from Daneil Goffenberg of Sportsnet,

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was on Dean Blundell and Company Friday on Sportsnet 590 The Fan and spoke about how management must be quietly happy with how things have gone in 2015-16, despite their lacklustre record.

“It’s funny, Daren Millard last night in the pre-game with Nick (Kypreos) and I were talking about how has this season been for the Maple Leafs, and honestly, I think it’s been a perfect season for them,” said Friedman. “And by perfect it means, they’re going to finish probably 30th.”

“What else has happened? Their American Hockey League team has been fantastic – they’re probably the Calder Cup favourites heading into the playoffs – all of their good young prospects have gotten a chance to play in the National Hockey League with the exception of (Mitch) Marner, you look at some of their veteran players, (Morgan) Rielly’s taken a huge step this year, he looks like he’s a real stud on the blue-line and you feel a lot better about some of their other guys than you did at this time last year….

“I think as an organization even though you could finish dead last, you feel a lot better about yourself.”

The cloud of negativity that surrounded the Leafs last season appears to have been lifted as fans buy in to the management’s long-term vision.

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