SI on the Leafs

(from SI.com)

Consider, for example, Toronto's situation. It's not often you can say that picking up two points hurts a club, but that's exactly the case with the Maple Leafs. Oh sure, everyone involved with the team had to be thrilled with the effort that led to the 5-3 win over Montreal on Tuesday night. But honestly, it was a one-step-forward-two-steps-back kind of victory.

With the win, the 10th-place Leafs moved within six points of the eighth-place Habs. And with 20 games to go, its not a stretch to call that striking distance.

But the reality is a little more bleak. Six points may not seem like much of an obstacle, but the Leafs' recent weak play (they were on a five-game skid prior to this win) and eight upcoming games against teams who are contending with them for the final spot, will make for tough sledding.

The smart thing for GM John Ferguson Jr. to do is move some desirable veterans -- Ed Belfour and Bryan McCabe -- and look to the future by acquiring prospects or solid picks for assets whose value is declining by the minute.

If they'd lost, the Leafs would have been 10 points back. But six -- six is too tantalizing, too close to raise the white flag now. As a result, the Leafs are likely to sit this one out. That means no deal of Belfour to Edmonton. McCabe is destined to test the market this summer after turning down a four-year, $16.5 million offer this week. It also means that the Leafs will miss a chance to advance the clock on their badly-needed youth movement. All because of two points.