If we start 5-0 the parade route is planned, if we start 2-3, blow it up? Wait for an adequate sample. If the goalies continue to struggle after 15/20 games, I'm confident management will address it. It's not as if this team was a surefire playoff team anyways. Just stop making these threads, or make one giant one for children to vent after a loss.
To me the biggest problem with the leafs is mentally, the skill is there we've seen them go up against tough teams and win and lose against soft ones. The leafs came out swinging in the 1/2 of the Islanders game but the minute they got a 3-1 lead the entire team got cocky they felt "oh hey we got a solid lead against a crappy team, lets just put it in idle the rest of the way", problem is when YOU are a bottom feeding team of the league since 04' you simply cannot afford to snub your nose at the opposition. Tonight against the rangers there was NO preperation, these guys came in and got two measly shots throughout the opening period, I'm sorry there is just zilp excuse for that, but in their advantage leafs did a good job of playing solid defensive hockey. It fell apart (again) when they got the 2-0 lead and like the previous game cockiness set in, their biggest undoing that game was not knowing how big/bad the rangers was, the leafs let their guard down and the rangers steam-rolled them for the rest of the game.
A 2-3-0 start isn't horrible, granted its not great either. The problem is this team as a WHOLE just isnt one thats going anywhere anytime soon, so yea its time to tear it down and rebuild. I would keep a few pieces such as Kessel/Gardiner/Lupul/Kadri/Komorow and bring in the players with the RIGHT attidude to win.
Yeah I don't think the Leafs are as terrible as Columbus or NYI.
I think the Flames will be better than the Leafs simply because they have relatively stable goaltending.
We're pretty much headed toward a top 5 pick barring a miracle, which is deflating because I really had high hopes for the season but with Lupul gone for an extended time and this team being unable to defend their leads, it's not going to get any easier.
It's already tough to win in the NHL, losing when you take the lead and take the crowd out of it is an absolute back breaker.
Wake up, the leafs are as bad as the islanders.
FYI, we only finished 1 point ahead of them last year.
Ahead of them 2 years ago and behind them 3 years ago.
They are us, a young team that just does not have enough core pieces yet and nothing of note in net.
1 key difference, their star is a dedicated player and a #1 C.
MacKinnon is the best player in this draft and yes, he's Canadian. If we are picking 5th-7th monahan would be a great pick but top 3 pick I would take MacKinnon or Drouin even though he is not a centre. Drouin will be a 50 goal scorer IMHO. I wouldn't pass on Drouin just to get a centre.
not much to blow up ........kessel is as good as gone ,grabo is grabo .....kulemin wel lcould be nice piece on a good club ,phaneuf will want a raise OUCH !!!,jvr looks useful and give kadri and frattin a chance to show they belong .....burke hiring carlyle actually stunted this teams chance to grow the youngsters ,hes another one who may never work again if u bomb in toronto ,sad but true ,we missed the boat on some good young gm's and now we are paying the price .....id let nonis finish out his contract .but only extending him if he has the balls to rid some of burkes mess ....if not get rid of him asap
this team isnt going to just wake up and be a top 16 roster ....just doesnt happen
If we start 5-0 the parade route is planned, if we start 2-3, blow it up? Wait for an adequate sample. If the goalies continue to struggle after 15/20 games, I'm confident management will address it. It's not as if this team was a surefire playoff team anyways. Just stop making these threads, or make one giant one for children to vent after a loss.
Reimer was fine last night. He made huge safes, the tip in goal how can he save that? He kept the Leafs in the game, don't blame Reimer because we couldn't score more than 2 goals against NYR
This team does not to be torn down. It has a good young core of talented players that would comprise an excellent supporting cast on a contending team.
As others have mentioned, what we are sorely lacking is a handful of top end players including a legitimate #1 centre, #1 goaltender, and #1 defenceman.
If Nonis ditches the dead weight on the roster and adds those key pieces to our existing nucleus, this team will become a perennial playoff contender.
We could have attracted a few if we tossed some Ilya Kovalchuk-type contracts around. Unfortunately for all of us, this team and it's fans think we're the Phoenix Coyotes.
You think Brad Richards would turn that much money down?
1. Trade Kessel to Minny for Coyle ( big #2C prospect ready now and has the tools we need as a big nasty centre ) + Dumba ( a premier physical D prospect ) + 1st 2013
Minny does this because there close and Kessel might make them the Fav...
2. Kulemen to Pittsburg for Beau Bennett
3. Phaneuf to Washington for Forsberg & 1st
4. McCarthur for 2nd
Draft
we will be top 5 and get our # 1 C & package 2 firsts to get another top 10 pick to get another winger like Kessel
The leafs are the second youngest team in the NHL, have tons of cap space opening up and very few players under long term deals. There is nothing that needs "blowing up" here.
Leafs need to hold steady and tank this year with the players they have. Maybe shed a player or two at the deadline, and buyout komi. Thats it. Not a blow up situation like the caps need.
Minnesota wouldnt move Dumba, Coyle, AND a 1st. That package is worth more than two 1sts and a 2nd withholding hindsight/what prospects Boston actually got out of the deal.
We could maybe get Dumba + Coyle, but even that I think they would be hesitent.
It doesnt need a full blow up IMO. A full blow up implies trading the majority of Kessel, Phaneuf, Grabovski, Kulemin, Lupul, JVR, Gunnarson, etc.
Personally I think we should be sellers at the deadline, aka MacArthur, Steckel, and maybe Bozak should go out the door. And if the right deal came around, trade Kessel. I think his value could be used to upgrade the major holes on the roster. Then you'd add a top prospect from this upcoming draft, and hopefully another late 1st.
I think if that happened, we could have a well balanced young team with a top prospect pool (what we have + top prospect from this draft + two extra late 1st/2nd round prospects).
Minnesota had cash calls this fall to cover the signing bonuses for Parise/Suter. They aren't adding a 7 year, 7.5-8 million per Phil Kessel+ the expenses of signing their good prospects. No chance. The "He's from Minnesota so they'll sign him" argument is lazy.
1. Trade Kessel to Minny for Coyle ( big #2C prospect ready now and has the tools we need as a big nasty centre ) + Dumba ( a premier physical D prospect ) + 1st 2013
Minny does this because there close and Kessel might make them the Fav...
2. Kulemen to Pittsburg for Beau Bennett
3. Phaneuf to Washington for Forsberg & 1st
4. McCarthur for 2nd
Draft
we will be top 5 and get our # 1 C & package 2 firsts to get another top 10 pick to get another winger like Kessel
Rebuilding for the Leaf fan base has begun. Council is meeting on a new arena project in Markham. It's the only way Leaf fans will ever be freed from the constant disappointments of MLSE.
