Why are many Leafs fans still after the big names?

Just in the last 15 minutes I spoke with a guy who wanted to sign Brad Richards and Jussi Jokinen this offseason, and another who wanted to make a blockbuster deal with the Rangers for Marian Gaborik. After two terrible years in a row, shouldn't the Leafs be avoiding big names and concentrating on youth?

Note: The Versteeg trade was a step in the right direction on their part.

Its not that u avoid Big name guys but u have to do it in a smart manner. What value would brining Marian Gaborik, a highly injuring prone player bring the Leafs. He needs good players around him and would not fit with the Leafs at all. Richards might be a better opition but again you dont want to bring in a guy like that unless u think adding him will really make the team get to the next level. I am with you at this point lets try and do it right, get some young players who are committed to playing in T.O. If we can move Grabo, Mac for young value or picks were very lucky because these players in the long run are 3rd line players max, and will be on good teams. This is why if teams have interest, and they prob do with the desperation out there. What do we need Grabo and Mac here for the rest of the season.

jokinen signed a 2 year deal so you don't need to worry about that one

I think people are interested in big names since they think Burke has no intention of just taking his time and holding onto picks. If he's going to add guys I'm sure people it was someone like Richards rather than another Lebda-like signing.

Personally fine with adding picks and just taking our time with who we get with them.

Its not that u avoid Big name guys but u have to do it in a smart manner. What value would brining Marian Gaborik, a highly injuring prone player bring the Leafs. He needs good players around him and would not fit with the Leafs at all. Richards might be a better opition but again you dont want to bring in a guy like that unless u think adding him will really make the team get to the next level. I am with you at this point lets try and do it right, get some young players who are committed to playing in T.O. If we can move Grabo, Mac for young value or picks were very lucky because these players in the long run are 3rd line players max, and will be on good teams. This is why if teams have interest, and they prob do with the desperation out there. What do we need Grabo and Mac here for the rest of the season.

Sorry, but I don't understand why you would want to trade Grabovski and MacArthur. This makes absolutely no sense to me. These guys are two-thirds of the Leafs most consistent scoring line this season and will undoubtedly be needed next season. If you trade these two, the Leafs won't even have a legitimate scoring line next season. Of course, MacArthur will need to be re-upped for next season (or longer), but it would most certainly be worth it to keep the Kulemin - Grabovski - MacArthur line intact going forward.

As for the "big name players", I think that too many Leaf fans have been brainwashed into believing that the team needs such players in the line-up to be successful on a regular basis; thus the frequent calls for players like Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, and the like.

What has having big name players done for the Leafs lately? Absolutely nothing as they are still in the basement of the league trying to fight their way out with no success. Maybe it's time Management stopped trying to acquire big name players and concentrated more on acquiring players not-so-well-known, but still have the heart and desire to play hard and for the team's overall success.

I agree with the OP. I hope we move in the direction of youth and a proper rebuild. I know it will be tough, but at least we have our 1st round pick for 2012.

The only problem I see with not signing the likes of Richard etc. is that if the Leafs have a huge opening in their cap space that is unused and they aren't doing well in the standings, the city will go up in flames. They have to be around max give or take a few million bucks. but not like 10 million under. And to spend that kind of money you'd have to sign a big ticket player.

Every year fans on this board look at the FA list and assume the best guys will be in Blue and White.

If thats not enough they come up with ridiculous trades involving good to very good players for our D level prospects or crappy players.

Happens over and over.

Just in the last 15 minutes I spoke with a guy who wanted to sign Brad Richards and Jussi Jokinen this offseason, and another who wanted to make a blockbuster deal with the Rangers for Marian Gaborik. After two terrible years in a row, shouldn't the Leafs be avoiding big names and concentrating on youth?

Note: The Versteeg trade was a step in the right direction on their part.

After years of crap UFA signing shouldn't the Leafs sign someone good for once (Richards). Burke wants to compete now not rebuild and adding a player like Richards (for no assets) would be a huge boost to our team. If we signed Richards we would be a top line LW, a Kaberle replacement, and a 1B goalie to play with Reimer from being a respectable team

Kessel - Richards - _______/Lupul
Kulemin - Grabovski - Lupul/MacArthur
Caputi/Mueller/MacArthur - Bozak - Armstrong
Brown - Hanson/Brent/Boyce - Orr/Sjostrom/Crabb

_______ - Schenn
Aulie - Phaneuf
Gunnarsson - Komisarek

Reimer
_______






Likely we won't get the chance to sign a game changer like Richards and will take a little more time but at worst we should look like this next year:

Kulemin - Grabovski - MacArthur
Kessel - Kadri - Lupul
Caputi/Mueller - Bozak - Armstrong
Brown - Hanson/Brent/Boyce - Orr/Sjostrom/Crabb

Aulie - Phaneuf
Gunnarsson - Schenn
Lebda - Komisarek

Reimer
Gus

Where is the barf emoticon, at least we would be adding a top 3 pick.

