from Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post,

On the afternoon National Hockey League teams spent a half-billion dollars on free agents, the wealthiest franchise in the game opted to pick at the fringes, buying a 37-year-old recovering from a broken leg, and repatriating two wingers who have not scored 10 goals in a season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs still have new contracts to sign, more vacancies to fill, but their approach this off-season remains inscrutable. They missed the playoffs last year, but have angled neither for a rebuild nor a retooling. They have instead seemed to be tinkering.

They have made minor upgrades on defence. They have changed out goal-scorers for that sense of familiarity up front. It can feel a little like buying new floor mats when what the car really needs are new tires and a transmission to let it drive forward to give goaltender Jonathan Bernier a little peace and quiet every now and again.

“Let’s go with Step 1,” Leafs general manager Dave Nonis said Tuesday. “We’re at July 1, we’re trying to put together a group that has a chance to compete for the playoffs.”

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