While the Leafs, for the reason, rank 11th in the NHL in goals-per-game, they lack a proven goal scorer outside of Mats Sundin and (for now) Darcy Tucker, who has notched 17 goals, 12 of which have come on the powerplay.
Forwards Jeff O'Neill, Alexei Ponikarovsky and Alexander Steen were all expected to step up and produce strong offensive numbers this season, but have struggled. O'Neill and Ponikarovsky have just eight goals a piece in 31 games, while Steen has only lit the lamp once (nightmarish sophomore jinx?).
The Leafs have failed to capitalize on giveaways and are missing opportunities to sway momentum in their favor.
There's no doubting the fact the members of the team are frustrated. Last week, after giving up five unanswered goals in the third period and losing 5-2 to the Atlanta Thrashers, the Leafs were visibly upset during the post-game media scrum and it looks like their emotions are factoring in to their on-ice performance.
"Right now we're a fragile group," Sundin told The Canadian Press. "We're not scoring and not creating enough chances. We're taking penalties and doing all the things that make you lose hockey games."
Ferguson has acknowledged the possibility of change, hinting that it could even come in the form of a call-up from their American Hockey League affiliate – which is just down the street.
The Toronto Star suggested the Leafs could go with Erik Westrum, who has nine goals and 16 assists to lead the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
Whether he can jolt the Leafs out of their slump is a mystery, especially since he's not yet been called-up. Nevertheless, until the Leafs can get their hands on an experienced offensive weapon, their woes will continue.
There was talk last month that the Leafs and Coyotes were discussing a deal involving one of Shane Doan or Ladislav Nagy, who is on the block. Those rumors quickly died down after the Leafs shipped Mikael Tellqvist to Phoenix, but the two teams have apparently reopened discussions.
The Leafs would ideally like to get their hands on a scoring winger, and Nagy would certainly look good playing alongside Sundin. The 27-year-old left-wing, who is on pace for 66 points this year, is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July and sources claim his days in Arizona are coming to an end.
Should Ferguson complete any more trades this season, he'll have the salary cap to worry about. The Leafs are inches from hitting the $44 million limit and Nagy, for example, makes $3 million this year.
If the team is in the playoff picture come the end of February, they could pick up a solid winger and the hit against the cap won't be as hard.
For now, the Leafs are stuck with what they've got. Unless someone, other than Sundin and Tucker, decides to step up, the club will find it difficult to win hockey games on a consistent basis.
