Mindful management reflects roster, our defense and the commitment to team defense is the problem. It's not Andersen per se. What Andersen represents is an opportunity to acquire a piece that will directly or indirectly augment defense at position or team defense. The regrettable thing about moving Andersen apart from his value, is that it's unlikely that one piece can't yield a wide-sweeping move that addresses multiple positions of weakness: A two-way power forward and a 2/3 defenceman. A number 1 RHD and a 3C defensive specialist. Because make no mistake, Andersen's a number one goalie that have some have said, might be our best goalie since Belfour. His record in series deciding games notwithstanding, remember our lead with Reimer. It's a disease that hasn't left and I can't help but wonder if it won't because the city is bombarded with an abnormal amount of circumspection no matter what the club does. And that HAS to deform an athlete's sense of identity/commitment to be inundated with such extreme swings of value.
Is it any wonder, Kessel, Bozak, Kadri and JVR, Komarov..even Hutchinson...all of a sudden find themselves as key parts on succeeding teams, rapidly after leaving Toronto? It's not that they're of equal value individually, but there's something to the notion that whatever their role, it, increases after serving as a Leaf.
Our problem since Quinn it seems, has been an apprehension that drives our clubs on emotion and deference rather than a disposition of relentless selfless play. Like Boston. Win or lose, like Boston.
We don't need to win the Cup in the next five seasons in order to be successful because that might be a leap beyond reason. What the club needs is severe culture change that wins and loses with a reputation of being dreadful to play against. We're never going to win them all, but the club can turn a cultural corner and commit to being hard-working.
As a fan whose never seen a Cup, and may never see a Cup...I'll take hard-working and sacrifice and leave come what may to effort.
