The Long Sad Autumn of The Toronto Maple Leafs

Lord Stanley of Preston. yes THE 'Lord Stanley'

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team of legend, but with the last championship over forty years ago, and with the team being humbled with a string of seasons of being deemed unfit and unworthy of the playoffs, that legend perhaps fades.
Still, hope springs eternal and so clad in our Tucker 16s , our Clark 17s and our  Inacak 18's (bet you forgot him!) and we wear our blue and white hearts on our sleeves in the hopes that 'next year' at long last will become this year.
Now it seems the Leafs have on the heels of picking 5th in the draft pulled off what looks like it could be a major trade, with Luke Schenn making way for James Van Riemsdyk.  
Time will tell if this was the right trade for the Leafs, as indeed they perhaps have a duty to strive to be better.
The question is this an act of 'customer service' an appeasement of both customer and shareholder or is it an act for hockey?  
Having the right players is important, but I think it is about more that.  I think it is about even more than desire and 'drive'.  It is heart, but not one found in a slogan to chant.  
I used to watch every game I possibly could. Last year I might have watched half a game.  
I am fine with Hockey being good business, but business seems to make bad hockey.  

Maybe one day the Leafs (as an organization) will get it and regain their hockey karma.  

There is always hope I suppose..  I'll be busy with other things...

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