Some of you may have noticed a new addition in the top of the left sidebar. SBN has rolled out the Fan Confidence Poll across the network. The purpose of the poll is to gauge how fans feel about the direction of the team. The rationale for voting is probably diverse but I think that during the regular season it makes sense to have it mirror those polls that ask if you're pleased with the direction of the country. Except in this case it would be the direction of the team towards its goal of making the playoffs.

We've had it running for three weeks and I think the results are pretty much in line with what you'd expect from Leaf fans. Three weeks ago it was at 64, it was 68 two weeks ago, and in the last round of voting the FCP ended up at 66. I've voted 50 each week because I think that there is still a lot of question marks with the team. The idea behind the FCP is that it will help chart the highs and lows of the season and I think that will work best with a defined question: How likely are the Leafs to make the playoffs?

During the season we'll check in on the FCP and look at what events have affected the rating. Hopefully, we'll be tracking the wins that are sending the FCP soaring.