I don't have to explain to anyone that things are bad. A 14-game skid of 2-11-1 will put most teams' playoff hopes in jeopardy, let alone our fragile, bubble playoff team. Oh, and, of course, as James Mirtle points out, the injury to Joffrey Lupul doesn't bode well for Leafs' fans hopes of going on a hot run. Add to that the injuries to Colby Armstrong (or, really, in his case, subtract a negative number), Mike Brown, and Cody Franson, and things look grim.

Godd Till's "demilitarized zone" theory notwithstanding, the silver lining in all this is that the Leafs may get a decent player out of what is rumoured (and here, I place a lot of emphasis on 'rumoured') to be a deep draft.

As of this moment, the Leafs would theoretically draft seventh overall - the spot where they picked up Nazem Kadri - so some very talented young players could still be available, albeit a few years away. Always nice to have a few prospects in the system, though.

Jump for more links.

Leafs Links:

Randy Carlyle says it’s the ‘little things’ that kill the Maple Leafs
Does 'goaltending' count as a 'little thing'? Sean Lahey has the story.

Game In 10: Game 67, Leafs at Pens
Mislav Jantoljak with his thoughts on the game at MLHS.

The Kessel-Carlyle collision course is a brewing...
Michael Langlois sees Phil Kessel as a potential target for Randy Carlyle to make an example.

Leafs fall to Pens after blowing two-goal lead
Sigh. Will Graves with his take via the Associated Press at the Globe.

Maple Leafs Optimus Reimer Makes Major Transformation
Kevin Woodley at InGoal Magazine has a couple shots of Reimer's new mask.

Other Hockey Links:

Canadian anthem botched
Well, that's embarrassing for you. Video from theScore.

The Whiteboard
Justin Bourne explains how a D-to-D switch can make a reverse breakout easier.

Backhand Shelf Podcast
Better than most sports radio. Why not have some hockey on in the background while you're at work today? Oh, and Ellen Etchingham is on this time around. Interesting writer.

What Will Yzerman's 2014 Team Canada Look Like?
One point of Dirty Dangle's that I agree with is that Steve Yzerman has every fantasy pooly's dream job.

Mario Lemieux immortalized in Pittsburgh with ‘Le Magnifique’ statue
What, you haven't heard about this? From Sean Leahy at PD.

From The Branches