TORONTO, Ontario - After flying back from a 10-day roadtrip earlier this week, I returned to a Maple Leafs organization with a new (interim) general manager and hope that a franchise is on the verge of an extreme makeover.

Despite arguments that the Leafs are a few points out of a playoff spot, this team is far from a winner. Toronto is in desperate need of a change or two… or several… and the addition of Cliff Fletcher should help kick-start the team’s rebuilding phase.

Everything begins with captain Mats Sundin.

The 36-year-old veteran is one of the league’s most dangerous players and if the Leafs ever got their hands on a legitimate first-line winger, Sundin would be a consistent 90-100 point player.

The problem is that the face of the franchise has a no-trade clause and genuinely wants to stay in Toronto. He’s built a home and family in this city and has grown to love it. However, trading Sundin to a Stanley Cup contender would command a high price, something the Leafs need to pursue.

Fletcher was responsible for bringing Sundin to Toronto, acquiring him from the Quebec Nordiques on June 28, 1994. Who better than Fletcher to ship him out of town?

There are a number of possibly destinations for the native of Sweden.

Detroit, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, Anaheim and San Jose have all expressed an interest in Sundin. Fletcher’s job is to obtain the best package for his star player, but Sundin holds his own fate. Whichever team he decides to accept a trade to, the Leafs should be very pleased with the return.

The likes of Jiri Hudler (Detroit), Antoine Vermette (Ottawa), Ryan Kesler (Vancouver), Bobby Ryan (Anaheim) and Patrick Marleau (San Jose) have been pinpointed as potential trade bait if Sundin is to be moved.

As Fletcher mulls over the offers that will — and already have — come across his desk, Sundin isn’t the only asset the Leafs have to trade.

According to reports, it’s believed management is shopping the likes of forwards Jason Blake, Nik Antropov, Darcy Tucker (no-trade clause) and Matt Stajan, defensemen Hal Gill and Pavel Kubina, and goalie Andrew Raycroft.

In order for the Leafs to turn their organization around, they are going to have to part with more than two of their current players.

Blake and Tucker have failed to produce goals this season, while Kubina’s talents aren’t being used to their potential with Tomas Kaberle and Bryan McCabe ahead of him on the depth chart.

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Nobody said it’s going to be easy. Fletcher will have to beg some of his counterparts into taking some of his players and their hefty salaries, but the franchise needs to take the time to rebuild. Get some youth. Pick up some solid draft picks (and hold on to them). Draft well and mold those prospects into solid NHLers.

The future of the Leafs’ organization has already been put into motion. The next few weeks will determine exactly how long it will take before they return to respectability.

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