Rebuild? Shmebuild.

Questions concerning who is in charge of personnel decisions for the Toronto Maple Leafs were decisively addressed yesterday. Forget the last couple of years – the player moves the team pulled off during that time had Pat Quinn’s fingerprints all over them. Yesterday’s actions marked the first time the Leafs had made any major moves without Quinn’s influence complicating matters.

And make no mistake – the real John Ferguson Junior era has begun.

In addressing Toronto’s defense as the biggest weakness of the team, Ferguson executed a major departure in strategy the Leafs have employed since Quinn was hired in 1998. Under the Big Irishman, “playing defense” meant allowing Curtis Joseph or Eddie Belfour see 35 shots per game and employing a player like Aki Berg as the team’s third defenseman, meaning traditional stay-at-home play was an afterthought at best. Toronto was routinely among the league leaders in shots allowed under Quinn.

Ferguson evidently read somewhere that “defense wins championships”, and so, opened the wallet for Pavel Kubina and Hal Gill in a big way.

Did Ferguson overpay? Does a bear – nevermind. Yeah, he overpaid, but show me any defenseman who signed for what a fan might call a “fair” price. Jay McKee – four million per season? Is Zdeno Chara worth more than Lidstrom? Yesterday's signings had everything to do with what teams wanted, and nothing to do with what a player is worth. But you know what, “worth” always means, “what someone is willing to pay,” so today, I suppose that means Kubina is worth five million per season. (No, I don’t really believe that. I’m just trying to rationalize all this. I haven’t looked up the numbers, but statistically, I doubt Kubina is in the top-15 in defense stats, but he’s right up there in salary. Oh well.)

The offseason isn’t over, so it’s impossible to rate Ferguson’s performance in revamping the Leafs just yet. All that matters right now is that:

1.) He targeted and landed two free agents that he wanted on the team, something that didn’t happen last summer
2.) Toronto’s defense is now the strongest it’s been in at least a decade
3.) Toronto’s defense now compares favourably with any team in its division

With less than one year remaining on Ferguson’s own contract, Leaf fans can be sure he is going to spend every dollar he can under the cap to make a winner in one season. He has absolutely nothing to lose. So with his coach, goaltender, and defense now taken care of, all that’s left are the forwards. Start flipping through the available players, and don’t be surprised if another name-brand acquisition is introduced in short order.

John Ferguson’s Plan:

1.) Buy everybody
2.) Win the Cup in one season
3.) Become a Toronto legend
4.) Pick up more hair gel