when he wrote: "I've had two vices in my life: smoking, and rooting for the Maple Leafs. I was somehow able to quit cigarettes, but I can't get this damned hockey club out of my system. These guys are going to kill me a lot quicker than tobacco would have."

Which again brings to mind the uncomplicated, but deadly-accurate assessment of Toronto hockey zealots offered by Ken Dryden in his time as president of the club. "Watching the Maple Leafs is simply a habit," Dryden declared in, perhaps, his shortest-ever sentence. It's a habit, however, that millions of television viewers must break once the regular season ends. When the spring of 2009 arrives -- the Leafs' next chance to qualify for the playoffs -- it will be five calendar years since the last post-season appearance of the hockey club.

As for now, Toronto's NHL devotees will have to compensate by rooting against their arch-rivals -- Montreal and Ottawa -- both of whom will be prominent on TV screens in the second week of April. Puck envy is awfully gut-wrenching in these parts, and fans of the Blue & White find it more palatable to ignore the evidence. Playoff ratings at the CBC are profoundly affected by the absence of the Leafs, and their nationwide cult. Driven to distraction by another failed outfit, Leaf followers that were enthusiastically predicting improvement at the beginning of the season are now imploring their heroes to lose, in the interest of a better draft slot. Which merely confirms they don't understand the team any more today than they did in early-October.

A number of e-mails submitted to me for this Q&A session endorsed the absurd idea of "tanking". I'd like to know how many of you would willingly lay down on the job, so your company could replace you by hiring a host of different employees next year? It makes no sense at all. The mere fact the Maple Leafs are capable of turning it on only when it's too late will prompt the requisite changes for next season. No reasonable observer could possibly expect coach Paul Maurice, or the players, to deliberately plan for an improved lottery position.

Many sensible e-mail questions, however, did make it through the other day. Among them were the following:

Rick from Toronto broaches the "tanking" scheme by writing: "With Cliff Fletcher quickly figuring out the Leafs are not good enough -- and declaring a building phase -- why is he letting Paul Maurice 'desperation' coach to the detriment of the club? The younger players should be auditioning for next year's team right now."

The problem with your question, Rick, is that Maurice is not "desperation" coaching. It just seems that way because the Leafs are pulling another of their late-season charges to nowhere. In fact, Paul is simply doing what he has done at every prior stage of the season: Using his best players to try and win. What coach worth his salt would do otherwise? When the Leafs play in Buffalo Friday night, Vesa Toskala will make his 26th consecutive start in goal -- equalling Andrew Raycroft's longest streak from last season (Dec. 30 to Mar. 2). It will be Toskala's 61st appearance of the 2007-08 campaign. But, didn't we all suggest -- back in October -- that Toskala would have to play between 60 and 70 games to establish himself as the Leafs' No. 1 netminder? Aren't the other top goalies in the NHL handling roughly the same workload? So, what is Maurice doing that's so unusual? You mention auditioning younger players. Well, the Maple Leafs probably lead the entire league in minor-league call-ups this season. Scott Clemmensen, Anton Stralman, Jiri Tlusty, Kris Newbury, Robbie Earl, Ben Ondrus, Darryl Boyce, Jeremy Williams, Staffan Kronwall and Alex Foster have all played in the NHL. The reason most of them haven't stuck is that they're not good enough. Which is sufficient motive to avoid using them ahead of established players. As Fletcher pointed out on Tuesday, the NHL has explicit rules against teams deliberately icing a second-rate line-up... for obvious reasons. Spectators pay top dollar to attend NHL games, especially those that fill the Air Canada Centre each night. Except for specific circumstances, teams are obliged to use their best players. If a GM trades his prime assets for development purposes -- as Fletcher planned to do with Mats Sundin, Tomas Kaberle and others prior to the deadline last month -- a club can be naturally weakened. But, its best players still dress.

Monica from St. Catharines, Ont. writes: "Can you help me figure out, Howard, why the Leafs play just well enough to finish ninth in the Eastern Conference? Don't they realize how damaging a position that is in the standings?"

The answer to your riddle, Monica, is simple. This particular group of Leaf players always finds its level. And, that level is a rung or two beneath the playoff qualifiers. It matters not that the team wins a higher concentration of games late in the season. There is no conspiracy in the dressing room to throttle the organization's draft plans by making a futile, late push. It's simply easier to win games once the onus to perform at a certain level dissipates. The fact is, these Maple Leafs aren't nearly dreadful enough to place at the bottom of the NHL standings. Nor are they competent enough to make the playoffs. As a result, they finish 9th, or 10th. Which is generally the place you'd expect them to be, based on personnel. That's why the composition of the hockey club -- and the culture it has manufactured the past three years -- will be dramatically altered this summer. Probably a couple of summers too late.

