Just listening to Leaf Talk, Andy and another caller were discussing what the best decision that Leaf management has made this season and I'm curious what you guys think that would be.
Or maybe letting Gardiner make the team. I, for one, wanted him to be sent down to get experience on the Marlies at the beginning of the year. Glad he didn't.
Even as one of the bigger Ron Wilson haters on this board, I'm going with not trading our 1st round pick. It will be a lottery pick and we may finally be able to draft a legit franchise player.
Or maybe letting Gardiner make the team. I, for one, wanted him to be sent down to get experience on the Marlies at the beginning of the year. Glad he didn't.
Unfortunately, Dougie Hamilton is still a very good prospect.
He may very well be, but guys like RNH/Landeskog/Huberdeau/Larsson are a bit above him.
I've seen him play and there is a lot of firepower on that Ice Dogs team so his point total aren't exactly surprising.
Also, Bruins aren't very good at developing defenseman at all recently. Their last "developed" defenseman has been Hal Gill.
We were headed straight to bottom 3 if Reimer didn't play like he did.
I hope we suck now. We absolutely need to get a good pick and I am just hoping Burke isn't dumb enough to trade that pick. Toronto seems allergic to draft picks.
Nothing else has the most potential & long-term effects:
-RW could've been fired in the offseason and the end result would be the same (give or take one or two draft slots at the most)
-Grabovski's contract extension was important but the 1st has more potential, especially now that they're trying to out-tank the Raps
-the hope is that the 1st will yield a better player than Gardiner
I don't know if there is a coach in the league that could do anything without a #1 centreman, goalie and stable defense. I wanted Wilson gone as much as the next guy, but there's more problems than just the coach.
I was glad to see Wilson go, but I would have preferred if Wilson was let go in the summer instead. Also, i would have preferred if Dallas Eakins comes up with the big club. It would be a good transition move over the summer after the Marlies Calder Cup run. (Not saying Carlyle is a bad coach)
Not trading our first rounder was nice, but we have no idea how that will turn out.
In effect, i'll have to go with Jake Gardiner. Over the course of the season, he has really developed his game. He has become an offensive force on the defence for the Leafs. He makes good defensive plays, which greatly eclipses his defensive wtf moments. Also, his ability to make a first pass, skate/put the puck into the offensive zone is much needed on the team.
For me not panic buying at trade deadline and retaining our 1st rnd draft pick was the best decision
Coaching change a close 2nd, change of style in Carlyle's three games and uptake in competitiveness has already proved a change was needed
Worst decision - risk we took on having two rookie's in Reimer and Gus as our goalie tandum this has obviously backfired in a big way
2nd worst decision - run and gun style we have played all season our defence looks brutal I actually think we are much better core than we are showing but confidence appears to be at it's lowest point
Honourable mention - scratching two assistant Captain's, still not got my head around how/why they kept the 'A's when returned to the team, tells me something is wrong in the dressing room leading up to Wilson's dismissal
