What the heck is going on with the Leafs, that team shouldn't be that bad, they got some decent talent.
They have some individually skilled guys, but overall they're not very deep both up front and on defense, and the talent they do have are largely one-dimensional players who, quite frankly, suck defensively.
Guys like Kessel, Lupul, and Kadri are skilled, but kind of lacking defensively. A guy like JVR is about average defensively, making him the best of the bunch in the top six (which isn't saying much). Tyler Bozak's their #1 center. He's probably better suited as a low end 2C or high end 3C.
On defense, Cody Franson's a pylon. I really don't know why Carlyle plays him so much. Every Leaf game I tune in to, he makes at least one boneheaded play per period. You've also got Jake Gardiner, who plays more like a rover than an actual defenseman, and Morgan Rielly, who is great at moving the puck but still suspect in his own zone. And the #1 guy (Phaneuf) is similar to Letang -- has all the physical tools in the world, but questionable toolbox.
Individually, they have guys who could be a great fit for a contender because contenders tend to have players who can cover for those shortcomings. But collectively, the Leafs aren't a recipe for success.