This is literally the first time I have ever felt so ashamed by the Maple Leafs. At least in the past we were just a team with a bunch of holes, lacking talent. This year we have no real ****ing excuse. We were in a playoff position after 50+games, we have 2 players in the top 10 in scoring, a defenseman in top 10 among defenseman..etc We were the controllers of our own destiny, and we dropped the ball here -- I mean we really ****ing blew our chance. How do we lose against Florida, one of our main competitors for the playoffs, three god damn times this season.
This team has let me down this season.. I really hope we shed some of the dead weight that has been blocking our promising young guys by the start of next season. I don't really fault Burke in terms of roster moves but keeping Wilson around has been the stupidest decision of his life. Not acquiring a bottom 6 player to displace Crabb, and not waiving Lombardi are also some of his questionable decisions as well.
Trust me I feel your pain. It hurts me every time we lose. But at this point we can still make a run and make the playoffs. I think we will be better off as a team if this happens as opposed to missing the playoffs again and getting a non Top 3 pick.
Are we stinking the bed right now? Most certainly. Is there a chance we will continue to play this pathetic and drop further? Most certainly. Is there a chance we will turn it around, win 5 of 7 games and suddenly be right in the mix of things? Most certainly.
So considering the question is Top 5 or playoffs, I'm gonna pick playoffs. I am going to cheer and hope for the team I love to turn it around. To heck with hoping we lose just so we can pick a few spots higher, especially when there are no guarantees that picking higher will accomplish anything.
The Wilson scenario does throw a wrench in things tho, I understand that. But it is not in my psyche to hope we lose. It's a loser mentality which is something I just don't have in me.
I'm going to stick with the winner thought process that I have my entire life, cuz even though it doesn't always pan out, in the long run it's better.
Say we finish 2nd last and completely tank.. Do you think Burke would draft Grigorenko or maybe use that pick and try to get a #1 Center somehow like Getzlaf or Staal
I can't see Burke drafting a Russian unless it's Yakupov, there's already issues with Grigo's intensity and dedication. There's also the injury with Galchenyuk, also don't know that Burke would pick him. I think he'd go with Murray, or even Forsberg who seems to have some grit to his game, over those two. Remember he didn't go for Filatov when he had the chance.
Say we finish 2nd last and completely tank.. Do you think Burke would draft Grigorenko or maybe use that pick and try to get a #1 Center somehow like Getzlaf or Staal
For once I'd like to see the Leafs keep their top picks and see how that goes.
Staal overpaid, Getzlaf UFA in one year and it would take a LOT more than just a 1st to get any of those guys.
I can't see Burke drafting a Russian unless it's Yakupov, there's already issues with Grigo's intensity and dedication. There's also the injury with Galchenyuk, also don't know that Burke would pick him. I think he'd go with Murray, or even Forsberg who seems to have some grit to his game, over those two. Remember he didn't go for Filatov when he had the chance.
Galchenyuk is more AMERICAN than he is Russian. In fact if he wasn't injured he would have surely played for Team USA.
He's born in America...and has played here. There is zero "russian" factor in Galchenyuk.
Galchenyuk is more AMERICAN than he is Russian. In fact if he wasn't injured he would have surely played for Team USA.
He's born in America...and has played here. There is zero "russian" factor in Galchenyuk.
Hey man, I'm not being xenophobic, I'm just stating some perceived issues with Burke's philosophies. I personally wouldn't select Murray or Forsberg ahead of Galchenyuk.
This is the correct answer. 6th place should have been our goal, a matchup against Caps, Jets or Panthers would be great. Once that slipped away, I hated the thoughts of a Boston or Rangers matchup. I just hope Oilers stay behind Habs for a couple reasons. 1. Habs don't get Yakapuv and 2. Oilers would probably trade down and we do have a shot at 4th overall. 4th overall, 2nd round, 3rd round, Schenn, Komi, and any of our goalie prospects for 2nd overall.? Lupul - Yakapuv - Kessel makes me drool Holzer can replace Schenn
Trust me I feel your pain. It hurts me every time we lose. But at this point we can still make a run and make the playoffs. I think we will be better off as a team if this happens as opposed to missing the playoffs again and getting a non Top 3 pick.
