What is the biggest difference between the Leafs and Senators:
- superior coaching
- superior scouting and development
- good stable ownership
- superior management
- realistic fans
- different cultures (Leafs have a culture of losing 40 years in the making)
What ever it is, Sens fans must get on their hands and knees every mornng and thank God they don't cheer for that horror show called the Leafs.
While every team goes into each season with high expectations, the expectations on the Leafs are much higher, particularly due to the size of the fanbase and the media scrutiny.
At least since the JFJ era, the Leafs have constantly been in a "win now" mentality. JFJ burned through prospects and draft picks to load the team with veteran players. It didn't work out and he left the team basically in tatters with the cupboards completely bare.
Cliff Fletcher tried to right the ship, but his hands were tied because the team had very few attractive assets with which he could make moves. He will probably be most remembered for Fingering the Leafs, but he actually did do some decent moves to create as much of a blank slate for Burke as he possibly could.
Enter the Burke era. Burke came in with all the ego, bluster and gusto that we expected, and in my opinion, this has partially clouded his judgment. He inherited an Anaheim team that was very solidly built, and was able to acquire the final pieces for a Stanley Cup winning team. I think he came to Toronto expecting something similar, which was evident by his constant blabbering about not believing in rebuilds and that it would be a quick turnaround for the Leafs.
His desire to win now, coupled with unreasonable expectations from the fans and the media, has resulted in Burke trying to force the issue rather than following a more traditional rebuild. The Kessel trade has to hurt, regardless of how many points he puts up. The Komisarek signing hurts. He did pull off a masterful trade landing Gardiner and Lupul for Beauchemin, but no one expected Lupul to be as productive as he has been, and I doubt he will match this pace ever again.
Ultimately, the Leafs decisions reflect a very short term approach to building the team, which is somewhat untested, and is proving to be unsuccessful. There's no guarantee that a full rebuild works either (Isles, Blue Jackets, Oilers all suck after YEARS of rebuilding), but there are plenty of success stories too.
The Leafs really need to just look in the mirror, accept that they need some crutial pieces (#1 C, #1 D, #1 goalie), and work towards acquiring those, preferably through teh draft and trades for prospects so their core pieces can grow together.
I think the big difference is the Sens have transitioned better from success to rebuild, whereas the Leafs held on too long and were never able to move players for value.
But the biggest difference the last few years has been drafting and player development.
But let's not get too carried away. A few weeks ago I took a look at the stats and whereas we're thinking the Sens are having this great year and the Leafs are struggling again, the difference between the teams was ten points, and ten more goals for the Sens. Something like that at 65ish games. Over 65 games, ten goals. And that makes all the difference.
Kinda reminds me of the difference between a .300 hitter and a .250 hitter... a blooper every second Tuesday over the course of a season.
While every team goes into each season with high expectations, the expectations on the Leafs are much higher, particularly due to the size of the fanbase and the media scrutiny.
At least since the JFJ era, the Leafs have constantly been in a "win now" mentality. JFJ burned through prospects and draft picks to load the team with veteran players. It didn't work out and he left the team basically in tatters with the cupboards completely bare.
Cliff Fletcher tried to right the ship, but his hands were tied because the team had very few attractive assets with which he could make moves. He will probably be most remembered for Fingering the Leafs, but he actually did do some decent moves to create as much of a blank slate for Burke as he possibly could.
Enter the Burke era. Burke came in with all the ego, bluster and gusto that we expected, and in my opinion, this has partially clouded his judgment. He inherited an Anaheim team that was very solidly built, and was able to acquire the final pieces for a Stanley Cup winning team. I think he came to Toronto expecting something similar, which was evident by his constant blabbering about not believing in rebuilds and that it would be a quick turnaround for the Leafs.
His desire to win now, coupled with unreasonable expectations from the fans and the media, has resulted in Burke trying to force the issue rather than following a more traditional rebuild. The Kessel trade has to hurt, regardless of how many points he puts up. The Komisarek signing hurts. He did pull off a masterful trade landing Gardiner and Lupul for Beauchemin, but no one expected Lupul to be as productive as he has been, and I doubt he will match this pace ever again.
Ultimately, the Leafs decisions reflect a very short term approach to building the team, which is somewhat untested, and is proving to be unsuccessful. There's no guarantee that a full rebuild works either (Isles, Blue Jackets, Oilers all suck after YEARS of rebuilding), but there are plenty of success stories too.
The Leafs really need to just look in the mirror, accept that they need some crutial pieces (#1 C, #1 D, #1 goalie), and work towards acquiring those, preferably through teh draft and trades for prospects so their core pieces can grow together.
It's funny because Seguin, Hamilton and Rask would have been an amazing core to have right now...too bad the reigning cup champs have all of them.
While every team goes into each season with high expectations, the expectations on the Leafs are much higher, particularly due to the size of the fanbase and the media scrutiny.
