Fans are fans, they don't have a budget, they have nothing at stake and they're biased.
http://www.nicholsonhockey.com/worthreading/2014/11/19/dreger-teams-do-call-on-dion-phaneuf
Leafs know they'd have to take money back in any transaction, but we're talking about 14 teams that could easily swallow half his salary by sending back a 3.0 per year player.
So if you wanted to suggest the Leafs retained 1.5 million for a couple seasons while the cap increases, then we're talking 7 - (1.5 retained + 3.0 player) = 2.5 cap hit.
Most of the teams in the league can have off days, Sabres beating Sharks twice now? Leafs walking over Bruins, then getting walked by Sabres.
However, back to the Core Issue.
I don't think this team is constructed well enough to ever be a top team
and contender, but let's face it sometimes a team gets on a role and if you get on a role at the right time who knows.
I don't see a lot of calming influence and leadership on the ice.
Sundin might not have been a great leader, that is up for debate some other time, but if you look at his history outside of the NHL he was a key leader, winner on some Swedish teams. Winning Swedish teams, not just some high scoring player on a losing team. It isn't about putting up points, or being flashy, or being the big man, it is about winning.
It is very tough to find players who have been dominant in leading their team to victory, and that not being a one off, or just being hot at the right time.
Who can you point to on the current Leafs team that everyone/most/anyone around the league (in the NHL) would point to and say I'm going to follow him?
I'm biased, and a Leafs fan, but I don't see that bright light on the Leafs.
That bright light might be in the system, but on the big team?