I'd laugh if the Leafs and Habs are tied going into the last game of the season. Both teams' fans would be rooting for their bitter rivals.
Too funny. I can just see it. Hab fans chanting "Go Leafs Go"... Leaf fans chanting "Ole Ole Ole" to themselves. Gomez and Komi getting hat-tricks. We just need to make sure Deveraux doesn't come out of retirement.
I didn't think Carolina or Buffalo would be able to make up 3 games on the Leafs in 19 games, but anything is possible.
Definitely possible because of the amount of games we play against teams currently below us.
Sat Mar 3, 2012 - Toronto @ Montréal
Thu Mar 15, 2012 - Toronto @ Tampa Bay
Tue Mar 20, 2012 - NY Islanders @ Toronto
Tue Mar 27, 2012 - Carolina @ Toronto
Sat Mar 31, 2012 - Buffalo @ Toronto
Tue Apr 3, 2012 - Toronto @ Buffalo
Thu Apr 5, 2012 - Tampa Bay @ Toronto
Sat Apr 7, 2012 - Toronto @ Montréal
If Wilson stays then its a lock. If Gordon takes over they may go on a useless late season push again.
To be fair though that was a bad selection by Montreal when you look at the rest of the draft.
11 Jeff Carter (Centre)
13 Dustin Brown (Right Wing)
14 Brent Seabrook (Defence)
17 Zach Parise (Centre)
19 Ryan Getzlaf (Centre)
20 Brent Burns (Defence)
23 Ryan Kesler (Centre)
24 Mike Richards (Centre)
28 Corey Perry (Right Wing)
33 Loui Eriksson (Left Wing)
45 Patrice Bergeron (Centre)
49 Shea Weber (Defence)
62 David Backes (Right Wing)
True, that is 13 top notch players drafted in the 52 spots after the 10 top that year, though none were ranked as high as Kostystin going into that draft.
Once you get past the top few picks, you are pretty much crossing your fingers that your pick turns into a player like one of these guys. I'm sure Montreal had higher hopes for their #10 pick than St. Louis did for Backes at 62!'
Whats the chances the Leafs will find a Bergeron/Weber/Backes in the second round? Of course player development/coaching has as much to do with it as picking the right player does. Luck also has to play into it... just at Detroit with Zetterburg!
What was the original question? Oh yeah... .any confidence that the Leafs will not mess up their first round pick, and should they have taken the trades for first rounders and potentially tried to use them to move up to the first couple picks.
Since the lockout, this team has won when we needed to lose and lost when we needed to win. The only thing consistent about our play is our propensity to shoot ourselves in the foot.
I could see the Leafs falling as low as #6 in the draft. Based on that projection the draft could go something like this:
1. Yakupov - Columbus
2. Grigorenko/Galchenyuk - Montreal
3. Murray/Dumba - Edmonton
4. Murray/Dumba - New York
5. Grigorenko/Galchenyuk/Forsberg - Carolina
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6. Grigorenko/Galchenyuk/Forsberg - Toronto
I'd be ok with any of those three guys with personal preference leaning towards Galchenyuk. Problem is, if Anaheim or Buffalo finish below us it all but guarantees non of the big-3 forwards will be left for our pick.
Personally, I'm pretty sold on both Grigorenko and Galchenyuk, more so than Gaunce.
Galchenyuk looked real good in the OHL last year, too bad he missed this year with the knee injury, but he should be fully recovered soon. 6'2", is the kind of puck possession center we've needed for ages, can pass and score, good skater, high end skill set in general, what's not to like? If you're worried about the Russian factor, he was born in Milwaukee, grew up in a number of different places around the world (as his dad was a pro hockey player), and moved back to North America about 3 years ago specifically so he could play junior and major junior hockey here. I really don't think there should be any concern about him leaving to play in the KHL, he seems very focused on playing in the NHL.
Grigorenko looks very, very good too, great size, great vision, great shot, high skill level, very patient and can slow the game down. I don't think he's going to be nearly as dominant as Malkin, but he plays a similar style of game, but without Malkin's explosive speed (more of a Thornton/Getzlaf level skater). I doubt we have a shot at drafting Grigoreko, he should be a top 2-3 pick IMO, but I do think he's a pretty excellent prospect, just as I think Galchenyuk is a pretty damn good prospect too. No, they aren't Ovy/Malkin level prospects, but they could both be legit 1st line NHL centers in the future, and I'd be ecstatic to draft either one. Gaunce looks like more of a #2/#3 to me.
