What's next for the Leafs?

As the losses pile up, the Toronto Maple Leafs' hot start is becoming a distant and fuzzy memory. Having gone 4-0 to start the season, optimism amongst Leaf fans was rapidly growing. Since then, the Leafs have come back down to earth, going 1-4-1 in their last six games. This is in large part due to a complete lack of offense, especially on the power play, where the Leafs converted 21 chances into only two goals in their last six games.

While their defensive play remains strong, the Leafs simply do not have enough scoring. Phil Kessel, the Leafs lone sniper, faces opposing teams top defenders every game and until the Leafs have more secondary scoring, keeping them off the scoreboard will be relatively easy.

So this past week when word came out that Burke had received a couple "solid" trade offers, nobody was surprised. This team needs more scoring, Burke knows this and rival GM's are circling the Leafs hoping that they make a panic move. There hasn't been much information on who these trade proposals include, but there has been speculation that the Leafs could be talking to a familiar trade partner in the Boston Bruins.

Here's a hypothetical look at who could be on the trade market that might interest the Leafs.

Blake Wheeler (Boston Bruins). Wheeler has some offensive upside, but has failed to produce on a consistent basis. Signed to an entry level contract by the Bruins in 2008, Wheeler was expected to provide secondary scoring. But so far this season, Wheeler has only tallied two points in eight games. Having scored 85 points in 171 career NHL games, Wheeler's point plateau seems to be around 40-45 points. At $2.2 million for this year, Wheeler's cap hit is large for his production, but he will become a free agent this summer.

Brad Richards (Dallas Stars). He's not going to the Leafs, but I do believe he will be traded this season, unless the Stars stay in the race for a playoff push. In the last year of a large contact that pays him a monstrous $7.8 million per season, Richards will once again head into unrestricted free agency as one of the NHL's best playmaking centremen. Also, Richards is off to another hot start with 14 points in ten games. There's no doubt that the Leafs would be better with Richards, but it remains to be seen if they have what the Stars would seek in return. Probably not.

David Backes name has been thrown around out on the trade rumor market, much to my surprise. I would definitely think the Leafs have interest in the young forward, but why would St. Louis let this guy go? He is up for a new contract this summer, and negotiations with the Blues have apparently been shelved, but I think the Blues get his name on a new contract. With five points in his first nine games this season, Backes is on pace for a 40-45 point season. In his career he has 72 goals and 161 points in 291 games, with 424 penalty minutes. The offensive potential and the toughness is something Burke would covet in this American bruiser. But, the Blues also see this.

The New Jersey Devils are also apparently interested in shoring up their defense. There have been rumors floating around that Burke and Lamoriello could be talking trade. But who would the Leafs get? Kovalchuk and Parise aren't going anywhere. Zajac? There's a small possibility, but probably not. Langenbrunner? Why would the Leafs do that?

All in all, what this tells us is that there aren't many big talented centres on the trade market. It's a hard commodity to come by, and the Leafs might be stuck with what they've got for now.