News Article: The Hockey News: Maple Leafs with work to do

[smoke meat pete*]

Originally Posted by Mess

Colin Wilson (selected #7 overall in 2008) and Ryan Ellis (selected #11 overall in 2009) were 2 former high 1st round picks.

Chiarelli took advantage of an impatient and desperate GM trying to turn his team around quickly, and extracted what ended up being a 2nd overall in 2010, and 9th overall in 2011, and a 2nd round pick #32 overall and now looks like a genius for his decision.

Burke refused to trade Kaberle + 7th overall (Kadri) but was willing to give up much more instead in future uncertain picks. A gamble that failed to improve the Leafs in the present as they sunk to 2nd last overall and resulted in much higher picks than anticipated by the Leafs GM in actual cost. 3 years later with Kessel in their midst and leading the team in scoring the Leafs are still mired today at the bottom of the league standings, and in draft lottery bottom 5 position. Had Leafs given up the 1st in 2012 draft to Boston they would have selected 5th overall.

Yes, great but that doesn't answer the question. In the words of the poster named ULF55 "I guess that's par for the course."

[RogerRoeper*]

Originally Posted by Mess

Bruins GM Pete Chiarelli in his own words.



You're right Nashville was the other team seriously interested in Kessel, however as Chiarelli points out Toronto was the only team willing to make a firm offer an pay Kessel the money he wanted. Which leaves most teams out of the bidding for his services.

When Rick Nash wanted out Teams were lining up to acquire him and it was Nash that submitted a short list of only the teams he would go to because of his NTC. But the demand was high even from Teams like Toronto, but were excluded from his list.

Just to point out, Nash ended up bringing back far less in a trade than anyone thought he would. Remember how the Toronto media told us the starting offer for Nash would have to be Kadri's, Gardiner, Lupul and their top 5 pick?

[ULF_55]

Originally Posted by 4evaBlue

And this is what I keep saying about Grabo, as well. Our supposed best two way defender commits more defensive mistakes than anyone on his line.

The point is, you mentioned the Leafs being 2nd worst for giveaways in the league, and I was merely pointing out that that's not necessarily the case. It really depends on how statisticians across the league record them for their teams, and just the fact that the Leafs committed 2x the giveaways on home ice than away should be a warning bell about the biases.

I also believe they inflate the hits stats, and half of Schenn's rubbing people out along the boards were counted as hits. Guess we'll see at the end of next season if Schenn is still among the hit leaders for defensemen.

Yes, but remember they are 8th. worst at giveaways on the road as well. So even if the statistian at home is tough, they aren't good away from home.