from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,

What the Maple Leafs are in the market for right now is leadership.

Internally, that trait was identified by top members of the organization as a glaring need following a meltdown finish to the year — the third in succession if you link Brian Burke’s “18-wheeler off a cliff” to the blown 4-1 lead with 12 minutes to play in Boston to losses in 12 of 14 games down the stretch this March and April.

There is no question that a little more internal guidance and fortitude could help. However, determining which players can actually bring that element to Toronto while also contributing on the ice is no easy matter.

It must be remembered that the notion of leadership doesn’t necessarily change addresses with a player. One of the reasons the Leafs went after David Clarkson so aggressively in free agency last summer is because he was thought to come with intangible qualities like character. There was no chance to even test that line of thinking during his disastrous first season here.

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