"We'll make the playoffs and compete for the Stanley Cup," Maple Leafs head coach Paul Maurice proclaimed before the season began. But things didn’t go as planned, and Toronto failed to make the playoffs for a third straight season. Here’s a recap of the season that was in Toronto...

After failing to miss the playoffs last season by one point, the 2007-08 Maple Leafs were supposed to be an improved team that would reach the postseason. But the Maple Leafs finished 12th in the Eastern Conference, and some turmoil surrounded the team as well.

As the trade deadline approached and the Maple Leafs started falling out of contention, speculation began to grow as to whether or not Mats Sundin would be traded. Sundin was asked by interim general manager Cliff Fletcher to waive his no-trade clause; Sundin declined. The Maple Leafs also attempted to trade away veterans Bryan McCabe, Pavel Kubina, Tomas Kaberle, and Andrew Raycroft, but no-trade clauses and lucrative contracts prevented the consummation of any deals of consequence.

Fans in Toronto knew trouble was brewing when the organization fired general manger John Ferguson, Jr. on January 22. Head coach Paul Maurice survived the rest of the season, but he too would get the ax after the season ended. Maurice was fired on May 8 after only two seasons behind the bench. The Maple Leafs also fired assistant Randy Ladouceur and offered Dallas Eakins a position somewhere else within the organization.

The problem with the Maple Leafs this season was finding consistent scoring from its key players. Sundin had another good season, but he was the only player even close to averaging a point per game. Sundin finished the season with 32 goals, 46 assists, and 78 points in 74 games. He led the team in scoring and had 22 more points than Nik Antropov who finished second on the team in scoring.

Jason Blake, signed in the offseason to a 5-year, $20 million dollar contract, failed to live up to expectations. After scoring 40 goals in 2006-07, the Maple Leafs were hoping for more of the same from Blake. Blake only managed 15 goals and 52 points on the season despite suffering from a rare form of Leukemia.

Toronto was supposed to have a good defensive team, but with aging over-paid defensemen, the Maple Leafs struggled on defense. Toronto allowed 267 goals on the season which was the third most in the Eastern Conference. Toronto’s defensemen are more offensive minded and at times lack defensive ability. Only five players finished with a plus-minus rating on the plus side.

They were never really able to get any winning streaks going throughout the season. The longest winning streak on the season was four games and that happened only once. Toronto did finish with a 36-35-11 record, but had they been able to capitalize in overtime and the shootout, the Maple Leafs might have been able to make the playoffs.

Vesa Toskala was shaky to begin the season which allowed Andrew Raycroft to get some starts, but eventually Toskala regained his form and drew the majority of the starts. Toskala finished the season at 36-25-9 with a 2.74 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. Raycroft only appeared in 19 games after serving as the teams’ number one goalie last season.

So heading into the offseason is going to be tricky for the Maple Leafs. They don’t have a full-time general manager and they don’t have a head coach. Several high-priced players they would like to get rid of are still under contract for next season; only Mats Sundin is a free agent. Unless they can make some moves, the Maple Leafs will be looking at the same roster next season and potentially miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season; which won’t sit well with Leafs Nation.