Big name players give fans something to hope for in the off season.Especially fans from teams that do not make the playoffs.

That's all their used too.

I agree. I wouldn't worry about the cap space if you have the extra room, just leave it for now. Other teams will eventually get into trouble and then just go with the flow and wait for the opportunity. This way, you don't have to pay too much if you trade for younger players who are improving and thus having a higher salary.

I think there will be bidding wars for guys like Richards of teams who have cap room so let the teams add to their cap room and wait it out. Also, the Leafs aren't contenders right now so making a big splash for high priced veterans doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It's a timing issue, unfortunately.

In the meantime, collect draft picks and prospects.

The other questions include who to consider (if you really have to go with UFAs) and who to draft. I think this decision should be based on what needs you have, health of the player, age/attitude and many other intangibles.

But, the other side is the amount of suspect players the Leafs have kept. I don't understand how you can keep guys like Lebda, Orr, and the other 3rd line or 4th line guys but you're trading top players away but not moving these more mediocre guys. The Leafs need to add talent not subtract it. Of course, if the new inclusions are high talent picks or prospects, that's a plus but this is a big question mark. Can the Leafs find the talent and make those decisions? The Kadri pick was not a promising answer and is cause for concern.

We will spend close to the cap, Richards or no Richards we will sign some guys to fill out that cap. I actually don't mind if we don't sign Richards, that's a signing you make imo when your ready to compete, not when your still building.

This team needs to build the proper way, hopefully we are on our way to do that now. And I don't give a **** who would be upset by doing that. If Kessel or anyone else cant deal with it, than they can GTFO too.

Been 7 years including now missing the playoffs... Who wouldn't be angry?

I have no idea why Leafs fans want star players on their team. They should want late 1st round picks in bad drafts instead.

Those are the names that people hear on sports radio.

Those are the names that people hear on sports radio.

This. Getting lesser known prospects and draft picks isn't sexy, but it builds teams.

I think it really depends on who you talk to.
Some Leaf fans want to slow, steady, proven method of collecting young aspects and draft picks, building through the draft.

Other fans want to make a run at high-priced UFA's or mid level UFA's to get us into the playoffs.

I miss the playoffs too. It kills me.
But that doesn't mean I don't wanna see this ship built the right way.
I think if he's there, we take a shot at Richards, and a significant one, because despite Kovalchuck last year, it's clear that guys of his calibre just about NEVER make it unrestricted.

And since we now have a full complement of picks this year (+some), and I believe all of our picks in a VERY promising draft next year, it should = two more years of drafting relatively high while still being competitive

I think that you take the best deal offered. The timing might suck, but good deals aren't often repeated. If somebody goes nuts and trades off his top center or whatever, you nab it!

I hope Burke scores large on the deadline rush. If he gets picks and prospects instead of superstars, it is still good. I wouldn't turn down a superstar, though. Even if he doesn't fit no how, he is a piece of the puzzle. Lots of pieces are needed if you want to do a big rebuild in the offseason.

If you're not a fan who watches every game, knows every the name and number of every player on the roster and analyses all the moves that the management makes (and knows their names) or you're a child or have a child-like optimism about the team then you might suggest Leafs sign guys like Richards who can get it done. And let's be honest, who wouldn't want to sign Richards?

To give you an example, last year it was Kovalchuk. After the trade to Devils a lot of people still hoped he'd sign here, despite that he was now on a contender which planned to sign him after the season. When Devils signed him but NHL didn't approve of the contract people STILL believed Leafs would sign him.

Most of the people who follow the NHL regularly know we're not going to get any big name guys, but even so, even some of those hope that their bottom-feeding team would get the big name guy and be in playoffs next season.

The problem is this is still status quo Leafs policy. Get a big name player. Notice that is singular. One or two stars won't do anything. So, spending big bucks so you can have another disgruntled star who eventually gets bored with the Leafs circus and maintenance of mediocrity is not going to get the team into any contending status any time soon.