by Doran Libon
To paraphrase eminem, will the Toronto Mapleleafs please grow up. The deal between the Leafs and the Flyers broke down the other day so the Leafs go on television and radio and complain that the Flyers aren't co-operating and doing their job properly. I'm sorry, but I didn't realize it was Bob Clarke's job to make the Leafs a better team. Let's take a closer look at the situation here. Who's the struggling team here the Leafs, who can't seem to win or the Flyers who look like a real contender. Does Bob Clarke really have to make a deal here? The Flyers are playing well without Lindros or Leclair. Both Primeau and Recchi are carrying the load with help from the supporting cast. The Flyers are the surprise of the league, no one expected to do this well without Lindros never mind Leclair. The Flyers don't need to make this deal! Now, a look at the deal that was supposed to happen. The Flyers were going to get at best Nik Antropov, a young Russian, whom I like, but has never really put up the numbers. He is also injury prone, the only time I do hear about him is in trades or when he gets injured again. The second player in this deal was, in a best case scenario for the Flyers, Tomas Kaberle. Kaberle's good, everyone sees it. Having said that as a defenseman he's a liability. He makes poor decisions all the time, he doesn't know how to make the smart and simple play instead of the complicated one. The other option in this deal is Danny Markov, a defenseman who's no where near as talented as Kaberle but more physical. Oh yeah, I forgot the Flyers get a draft pick, which, if the Leafs make the playoffs is no big deal. Not even Doug Risebrough, the man who practically traded Doug Gilmour, in his prime, for Gary Leeman, would do this deal. Eric Lindros is not what he once was, but he's a lot better then what the Leafs are offering. Being the General Manager of an institution such as the Leafs does not mean other GMs give you special treatment. It does not give you the right to go on TV and complain every time some thing doesn't go your way. Will the Toronto Maple Leafs PLEASE grow up. I for one am tired of hearing them complain.
