Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson is one of the nicest players you’ll meet. He’s humble, polite and always willing to talk to the media, even after not playing well. Unfortunately for the 27-year-old Swede, more often than not, he hasn’t given his teammates the netminding they need.

In a season where a playoff berth is as important as it’s ever been for the Brian Burke regime, Toronto simply can’t afford to keep trotting him out there and hoping for the best. At some point, somebody has to say, ‘no more, Mr. Nice Guy’ and look in another direction.

If that time isn’t right now, it’s got to be extremely close.

It isn’t as if Gustavsson hasn’t been given ample opportunity to prove he belongs in the NHL. He arrived here in 2009 as a highly-heralded, undrafted prospect, one many teams were jockeying to sign with all their might. He played 42 times in his rookie year, posting unimpressive numbers (including a 16-15-9 record, 2.87 goals-against average and .902 save percentage).

Granted, he didn’t have even an average team in front of him as the Leafs rebuilt their roster. As well, he was dealing with personal tragedies and health challenges: he lost both his parents within a four-year period and was diagnosed at the start of Leafs training camp with a heart condition that required surgery.

So when his sophomore year began in 2010-11, Gustavsson was in need of an answer-back season that never came. His heart problem returned and needed additional surgery, his stats got worse (6-13-2, 3.29 GAA, .890 save percentage) and James Reimer leap-frogged him in the depth chart and stole the starter’s job.

Given that fact, there were a few eyebrows raised when Burke & Co. decided to go with a relatively-unproven tandem of Reimer and Gustavsson this year. Those brows then furrowed when Reimer was injured and Gustavsson again showed a propensity for allowing at least one soft goal per game.

It isn’t just Gustavsson’s flat showing against Florida (including an .857 save percentage in a 5-1 loss) that leads to the conclusion his time might be up. He hasn’t been solid all season. And in the final year of his current contract, he’s giving the Leafs no reason to make him central to their current and future plans.

No more, Mr. Nice Guy. Toronto likes you, but not enough to keep losing with you.