Anyone who thought the Leafs had a chance for the cup needs to realize 1 thing:
It isn't going to happen.
I will tell you why: No incentive.
The management of the leafs will only shell out the big $$$ for the best players when they have incentive to.
How hard is it to get tickets to a regular season leafs game? Near impossible
How much merchandise is sold with the leafs logo? More than any other club.
Basically, as long as the ACC sells out every game, and they sell leafs merchandise hand over fist, they will never spend the money on the players they need to get the cup. Why would they? It would only be cutting into their bottom line. Sure, a cup would increase merchandise sales by some - but not nearly by the amount it would cost to pay the players they would need to get the cup.
So, all you leaf fans out there need to come to the realization that the Toronto Maple Leafs club (along with every other major sports club) is first and foremost a business. One that wants to make as much money as they can. If it doesn't make financial sense, they won't do it.
A Stanley Cup does not make financial sense for Toronto.