Toronto Maple Leafs are 10-8 in revolutionary 2011

Readers of the Original Joe College blog have likely noticed that Leafs coverage has been pre-empted in recent weeks by the revolutionary events in Tunisia and Egypt. The Maple Leafs started the year with a bang, then went into an all-too-familiar swoon, and have now begun their perennial last minute dash for the playoffs.

Overall, 2011 has been a big improvement for the Toronto Maple Leafs. After going 6-7 in January, they are now 4-1 in February, boosting their 2011 record to 10 wins against 8 losses. Their youth, size and strength are becoming more apparent as the season wears on, and their lack of experience is diminishing as they get used to playing with each other. Still, the team should not try to add at the trade deadline, but rather move two or three veteran assets to deepen the youth core.

Giguere deserves to be playing with a contender come Stanley Cup playoff time, and as it's his contract year there will be an offer that he and Burke will not be able to refuse. One can only hope that Jonas G shines in the minors, and earns his place beside Reimer in the bigs after Jiggy goes.

Other candidates for trade that can bolster the youth movement include Komisarek, Sjostrom, Lebda, and to a lesser extent (because I'd like the Buds to keep them both), Tomas Kaberle and Francois Beauchemin.