Are we stinking the bed right now? Most certainly. Is there a chance we will continue to play this pathetic and drop further? Most certainly. Is there a chance we will turn it around, win 5 of 7 games and suddenly be right in the mix of things? Most certainly.
So considering the question is Top 5 or playoffs, I'm gonna pick playoffs. I am going to cheer and hope for the team I love to turn it around. To heck with hoping we lose just so we can pick a few spots higher, especially when there are no guarantees that picking higher will accomplish anything.
The Wilson scenario does throw a wrench in things tho, I understand that. But it is not in my psyche to hope we lose. It's a loser mentality which is something I just don't have in me.
I'm going to stick with the winner thought process that I have my entire life, cuz even though it doesn't always pan out, in the long run it's better.
There are no gimmes in the draft.
+1
I cannot cheer for a tank. Just can't.
And the draft is a big crapshoot - no guarantees at all.
I think some playoff hockey is just what the city, the team, the fans need. 8 years of losing is killing people's morale. Even if we make a quick exit, the team will learn and benefit from the experience. Who knows, once you get in, anything can happen. In golf, they say a short putt can never go in. Same thing here - if we don't get into the postseason, we're guaranteed not to win anything...
Just look back at the Habs two years ago. A huge late-season run in March (that's tomorrow btw!) and they squeak into the playoffs on the last day. Then they take down the Caps, and then the Pens, when both were at the top of their games.
And the draft is a big crapshoot - no guarantees at all.
I think some playoff hockey is just what the city, the team, the fans need. 8 years of losing is killing people's morale. Even if we make a quick exit, the team will learn and benefit from the experience. Who knows, once you get in, anything can happen. In golf, they say a short putt can never go in. Same thing here - if we don't get into the postseason, we're guaranteed not to win anything...
Just look back at the Habs two years ago. A huge late-season run in March (that's tomorrow btw!) and they squeak into the playoffs on the last day. Then they take down the Caps, and then the Pens, when both were at the top of their games.
Get into the post season, and then Go Leafs Go.
Yea I'm in my 40's so maybe I'm a bit Old School but this whole mind-set of hoping to lose just so we move up in a draft where nothing is guaranteed, where the guy we might take at say, the 14th overall pick might end up better than the guy we take at say, the 5th overall pick is just not something I believe in.
To me it says a lot when ppull would rather cheer for their team to lose when there is no concrete guarantee of gaining anything out of it. Backwards and negative thinking. Oh well, it takes all kinds for the world to go round.
And the draft is a big crapshoot - no guarantees at all.
I think some playoff hockey is just what the city, the team, the fans need. 8 years of losing is killing people's morale. Even if we make a quick exit, the team will learn and benefit from the experience. Who knows, once you get in, anything can happen. In golf, they say a short putt can never go in. Same thing here - if we don't get into the postseason, we're guaranteed not to win anything...
Just look back at the Habs two years ago. A huge late-season run in March (that's tomorrow btw!) and they squeak into the playoffs on the last day. Then they take down the Caps, and then the Pens, when both were at the top of their games.
Get into the post season, and then Go Leafs Go.
No offense, but it's fans with this POV that allow mediocrity to stifle progress and who fill the ACC nightly to watch garbage like the last 10 home games
No offense, but it's fans with this POV that allow mediocrity to stifle progress and who fill the ACC nightly to watch garbage like the last 10 home games
Exactly
This is why we always end up with a mediocore picks when we could've gotten better players ie:Tavares/Duchene in 2009's Draft or Stamkos/Doughty in 2008's draft
Imagine we had Tavares & Stamkos...
Last edited by ThreeHundred: 02-29-2012 at 01:18 PM.
At least it doesn't sound like you're dissuaded. I still think I'm gonna go old school and cheer for my team to win. Call me crazy if you want.
btw - don't mean you in particular just quoted this post
and when we finished 9th then what? the chances of us getting a good pick decrease, Burke keeps wilson for the great stretch he provided near the end and the cycle continues. Top 5 pick with wilson gone is killing 2 birds with one stone. Or killing one turd and getting a nice pick in one season
Last edited by philer Bozel: 02-29-2012 at 04:35 PM.
Holzer can replace Schenn
