It only seems fitting that the third anniversary of the most recent traumatic event in Maple Leafs history falls this year on Friday the 13th.
The infamous three-goal, third period collapse against the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Final is still an open wound to some Toronto fans that only success in the playoffs will heal, but what may have been worse is the club did in the aftermath of the Tumble at TD Garden.
The victory gave the Bruins what ended up being their last crack at the Stanley Cup with a good chunk of the core group that won in 2011, but following their loss in the Final to Chicago, age caught up to Zdeno Chara, injuries hit Dennis Seidenberg and David Krejci, cap problems and bad management decisions resulted in Johnny Boychuk, Tyler Seguin, Milan Lucic and Dougie Hamilton being dealt.
After losing in the second round to Montreal in 2014, Boston has missed the playoffs the last two years and under GM Don Sweeney, the club appears to be entering a rebuilding phase, even if they don’t want to admit it.
From the Toronto perspective, the collapse should have been a clarion call to their management about the talent and dedication of their core group, but the reaction of GM Dave Nonis that summer was to reinforce Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf and Joffrey Lupul with free agent signings David Clarkson and Mason Raymond, trading draft picks to the Hawks for veteran center Dave Bolland, swapping John-Michael Liles for defenseman Tim Gleason and acquiring goalie Jonathan Bernier.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but in analyzing the decisions made by Toronto management after Game 7, it is clear they caused more pain and detriment to the club than the loss itself.
The signing of Clarkson and extensions to Kessel and Phaneuf totaled close to $150 Million and only the financial might of MLSE enabled Nonis, Brendan Shanahan and GM Lou Lamoriello to find an escape route and deal the trio without much effect to their salary cap.
Bolland(who played only 23 games) and Raymond(who scored 19 goals after being invited on a tryout contract) were offered extensions by Toronto but signed with Florida and Calgary.
Both played less than 30 games in the NHL this season due to injury problems and appear to be near the end of their careers.
Gleason struggled in the second half with the Leafs and was bought out of the last two years of his contract (which counts against the cap until 2018). Liles bounced back with two solid seasons in Carolina and was traded for a pair of draft picks at the trade deadline.
Lupul and Bernier are still on the Toronto payroll, but their futures are in question. The 32-year-old winger continues to be injury-plagued and ended the season on IR after stomach muscle surgery, while Bernier has failed to solidify the Toronto goaltending situation after three seasons and could be a victim of the Leafs continuing teardown.
The only optimistic note on an anniversary that many fans would like to forget is that Toronto’s future looks bright with young prospects thriving, the near certain selection of Auston Matthews with the top pick at the 2016 NHL Draft and the possibility of signing free agent Steven Stamkos in early July.
In Boston, things are looking quite dim.
*******
The Maple Leafs still have some interest in the outcome of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Toronto has Pittsburgh's 1st round pick from the Phil Kessel deal and with the Penguins advancing to the Eastern Conference Final, that pick will be 27th, 28th, 29th or 30th, depending on whether they advance to the Final or win the Stanley Cup.
If St. Louis loses to San Jose and the Penguins lose to Tampa, the Leafs will pick 27th in Buffalo on June 24th. If San Jose is eliminated and Pittsburgh gets beaten by the Lightning, Toronto will select 28th.
The Leafs will select 29th if the Pens lose in the Cup Final and 30th if they win. That would give Toronto the first and last picks in the first round, as well as the first pick in the 2nd round.
Toronto also has interest in the outcome of the Sharks - Blues series because of the conditional draft pick in the James Reimer deal. The pick is a 2018 4th rounder, but if San Jose gets to the Cup Final, the conditional pick becomes a 3rd in 2018. The Leafs do not have a 3rd round pick in 2018, as it will be given to either Detroit or New Jersey as compensation for the signing of Mike Babcock/Lou Lamoriello.
*******
Listen to the latest edition of "The Convo" with myself and CTV's Norman James, as we discuss former Leaf Phil Kessel's scoring prowess in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and other news in Leafland:
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Note : Continue to check back to my column on Hockeybuzz throughout the day for the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information click here.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»