Yesterday, Howard Berger did something that he hasn’t done in a very long time. That, of course, is show relevance in the Toronto Hockey Media. Ever since Ron Wilson pretty much ended his mainstream media career, Berger has confined himself to his personal blog, where he posts occasional leafs thoughts mixed with photos of his jersey collection and North York Sunsets. Must be a sweet life.

Back to yesterday. Berger threw out major rumour, outlining a blockbuster trade that he feels could go down between the Leafs and the Florida Panthers. The issue, of course, is that this move makes no sense.

The first few paragraphs are about the failures of the Florida Panthers and how Dale Tallon isn’t opposed to give up the 1st overall pick in this years draft. Not necessary to quote, but it very quickly sets the reader up to know where this is headed. Lets get into the meat.

I don’t know how much of this is necessarily true. Looking at “the core” the Leafs have arguably the best right winger in the planet in Phil Kessel (Patrick Kane and Corey Perry are the only other strong candidates), a steady first pairing defenceman who can log big minutes in Dion Phaneuf, two quality top six left wingers in James van Riemsdyk and Joffrey Lupul, two gifted young offensive defencemen in Morgan RIelly and Jake Gardiner, a dynamic top six centre in Nazem Kadri, and at least one number one goalie in Jonathan Bernier.

That’s only looking at non-upcoming Free Agents with 50+ games played.That’s without looking at question marks (for over or under achieving reasons) in Tyler Bozak and Cody Franson. That’s without including Carl Gunnarsson, who may be playing in a position over his head, and without David Clarkson, whoc an’t pssibly be as bad as he was last year.

The basic point I’m trying to make is that while the Leafs aren’t stacked, they have at least eight of the eleven “high priority” slots (top six forwards, top four D, starting goalie) in reasonable shape. None of these guys have hit 30 years old, and they range as young as 20. The team needs a top line centre or a number two defencemen (along with really, really needing Clarkson to step up and fill that 2RW slot), but they aren’t in “rebuild” territory, from a roster perspective. From a strategy sense? Sure.

Never starting a sentence with “and” aside, I’m still not a fan of this ‘leadership was the problem’ excuse. The Leafs collapsed because giving up the most shots ever allowed in an 82 game season, getting out shot 65 times in those 82 games, and not scoring more than 3 regulation goals in any game after February isn’t a isn’t a successful model to win hockey at any level. The Leafs use a predictable breakout that allows teams into easily intercept early passes (which increases turnovers) and a still use a dump and chase system that they usually lose out on (giving up possession and potential opportunities to shoot). 

These are not things that could have been solved by “leadership”.

Berger then goes on to say how he’s heard this rumour twice, and while he’s not into the speculation industry, he feels its worth mentioning. I can’t say I believe that a man who worked in sports radio for decades and wrote for Eklund on HockeyBuzz for years is anti-rumour, but sure, just give me the guts.

Where do I begin? Oh wait, Howard wrote an analysis! Lets just comment on that…

The Leafs haven’t been an established nucleus for very long. Many will point to 2009/10, Kessel and Phaneuf’s first year, and say that they’ve had five years to do this. The reality? Nikolai Kulemin is the only opening night player or coach left from that team, and he’s likely testing the market. You likely have to look at 2011/12  as the first year of this “nucleus”.  Kessel has his big breakout, Lupul and Gardiner play their first full seasons for the team, Bozak recovers from a horrendus sophomore slump, Phaneuf plays through the season for the first time in blue and white, and Carlyle comes in. Realistically, it’s a three year nucleus that still hasn’t over-ripened in age and has supplementary players available to fill out the non-core areas. Chunks are missing, but it’s not “tear apart” time.

Which is why he signed this mammoth deal to remain the Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and protect his ability to stay here six months ago, when he could have hit the open market and probably earned more. Whether you like his style of play or not, Phaneuf instantaneously becomes the most sought-after defenceman on the market if he walks.

“Carlyle doesn’t mesh with player” is the one of the biggest tropes in the hockey world. We’ve heard it in Toronto and in Anaheim. At what point do you stop shipping out good players to appease the guy that’s angering them? 

As for the firepower, it’s worth noting that this move requires Tyler Bozak to keep up his numbers, something that will be hard to achieve after leading the league in on-ice shooting percentage and finishing second among individuals who played 25+ GP. It also means that you’re committing to one of Peter Holland or David Bolland to be your second line centre. Holland may or not be ready to play an offensive role, and Bolland put up just 1.27 points per 60 5-on-5 minutes with Patrick Kane on his wing for 92% of his shifts. Having three skilled wingers is awesome, but this guts the Leafs down the middle.

Several of these players are expected to be walking, Franson and Reimer are both expected to be shopped over the summer, and any cap move that allows the Leafs to be able to throw this much money at this man’s house is a bad idea. But hold on….

Has Berger considered that Ekblad’s contract (if he is indeed selected first), with rookie bonuses factored in, could be well over $2.9 million and closer to four? 

Right, so through all of this the Leafs have to take on a 38 year old negative possession player (on a positive team, no less), who still has one moderately hefty year on his contract. He’s also unsure where his body stands, and may get hurt again. There’s also the whole matter of him being completely devoid of offensive talent at this stage of his career, putting up 33 points in his past 149 games. 

But hey, he brings size! Because, as we all know, there’s a huge difference between his huge 6’3, 221 pound frame, and Phaneuf’s puny 6’3, 214 pound build. 

No, Howard. This deal doesn’t help both teams. The allure of getting a guy like Aaron Ekblad is admittedly huge; the Leafs need another first pairing defenceman very badly. But at this stage in the game, you acquire a guy like him to learn from, play with, compliment, and take the pressure off of Phaneuf, not to replace him. Otherwise, he’s stuck trying to figure out the game from either Jovonovski, who’s best days were two lockouts ago, or Tim Gleason, who’s best days may have been just a hologram. Unless he goes to the coach, who has used his defensive wizardry to force his teams into the defensive zone to run around like chickens with their heads cut off.

We’re looking at a deal where a not-there-but-getting-there team fixes one position of weakness down the line by creating two more. That’s not a bit of sense; that’s nonsense. This wouldn’t even make sense if the Leafs weren’t throwing in the 8th overall pick in the process. Yes. They would do this to move seven spots up. 

I’m not much into speculation myself, but if the Leafs wants to trade up with Florida, it’s an interesting concept. Let’s say Berger is right about Tallon being in a “get this team decent fast” mentality, while still not wanting to destroy the cupboard.

Let’s say that Darren Dreger’s speculation was right today and that Tallon is interested in Bolland. Quite honestly, I don’t believe it either, seeing as he was supposedly interested in Randy Carlyle if the Leafs fired him. I wouldn’t be surprised if Florida just the team being used so the Leafs could say they had competition when they eventually end up retaining both (50% complete!).

If that’s the case, you offer up the 8th overall pick, David Bolland’s rights, Carl Gunnarsson (to help shore up that blue line and get them to the floor), and another pick and/or mid-range prospect for the number one spot. Draft Ekblad as the speculation says, pair him with Phaneuf, run Rielly/Gardiner next year as pair 2, and then have fun with the third pairing. See what happens and tweak as need be.

It’s probably not going to happen, but it at least makes a hell of a lot more sense.