Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson would love to see his team end a franchise-record playoff drought next spring, but not at the sacrifice of the future.
As he prepares for his second season behind the Leafs bench, Wilson likes the changes general manager Brian Burke has made, but won't lose sight of the big picture.
"We would like to make the playoffs next year and we'll do our best to do that," Wilson said at Lakeshore Lions Arena after watching a group of Leafs prospects in action, including top draft pick Nazem Kadri.
"But for the next couple of years we are going to be spending a lot of time developing players.
"If we can make the playoffs doing that, I think that's going to be great.
"But if I'm going to have five, six rookies on the team again, I have to make sure they get better as hockey players."
