This year, despite being comfortably ensconced in a playoff spot for virtually the whole season, the team finds itself being sucked into the race, just 2 points up on 9th place Columbus (with a game in hand.)    The control of destiny is still within the Leafs hands, but considering the history of this team, the fanbase is understandably nervous.   That, and the fact the team has just 3 wins in their last 10 games.  

The team did make one move at the deadline, adding Ryane Clowe for a pair of 2nd round picks.   Clowe brings some depth scoring with 7 points in 15 games since joining mainly from the 3rd line, and insurance if one of their primary scoring options goes down with injury.  Being so tight under the cap, there wasn't really room to do much more, however they also got Goalie Ben Bishop in this deal as insurance.    

This has been a very positive season for the Leafs with the years of patient development starting to pay off and players such as Logan Brown, Arturri Lehkonen and Jussi Valimaki establishing themselves, and more youth poised to join the team in the coming seasons, it would be a shame to mar it with another late season collapse.