The Need for SPEED

Is it possible that we all witnessed the reason for Toronto's poor showing this year? Could it be as simple as one word? Could it be that the Leafs, as a team, have simply lacked speed?

In some ways it makes perfect sense. Before the lock out, slow players could still be incredibly effective and they clutched and grabbed their way through a game. The Leafs have the most hold-overs from that era. With the new rules, speed wins. Speed means more opportunities. More penalties for the opposing team. Easier, more confident decisions with the puck, better ability to back-check... I mean, on Saturday night, didn't Ottawa look just like the Leafs have recently? One step behind.

It could even explain how Antropov's production tailed off this year. Early in the season, while players are getting their legs, he was scoring in bunches. Then, as the season progressed, and the speed of the game went up a few notches, he stopped scoring.

So if we look at revamping the Leafs, shouldn't we be looking at more speed throughout the line up, instead of a few speedsters here and there? Could it be that simple?

Here's what I propose:
Trade, demote, or buy out:
- Tucker $3M
- Antropov $2M
- Poni $2M
- Bell $2M
- Woz $.5m
(- Raycroft $2M)

Thats's $11M

If we can play young, speedsters such as Earl, Moore, etc, and pick up some speedy prospects, could we not replace that group for about 500k each? or 2-4M? Thats 7-9M for free agents and retains a youthful corp of Steen, Stajan, Wellwood, Colaiaccovo, White, Kaberle?

Throw in a departure of Kubina, and you're laughing.

Then, let the speedsters play. And play and play.

Speed. You can't teach it. Could it be the crux of this team's issues this year?
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