TORONTO , ONT – Disappointment, failure, hope for the future, one out of three ain’t bad is it? Ok maybe if you are a new franchise building for the future but not if you are the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs achieved consistency this week failing to make the post-season for a franchise record five straight seasons but it’s ok, they are building for the future! The one thing on every Leafs fan’s mind is when will this dream future team arrive? Granted the Leafs are heading in the right direction but while everyone does it at a rate sustainable to the fans the Leafs travel at a snail’s pace leaving the fans with the same end of season words; the prospects are shining and the future looks bright and look forward to next season while you enjoy the summer and watch playoff hockey from the distance of failure. If the Leafs had made the playoff push they attempted earlier in the season, then all would be rosy in Leafs nation. The outstanding play of James Reimer in net, the leadership of Dion Phaneuf the sublime play of Nazim Kadri when called upon from the Marlies gives some light at the end of the 2010-11 tunnel. No doubt the playoff push from 14 points behind is great but why was there a 14-point gap in the first place, answer, inconsistency. You don’t make the playoffs playing half a season. 
January 1 2011 changed the 2010-11 season for the Leafs, enter the glimmer of hope in a season already looking over, standout rookie James Reimer. Without the shot stopping of Reimer the Leafs season would’ve been finished in January. But the 6’2″ Manitoba native literally stood on his head to bring hope to Leaf fans but it was not enough to see the Leafs reach the playoffs since 2003-04 season. Hats off to the Leafs, for pushing the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers all the way for the last postseason spot. But if consistency was key for Brian Burke and the Leafs, then playoff hockey would be a regular occurrence not a wild chase with inevitable failure but count your blessings as we keep being told, the future looks bright ! Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com
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