Ex-Leaf reveals biggest problem with current Maple Leafs

In what has become a cruel and seemingly annual tradition for fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, they had to once again watch their beloved squad fail to make a meaningful run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past spring. And as if that weren't difficult enough, their season ended yet again at the hands of the Boston Bruins, making it the 4th consecutive Game 7 loss to their division and Original 6 rival. 

Their latest playoff setback means that they've only won a single playoff series in the last 20 years, all the more frustrating for Leafs fans considering the talent that they have. But in the minds of one particular former Leafs defenseman, there's a specific reason why they continuously fall short. 

Former defenseman-turned-analyst Carlo Colaiacovo reacted to a recent fan polling in which Leafs management didn't receive anything higher than a "C" grade in a recent fan survey regarding their faith in their ability to draft and develop players, saying they haven't done enough to draft and develop quality defensemen. 

“The only thing that I do agree with on these rankings is their drafting and developing. They deserve a ‘C’ because, as I’ve stated all along – and this goes back to when Kyle Dubas was managing this team – when you put yourself in a position to build a salary structure with your team where you’re going to build around four forwards, and it is going to occupy a large percentage of your cap, almost half of your cap, how the heck, organizationally, you did not decide to draft and develop more stud defensemen is beyond me,” Colaiacovo explained.

The Leafs certainly aren't lacking in offensive talent and production, but it's their lack of "stud defenseman" that has led to their annual postseason demise in Colaiacovo's mind.

“That’s what has kept this organization back. Since Morgan Rielly, what defenseman has this team drafted and developed that has been a stud on defense?” Colaiacovo asked. "Justin Holl, (Rasmus) Sandin, (Timothy) Liljegren – that’s where the organizational failure has been with this team. You’ve built around four forwards, and you just continue to draft forwards to play with those guys.”

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