**EDIT: Saw that Dirty Dion beat me to it, not sure if I have anything more...**
Wasn't that much to it.
- Talked about the emergency call-ups, whether it was done for a legit emergency or just to get the guys (Hamilton and Kadri) time with the big team, id est was it a forward injured or was it a defender. Duds was asked if it needed to be position for position or if you could call-up a defender for a forward. Duds said he didn't think you would want to do that.
- Was asked about Ron Wilson allegedly having a disconnect between himself and Luke Schenn, which may have been the reason for Luke's sturggles. Dudley said he didn't really have knowledge if that was the case but said RW was a good coach and a good friend and wished him well in his career.
- Talked about his experience in Tampa Bay and Chicago, how both organizations endured years of "We're never going to be a contender" attitude from fans and sometimes management, yet the GM in each case had a plan and stuck to it and they became legit contenders.
- Dudley feels the Leafs have a lot of pieces in place already, and that a jump to elite team isn't that far away. Said he thought that there could be a chance it happens next season. [IMO it was said as speculative and not starry-eyed homerism, more meant to indicate that the team doesn't have that much more to add to be a great team]
- Talked about the prospects in the system, specifically mentioned Colborne as a potential 1C or 2C big-bodied centre that a lot of teams will covet. Talked about Gardiner and his great hockey sense and danger sense, said Gardiner could eventually be a #1 or #2 defenceman.
- Was asked about how important prospects are in the cap world, since ELCs are so good at getting a young star under the cap. Dudley said that that was a small part of everything. He said that one of the good things about the Leafs is there is a smaller gap between the stars already on the team (Kessel, Lupul, Phaneuf) and the prospects that are developing. Said that when Gardiner is ready to be the NHLer he will become, guys like Phaneuf and Kessel will still be there and the team will grow together.
*I think that's most of it, may've missed a few things...*
No thanks for you. You were beat to it and then you add you might have missed a few things. What was the point?
My neighbour told me his kids are awesome at everything they do.
Sometimes people are not objective
You really expect a manager to say people suck? Throw players under
the bus?
The players he mentioned will do something in the NHL. I also believe
that there is a plan in place to make this team elite, with only a few
additions.
I wouln't call him a liar but it is pretty poor if he doesn't know whether a coach and players are having a disconnect in the dressing room. You would think the guys upstairs know what is going on downstairs. But maybe not, it might be just me that thinks that way.
You really expect a manager to say people suck? Throw players under
the bus?
The players he mentioned will do something in the NHL. I also believe
that there is a plan in place to make this team elite, with only a few
additions.
Didn't Wilson say we were only three pieces away? So not much has changed.
Management always makes everything sound better than it is, no matter if its Loblaws or the Leafs. We've heard this for 7 years and we haven't made an inch of progress. If all it takes is a guy to spout some BS about how good his players and prospects are when we never see any results. If this is all that's needed to have faith then its easy to see why we are always mediocre.
Why doesn't anyone ask the tough questions like "what happened to the no 5 year rebuild" "Why hasn't Burke made an inch of progress with this team" "What are they gonna do with the goaltending situation that isn't sit on the guys they already have"
Instead the Fan basically went up to Dudley and said: "give us your sales pitch". These guys can make a river of **** seem like a river of milk and honey.
Darkness Management always makes everything sound better than it is, no matter if its Loblaws or the Leafs. We've heard this for 7 years and we haven't made an inch of progress. If all it takes is a guy to spout some BS about how good his players and prospects are when we never see any results. If this is all that's needed to have faith then its easy to see why we are always mediocre.
Why doesn't anyone ask the tough questions like "what happened to the no 5 year rebuild" "Why hasn't Burke made an inch of progress with this team" "What are they gonna do with the goaltending situation that isn't sit on the guys they already have"
Instead the Fan basically went up to Dudley and said: "give us your sales pitch". These guys can make a river of **** seem like a river of milk and honey.
I guess Dudley is not the drone you are looking for.
Management always makes everything sound better than it is, no matter if its Loblaws or the Leafs. We've heard this for 7 years and we haven't made an inch of progress. If all it takes is a guy to spout some BS about how good his players and prospects are when we never see any results. If this is all that's needed to have faith then its easy to see why we are always mediocre.