With that considered, I certainly wouldn't mind Galchenyuk, I like the fact he's worldly with different cultural influences and not just the Russian mindset. It would also help that he speaks good English, as does Nail, as well as Russian obviously. So his integration into the league should be helped by that.
What would we have to add to a 6/7 (just estimating that's where we land) to get them to move down??
Good question. I'm sure when the time comes around to it, Burke will be all over that. He seems to have a pretty good idea of every team's organizational depth (including their prospects), so if anyone can make it work, he could.
We may end up shipping Mac or one of the others who were rumoured to be worth a 1st rounder, and use the two first round picks, augment our pick with someone like Mikus (he'd need to get some NHL showcasing time) or even a Schenn. Some may say Mikus may not be worth all that much, but if he can show that he's NHL ready, and is reasonably reliable, it may raise his stakes.
If the Oilers and Isles were to take D-men, they won't do it with the 2nd and 3rd overall pick. They'll trade down, and take 2 defensemen in the top 15.
This for sure. Oilers will take Grigorenko if he is available. If we draft 3rd then it's Dumba/Murray. Would be shocked if we draft a D with one of the big 2 Russians on the board.
I would never have hoped for the Leafs not to make a playoff run, but it is obvious they are in a free fall
right now. I predict they finish with 76 points based on their schedule. unless something drastic happens to shake them out of this funk (like a coaching Change) they will likely keep playing brutal hockey.
Good question. I'm sure when the time comes around to it, Burke will be all over that. He seems to have a pretty good idea of every team's organizational depth (including their prospects), so if anyone can make it work, he could.
We may end up shipping Mac or one of the others who were rumoured to be worth a 1st rounder, and use the two first round picks, augment our pick with someone like Mikus (he'd need to get some NHL showcasing time) or even a Schenn. Some may say Mikus may not be worth all that much, but if he can show that he's NHL ready, and is reasonably reliable, it may raise his stakes.
I could see the Oilers asking for our 1st + Schenn.
After another disappointing loss, the likelihood of a top 5 pick becomes more and more realistic. If we lose to the Habs on Saturday, this could turn really ugly in a hurry. As much as I hate the Habs, they would pull within 5 points of us (possibly 3 if they win tonight agains the Wild), anybody else hoping for a Leaf loss on Saturday?
6th. looks very reasonable based on how they've been playing for about 3 weeks.
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Woodlief
using his big frame to create space and his skating ability to find open lanes to drive the net. He stands 6-3 and is a natural goal scorer with plenty of confidence.
He's a scout's dream in the way he prepares himself and plays an unselfish game, making smart decisions with the puck. With his bloodlines, he certainly understands what it will take to make it at the next level.
A top five pick would be just what the doctor ordered... Given the number of defensemen at the top of this draft, even a top 10 pick would be helpful. I doubt the Leafs would select a defenseman, and I can't see them being able to get one of Yakupov, Forsberg, Grigorenko, or Galchenyuk, so they'll have a chance to trade down a couple picks (if in the 5-10 range) and still have a chance to get the forward they want in the 10-15 range (Faksa, Collberg, Teravianen, Aberg).
Sadly, that 2nd tier of forwards are nothing more than organizational depth in the short term... There is no help there for next season. Actually, the forwards seem to be fairly uninspiring after the top 4.
Maybe they would use the pick on a defenseman...
A top five pick would be just what the doctor ordered... Given the number of defensemen at the top of this draft, even a top 10 pick would be helpful. I doubt the Leafs would select a defenseman, and I can't see them being able to get one of Yakupov, Forsberg, Grigorenko, or Galchenyuk, so they'll have a chance to trade down a couple picks (if in the 5-10 range) and still have a chance to get the forward they want in the 10-15 range (Faksa, Collberg, Teravianen, Aberg).
Sadly, that 2nd tier of forwards are nothing more than organizational depth in the short term... There is no help there for next season. Actually, the forwards seem to be fairly uninspiring after the top 4.
Maybe they would use the pick on a defenseman...
One of the top forwards could easily fall if this draft plays out like 2008.
Just select someone who can skate and has above average IQ.
Teuvo Teravainen: Scouts are raving about his performance at the recent U-18 Five Nations Cup in Pori Finland. Teravainen led the tournament with six goals and two assists in three games against strong competition, impressing scouts with his offensive capabilities and overall sense for the game. "He could be special," said one scout. "He plays off of his smarts. Good defensively. He could be the best player in the draft because of his smarts. He's got everything going for him except he's not very big."
