Mailing it in, redux.

Did anyone watch the game against New Jersey?

Are you trying to burn off your retinas?

I turned it off after 3-0. It wasn't that I didn't have faith that they could pull it back, as they've done already several times this season. It was more like, mailing it in is typically boring -- a 1-0 final score in the dying moments and nobody cares. In this case, it was one team lying down on the ice and crying while the other said, "umm, okay -- thanks for improving our standing in the league."

At any rate, it was another outing for some and a couple of Leafs got more points which will help them when it comes to negotiating with the tough Brian Burke in the off season. I was driving to work for a night shift when I heard a radio commentary team talking about the players the senior team had called up since December.

Joey Crabb, Darryl Boyce, James Reimer. Opposing teams wouldn't have been shaking in their skate-boots at the sight of those three names on the roster report before a game. The fact is that all three of them represent exactly what Brian Burke is trying to bring into this team: truculence, effort, efficiency.

The players shipped out this season have one damning blot on their resume: the Leafs didn't get worse when they left. All of Kaberle, Beauchemin and Versteeg were sent to contenders before the trade deadline and while they brought with them a wealth of experience and talent, they didn't fit in to the new system at the Leafs and were sure bets to leave in the off season, if not earlier.

This gives more credence to the likes of Keith Aulie and Matt Lashoff who have both gained big-league experience since the departure of Kaberle and Beauchemin. In fact, Aulie has stepped in where Kaberle left and contributed two goals, playing an average of 19 minutes a game.

John Mitchell will get a few lines here, solely because he was a part of the team until he was traded to the New York Rangers for depth. He didn't make a huge contribution to the Leafs and has been ably replaced since.

So who makes next season's roster? Here's the squad I can pencil in with some certainty:

Nobody. It's all up in the air. I can tell you one thing though, those who rose above expectations could expect to see either a) a nice pay raise, or b) an exit sign to a cup contender that wants them badly.

Does Bozak have another level? I'm going to say no. Last year: 27 points in 32 games. This year, 32 points in 81 games. Ouch. A career high in points and games, meaning he didnt up his level at any point during the season. The goal he scored against an inept Devils defense on a two man advantage during the last game was really nice, especially his finish against the hall-of-fame Brodeur. At the end of the day, it's too little too late.

So that's just about that. The Leafs play out the rest of their schedule and it should be fun to watch because I have a feeling that Kadri will get more time and more of a 'carte blanche' to be creative. I'd like to see what this kid is capable of because from the brief second cameo he's shown everyone that he's got a sweet pair of hands.

Until next time, when I finish my playoff preview and take a look a the Western Conference (I have delayed doing so because it was such a muddy picture), let's all enjoy the last games and the nice weather. And take in some baseball, if you can. The Jays are actually quite good.