Graham from Hartsville, PEI wries: "Hello Howard, love your columns. I'm concerned about Matt Stajan's upcoming RFA status. It puzzles me why Cliff locked up Alex Steen for 2 years @$3.4 million, and there's been no mention of Stajan being taken care of. Was this to make Steen more attractive trade bait this past deadline?"

I'm a bit puzzled by this as well, Graham, for I'm not certain that either player can be an important feature of an improved Maple Leafs team. Stajan and Steen (or "Steejan" as some have scornfully called them) appear to be joined at the hip in a number of ways. First, they are considered (along with Kyle Wellwood) to be at the top of the Maple Leafs' chain of young, veteran skaters. All three have held regular spots in the line-up since the NHL returned from the lockout season. Yet, none have made significant gains. In fact, Wellwood and Steen have regressed. The common element is a soft brand of hockey. In my view, an unwillingness to dilligently compete for the puck reduces the potential for talented players to be relied upon in a winning environment. All three men have talent. But, we get true glimpses of it once every 10 or 15 games, which isn't good enough. Some might believe it's too early to give up on Stajan or Steen. This is the conservative, path-of-least-resistence rationale that is endemic among Leaf enthusiasts -- most of whom have no concept of bold, decisive action. Almost two generations of Leaf fans have been exposed to mediocrity. The club has to dress 20 players each night, so, I'm not endorsing the routine dismissal of incumbent personnel. But, the Leafs will not move significantly forward until they see the value of replacing average parts. After three seasons, Stajan and Steen should be displaying many more signs of development. Blame Paul Maurice if you wish, but also keep in mind that the Leafs have employed 17 coaches since they last played in the Stanley Cup final. That's one coach for every 2.4 years. Fact is, good players almost always make good coaches. With the Leafs, the focus must be on personnel, and a singular lack of self-motivation among many who pull on the jersey each night. Upgrades are required for both Stajan and Steen.

Brian from Saskatoon, Sask. writes: "Howard, you wrote a blog the other day critical of the way the Leafs divulge injury information, and you got pounded for it. Why do you think the reaction was so negative?"

Brian, I'd have to live well beyond the normal life-span of a North American male to understand the whims of current-day Maple Leaf supporters. When I followed the Leafs as a fan in the 1960s and '70s, I was drawn to reporters who attempted to see through the claptrap and propoganda of the Harold Ballard era. My three favorites were William Houston, Frank Orr and John Iaboni. I always felt that if I ever realized my dream and got to assume their positions one day, I would try to do the same. Perhaps I try a little too hard sometimes, but I'm astonished at the number of my colleagues that simply relay to their readers or listeners what the Leafs are offering, as if it is gospel. I feel it's imperative to look a bit closer, and to maintain a wary eye in a hockey city of this magnitude. How others regard that approach is immaterial. My criticism of the current Leafs management wasn't as a result of withholding, or deliberately providing false data about injuries. That was a staple of the Pat Quinn and John Ferguson regimes. What bothers me right now is the way hope is interpreted as information. When Paul Maurice tells reporters he is "hopeful" of Mats Sundin returning less than three days after incurring a groin-muscle tear, it doesn't mean that Sundin will be back for the next game. Maurice is in a position of authority that incorporates trust and knowledge. He's an honest man and the public and media look to him for candor. He has repeatedly proven this season that he's either getting bad information from the Leafs' medical staff, or that he's allowing his own wishful thinking to govern what he says in media scrums. For whatever reason, Paul has been miles off the mark in forecasting injury absence. As for what the public wants from people in my position, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. I did get an innordinate amount of "hate" mail for outlining the truth about Leafs' ineptitude in delivering injury news this season. Had I written a blog congratulating the club for its efforts, e-mailers would have accused me of gullibility and acquiescence. I do all I can to provide Leaf fans with the best possible information. The tone of response is beyond my control.

Robyn from Mississauga, Ont. writes: "Howard, there is sort of an uneasy quietness right now about the Leafs' search for a full time GM. Does that mean anything, and who do think will ultimately get the job?"

I believe things are quiet, Robyn, because the candidates that Richard Peddie and Gord Kirke have in mind are currently employed by other NHL teams. And, it is severely frowned upon to approach management personnel in the midst of a season. As a result, Fletcher told me this week that, to his knowledge, no individual has yet been formally interviewed for the position. So, I don't think there's a person on earth at the moment -- including Peddie and Kirke -- that can accurately suggest who the next GM will be. But, I'm staying with what I've written in this space since last October -- acting on a tip from what I feel is an impeccable source, that Brian Burke would intently listen to an overture from the Leafs, providing the compensation and job description is up to standard. It will take a fortune to pry Burke out of Anaheim, but the Leafs have the resources, and it's my understanding that they'll take a healthy run at the GM of the defending Stanley Cup champions this summer. If they follow through with a pledge to offer complete written autonomy, I believe Burke will seriously consider leaving the Ducks for the challenge of working in hockey's most intense market. Even if he publicly agrees to a contract extension in the interim.

E-mail howard.berger@rci.rogers.com

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