Why doesn't anyone ask the tough questions like "what happened to the no 5 year rebuild" "Why hasn't Burke made an inch of progress with this team" "What are they gonna do with the goaltending situation that isn't sit on the guys they already have"
Instead the Fan basically went up to Dudley and said: "give us your sales pitch". These guys can make a river of **** seem like a river of milk and honey.
totally not true. the team he took over was all the talent they had and it was playing at about the highest level you could expect of them. the current team has so much more to look forward to with a lot of young players/prospects who are only going to improve.
You really expect a manager to say people suck? Throw players under
the bus?
The players he mentioned will do something in the NHL. I also believe
that there is a plan in place to make this team elite, with only a few
additions.
I just like people to be realistic.
The TS said this conversation made him feel better. My point is what dudley says in public is irrelevant. What do outsiders say about our prospects is more useful info.
And great, we are just a #1 centre, a #1 goalie, and a few more good forwards away from being good. No problem getting those things, right?
i watched a game on sportsnet last year just to see blacker and he surprised me so much. he took over the game and scored 2 goals. He would have the puck at the point and instead of just throwing it down low he skated it from the blue line down low and no one could get it off of him. He also hit a ton and will fight. kids going to be good.
Management always makes everything sound better than it is, no matter if its Loblaws or the Leafs. We've heard this for 7 years and we haven't made an inch of progress. If all it takes is a guy to spout some BS about how good his players and prospects are when we never see any results. If this is all that's needed to have faith then its easy to see why we are always mediocre.
Why doesn't anyone ask the tough questions like "what happened to the no 5 year rebuild" "Why hasn't Burke made an inch of progress with this team" "What are they gonna do with the goaltending situation that isn't sit on the guys they already have"
Instead the Fan basically went up to Dudley and said: "give us your sales pitch". These guys can make a river of **** seem like a river of milk and honey.
they have asked those questions and if u knew what was going on with this team u would realize they have made a lot of progress.... having a lot of talent with the marlies and still in junior.
Great interview and very positive, I think he is right.
I have to differ a bit with his take, on the Ron Wilson disconnect with some players, I believe it was time to change coaches, players are just like fans, they hate losing and when the system being used is not successful, they tend to tune out the coaching, thus a new coach and system may help, maybe not this year but next will be a lot better and I agree there are a lot of key pieces in place going forward.
We have a pretty decent Farm crop in the Marlies and some of the players will soon be with the Leafs and some good prospects in the system will replace them.
I also think that Burke has a plan and we are moving forward with it, at the first of the year we were in contention to be in the play-offs and then the wheels fell off and so we may be a few players away from contending but hopfully it will be soon.
Kadri
Colborne
Frattin
Ashton
Meuller
Biggs
Ross
Holzner
Blacker
Percy
Question marks:
Schenn
Reimer
Not much help at all in a rebuild:
Connolly
Lombardi
Armstrong
Steckel
Brown
Rosehill
Komisarik
Gustavson
Needs:
Star player at center, defence and goalie...
The last line says it all. Not easy to acquire and if any team in the NHL acquired those guys they'd be a a contender to. Leaf fans are always thinking this team is one star away from contending. That player never comes.
I think it was JE that said Blacker was subban-esque, and I think you can really see it when he plays IMO.
The marlies just do not activate defenceman alot, but I imagine that as he becomes more naturally inclined defensively then you will see his offense come out.
What I saw of blacker was his good speed, his puck pursuit (he is very tough on opposing forwards), and his passing. He could handle the puck too.
But it seemed like he was "focused" if that makes sense, on the defensive side of the game.
I wouln't call him a liar but it is pretty poor if he doesn't know whether a coach and players are having a disconnect in the dressing room. You would think the guys upstairs know what is going on downstairs. But maybe not, it might be just me that thinks that way.
He's not the GM, he doesn't need to know what's going on between coach and players. He just gives his opinion to Burke and they try to make things happen. From the sounds of it, it sounds like Dudley has only gone out for a beer with Wilson and that's it, lmao.
Management always makes everything sound better than it is, no matter if its Loblaws or the Leafs. We've heard this for 7 years and we haven't made an inch of progress. If all it takes is a guy to spout some BS about how good his players and prospects are when we never see any results. If this is all that's needed to have faith then its easy to see why we are always mediocre.
Why doesn't anyone ask the tough questions like "what happened to the no 5 year rebuild" "Why hasn't Burke made an inch of progress with this team" "What are they gonna do with the goaltending situation that isn't sit on the guys they already have"
Instead the Fan basically went up to Dudley and said: "give us your sales pitch". These guys can make a river of **** seem like a river of milk and honey.
I enjoy them too. Great interviews.
. Good interview.
