Are We Buyers or Sellers?

With pending unrestricted free agency and restricted free agency for a lot of this edition of the Maple Leafs, you have to wonder whether Brian Burke is going to be a buyer or seller in the latter portion of the season.

While the Leafs have shown some good signs that they’re coming together as a team, there seems to be no one out there who thinks we’re a legitimate Stanley Cup contender at this momnt.

Which makes you wonder if Burke is more interested in the rebuild aspect of his job, or the success driven aspect. Because, although keeping this squad together would put us in better standing to make a playoff drive, cashing in on a few pending UFAs could serve the team’s long term cause.

Certainly, making the playoffs would be a worthwhile experience for a lot of the young players on this roster. And tanking our way to the bottom of the standings isn’t going to look very good on Burke himself, if the first round pick we gave Boston turns out to be an elite player.

Nonetheless, is it really worth keeping guys like Stajan and Stempniak around if there emerges a market for them come the March trade deadline? Some big returns come from teams which are pressing to make a playoff drive.

Then again, there’s always the start of the offseason to deal with pending UFAs and RFAs.

If I’m a betting man, Burke sticks with the squad through to April, and then decides who’s in and who’s out.

We’re probably going to be neither buyer nor seller this March, but the offseason could be quite busy for Burke and Co.

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