At least since the JFJ era, the Leafs have constantly been in a "win now" mentality. JFJ burned through prospects and draft picks to load the team with veteran players. It didn't work out and he left the team basically in tatters with the cupboards completely bare.
Cliff Fletcher tried to right the ship, but his hands were tied because the team had very few attractive assets with which he could make moves. He will probably be most remembered for Fingering the Leafs, but he actually did do some decent moves to create as much of a blank slate for Burke as he possibly could.
Enter the Burke era. Burke came in with all the ego, bluster and gusto that we expected, and in my opinion, this has partially clouded his judgment. He inherited an Anaheim team that was very solidly built, and was able to acquire the final pieces for a Stanley Cup winning team. I think he came to Toronto expecting something similar, which was evident by his constant blabbering about not believing in rebuilds and that it would be a quick turnaround for the Leafs.
His desire to win now, coupled with unreasonable expectations from the fans and the media, has resulted in Burke trying to force the issue rather than following a more traditional rebuild. The Kessel trade has to hurt, regardless of how many points he puts up. The Komisarek signing hurts. He did pull off a masterful trade landing Gardiner and Lupul for Beauchemin, but no one expected Lupul to be as productive as he has been, and I doubt he will match this pace ever again.
Ultimately, the Leafs decisions reflect a very short term approach to building the team, which is somewhat untested, and is proving to be unsuccessful. There's no guarantee that a full rebuild works either (Isles, Blue Jackets, Oilers all suck after YEARS of rebuilding), but there are plenty of success stories too.
The Leafs really need to just look in the mirror, accept that they need some crutial pieces (#1 C, #1 D, #1 goalie), and work towards acquiring those, preferably through teh draft and trades for prospects so their core pieces can grow together.
You know what's going on. Makes you wonder how idiots like Burke get jobs like that in the first place. He clearly has no idea what he's doing.
just an observation, but the fact that the Leafs are owned by a corporation and always make money, there is less incentive, or at least less urgency to succeed. Most teams, including Ottawa, are owned by successful businessmen who own the team as an expensive hobby, and these teams are pressed to break even financially. So there is a combo of owner ego and passion, and a lot more incentive to make money (ie make the playoffs and go as far as they can). So it is top down throughout the organization.
The biggest difference IMO is the scouting department & managment ability to analyse player potential & help develop that potential. The Sens have been great in these areas as we have seen so many of their prospects after being drafted do so well in their respective leagues. Also having these guest coaches & nutritionists & all the other things this organization does to improve their players at all levels & in every way. Winning the Calder Cup last yr also legitamized their player development & organizational strengths.
Not only do you need the parent team to excel but you need to have organizational depth to feed the parent team from your farm team & you need good prospects to keep adding to the stock pile of prospects to feed your farm team. Murray has at least two or three new players graduating every yr to Ottawa & two or three good prospects heading to Bingo every yr. Good drafting & good development are the keys to building a successful franchise & to keep it going yr after yr. Congrats again to the Murrays for doing such a great job for this organization.
The biggest difference is there isn't any pressure here. Toronto is a hockey hotbed where everything is hyperanalyzed so they can't actually take their time with rebuild. The media here is old players and friends of management and neighbours of players so there is never going to be any criticism or anyone put on the hot seat.
On the player side, we have better legacy assets than they had in Spezza, Alfredsson and so on...which made this a lot easier for us. They have some nice young pieces though, but don't know how well they can move forward with the hot button nature of their media and fanbase.
The biggest difference is there isn't any pressure here. Toronto is a hockey hotbed where everything is hyperanalyzed so they can't actually take their time with rebuild. The media here is old players and friends of management and neighbours of players so there is never going to be any criticism or anyone put on the hot seat.
On the player side, we have better legacy assets than they had in Spezza, Alfredsson and so on...which made this a lot easier for us. They have some nice young pieces though, but don't know how well they can move forward with the hot button nature of their media and fanbase.
Well Brennan and Garrioch can definitely throw players under the bus.
Also, the Leafs pretty much always sell out no matter what the product on the ice is. That should take pressure off, not put it on. Some teams have to become competitive more quickly than they should just to keep the team above water. The Leafs don't. And if a GM shapes his team purely to avoid criticism by the media says then he doesn't have the mental toughness to be a GM, IMO.
Plus the Habs get everything hyper-analyzed as well and they've made the playoffs a few times and even finished first in the conference since the lock-out.
So, yeah. I don't actually really know what the difference is between the Leafs and the Sens since I don't follow the Leafs or watch them enough to have a good idea, but I know that the big difference this season from last season for the Sens is the coaching staff playing to the strengths of the players. I don't agree with people who think that Karlsson and Spezza necessarily make a team a playoff team since they didn't last year (although there was injuries and inexperience partly to blame). They're working with a coaching staff that gets the best out of them, unlike last year.
