’Tis the season for statements of intent.

Remember this time last year? Almost exactly a year ago two trades shook the hockey world, deals that set the table for three franchises.

First Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren dealt sniper Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Jakub Voracek, a first-round pick in the draft a few days later and a third-rounder. That same day Holmgren swapped captain Mike Richards to Los Angeles for youngsters Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds plus a second round selection.

Each team was making a statement about their perceived future.

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Philly, while picking up Schenn, Simmonds and Voracek plus three picks, was looking to reset their team, get younger and clear cap room to sign goalie Ilya Bryzgalov a few days later.

In Columbus, getting Carter was a statement they were getting serious about both moving up the standings and making it clear to winger Rick Nash that there was reason to stay in Ohio. The Kings finally were looking to make a big leap forward after years of gathering assets through the draft.

Well a year later, it’s clear the champagne-soaked Kings ended up following through on their statement of intent most effectively, agreed?

Holmgren must squirmed a bit in Philly watching Richards and Carter lift the Stanley Cup while Bryzgalov went bust. In Columbus, GM Scott Howson no longer has Carter laying the groundwork to trade Nash and probably has next season to prove he’s up to the job.

Intent doesn’t always reap results.

Now with the Cup having been awarded and the draft set for next Friday in Pittsburgh, any number of teams are looking to send a strong message to the industry and their fans about the direction in which they are headed.

Expensive accomplished players like Patrick Kane, Nash, Jay Bouwmeester and Roberto Luongo are possibly available for trade. Ryan Suter and Zach Parise appear set to leave Nashville and New Jersey respectively as free agents. Teams are getting set to make moves lockout or no lockout ahead.

Which brings us to the Maple Leafs.

It’s an intriguing time for GM Brian Burke and his staff as they contemplate the future. The expectation among many is that Burke is plotting aggressive ways of making sure the Leafs don’t miss post-season play again next season eyeing a veteran goaltender (Luongo?) in search of quality veterans to bolster Dion Phaneuf and the leadership group in the Toronto dressing room and searching for ways to get the No. 1 pick in next week’s draft.

To do some, or all, of those things, Burke would have to prepared to sacrifice some, or many, of the young pieces that were either part of the Leaf organization when he arrived or that he himself has put in place.

Luke Schenn’s name is permanently attached to the rumour mill. Lots of teams would like Jake Gardiner. Nazem Kadri and his development have become a constant topic of debate.

Burke could move ’em all in an attempt to get help now and the chance to draft Nail Yakupov if the Leaf GM was so inclined.

But that makes little sense.

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Before they made their move, the Kings spent eight years drafting players including nine picks in the top 15 of their draft years while compiling a treasure trove of young talent that either graduated to their team or was used to land other players.

Burke’s only had three drafts and one top 15 pick (Kadri). In the four drafts before Burke arrived the Leafs had two top 15 picks (Schenn and Jiri Tlusty).

There’s just not enough there yet even with some promising players with the Marlies to start aggressively thinking short-term like the Kings.

The likeliest scenario then is for something in between:

• A play for Luongo that might cost one good prospect.

• A mid-range NHL free agent.

• An aggressive bid for unsigned Anaheim blueline prospect Justin Schultz.

• No deal for Nash who may have scratched Toronto from his list of preferred destinations anyway.

• No move up from No. 5 in the draft and therefore ending up with a blue-chip youngster who will be back in junior or Europe next season.

The message? Staying the course no short-term fixes or at least none involving players who can only help for one or two years. Luongo, maybe, because he’s a long-term solution in the crease.

It would be a statement that the Leafs aren’t yet in the prospect-rich position L.A. was last summer but also that they believe enough in what they have put in place — Phaneuf as captain, Phil Kessel as the centrepiece up front — that a goaltending upgrade would make everything look better.

Is the steady-as-she-goes keep adding prospects message what some people want to hear? Burke can’t worry about that. Once he does he might as well buy another Harley and ride off into the sunset.