After last night, the Leafs now find themselves on their worst losing streak of the season and going into the tail end of a back-to-back against a rested, and quick Oilers squad. Those four straight losses may soon become five. Things aren't so hot in Leafs Nation at the moment.

Prior to this losing streak, speculation was that Brian Burke wouldn't be very active at the trade deadline. Now though, he has no choice but to be. As Noah Love from the National Post wrote on Twitter last night:

Burke has assets. Team is in a complete funk. Have to think this is his now or never moment.

And Noah is absolutely right. This team is full of the supposedly hot commodity that is the puck moving defenseman, it's got 2nd/3rd line veteran players coming out of its ass, and it's got glaring holes in net and on the blue line for a true defensive defenseman. For all the talk of Rick Nash, Jeff Carter, and Ryan Getzlaf, none of these players are going to win a game in which the Leafs give up 4+ goals. As mf37 pointed out, we'll simply lose 5-3 instead of 5-1. So I implore you, Brian Burke, to forget about unicorns and instead focus on shutdown defensemen and league average goaltenders.

Links after the links.

Leafs Links

Just Say No to Rick Nash

Jeffler gets it.

The Pros and Cons of Pursuing Rick Nash

I said no unicorns.

What is the Most You Would Give Up to Bring in a Premier Talent (like Nash) to the Leafs

I said no Rick Nash.

Game Recaps

MLHS Game in 10

Fighting for Stanley

Globe and Mail

Scoring chances via Leafs Nation

Other Links

Take the Quiz: Should You Waive Your NTC?

DGB with a handy dandy guide for would be tradees.

From The Branches