Niether team has done much to brag about since 1970:

Leafs Canucks
GP 3549 3551
Wins 1487 1486
Losses 1590 1557
Ties 345 391
OT 127 117
- Tumbleweed

All your missing is 3 Cup Finals n some exciting teams.

If the Nucks were hard-pressed for cap-space that might change your tune. For example, these would not be good contracts on the Hawks, they can't afford to pay someone like Dorsett or Sbisa that much when they can get a replacement for much cheaper.

But the Nucks aren't in the same position as the Hawks, so it's not that big of a deal. I think the person who brought it up was mostly just using it to show that it's not like Benning has some kind of stellar record for contracts. Imo, I wouldn't refer to it as a strength or weakness of Bennings, just kinda average.
- RonPielep

Just a quick fix with terms that will end at good times along with the remaining aging core.

I like what the leafs management is doing much more than the Canucks ...I don't think I'm alone in this thought process
- Redmile247

Agreed. Although anything the Leafs can change makes them better. For them to shed the contracts they did makes Lou look genius. I'm happy for them but their situation was much different than ours. That being said, the Flames are much better off than all canadian teams currently imo and the Oilers continue to deny their problems in the management department. I like what the Canucks are doing because I am a long time fan but I feel as though the direction they are heading will take a few years to settle. Clear as mud currently.

All your missing is 3 Cup Finals n some exciting teams.
- Nighthawk

playoffs
leafs / nucks
gp 150 / 184
w 72 / 85
l 78 / 99

sure you guys had a few closer runs they we did ... but both teams are losers.

leafs vs. canucks history since 1970 is kinda like arguing what's better to have:


gonorrhea or syphilis

If it's not fixed over night then why the quick fixes ...why not rebuild proper ?
- Redmile247

Cuz a rebuild was not in order.
1st up was restocking prospects which we had hardly any of.
2nd was age gap after previous regimes traded out so many picks.
After our vets there was a huge gap.
We prolly r at a quantity issue now looking for quality to step up.
Not having many high picks takes a lil time to recover from.
The Flames D is envious for many teams n they keep on going as they
r n they look good if a goalie can be found.
The Leafs need Top 4 D n this year they need to get 1-2.
We need a stud D man but none r out there n only can draft one.
Every team needs a minute munching Doughty or Weber.

playoffs
leafs / nucks
gp 150 / 184
w 72 / 85
l 78 / 99

sure you guys had a few closer runs they we did ... but both teams are losers.

leafs vs. canucks history since 1970 is kinda like arguing what's better to have:


gonorrhea or syphilis
- Tumbleweed

There is nothing comparable to the Leafs since the 70's.

Agreed. Although anything the Leafs can change makes them better. For them to shed the contracts they did makes Lou look genius. I'm happy for them but their situation was much different than ours. That being said, the Flames are much better off than all canadian teams currently imo and the Oilers continue to deny their problems in the management department. I like what the Canucks are doing because I am a long time fan but I feel as though the direction they are heading will take a few years to settle. Clear as mud currently.
- WhatTheNuck

I think the jets are looking a lot better than ppl think as well but yes I do like the direction of the flames ...the Canucks have a few nice pieces but it won't be until they arrive and show they are NHL calibre that you can really see what they have ...keep drafting and hope to hit a couple home runs

There is nothing comparable to the Leafs since the 70's.
- Nighthawk

uuuhhh... except the nucks record is nearly identical

I think the jets are looking a lot better than ppl think as well but yes I do like the direction of the flames ...the Canucks have a few nice pieces but it won't be until they arrive and show they are NHL calibre that you can really see what they have ...keep drafting and hope to hit a couple home runs
- Redmile247

Jets r loaded in propects n talent but in an ultra tough division.
Flames r going in the right direction for sure.
Having that D corp is a leg up. Get a goalie now.
The Pacific division will be very improved next year.
In yes the Canucks future has the age gap to overcome n will
be all about the prospects proving they belong n keep drafting.
Very similar to where the Flames r at but in different ways.

Leafs have some real good youngins...

Reilly is a gem
Nylander/Marner smallish but very dynamic
JVR is a keeper
Kadri needs a lil more maturity but i like him

Gardiner should get traded. Idk if he'll get it n play D.
Could fetch a nice return to the right team.
Eg Hawks for Pokka +

Focus should be on drafting very good D prospects.
Eg if top 3 lotto is it BPA or trade down pick D?
12 picks affords a lot of maneuvring n 2-3D in the 1st 4 picks
this draft would be awesome.

Jets r loaded in propects n talent but in an ultra tough division.
Flames r going in the right direction for sure.
Having that D corp is a leg up. Get a goalie now.
The Pacific division will be very improved next year.
In yes the Canucks future has the age gap to overcome n will
be all about the prospects proving they belong n keep drafting.
Very similar to where the Flames r at but in different ways.
- Nighthawk

I think the reason why JB has such a big job is our recent success as a contender. We had a really good thing going and time just past by and core aged past prime. If we can get lucky in the next two years in the draft and find a few bluechip blueliners as well as continue to move the team towards a youth movement, we will look pretty good in a short amount of time. I think net year is our tank year for sure, following year will bring clarity and depth in the prospect department with Demko coming up. Larsen is who I am excited to watch next year. Hutton too. Im totally on board with the way things are as long as we keep the versaility of money in and money out flowing.

Leafs have some real good youngins...

Reilly is a gem
Nylander/Marner smallish but very dynamic
JVR is a keeper
Kadri needs a lil more maturity but i like him

Gardiner should get traded. Idk if he'll get it n play D.
Could fetch a nice return to the right team.
Eg Hawks for Pokka +

Focus should be on drafting very good D prospects.
Eg if top 3 lotto is it BPA or trade down pick D?
12 picks affords a lot of maneuvring n 2-3D in the 1st 4 picks
this draft would be awesome.
- Nighthawk

I like Kadri too. Over 200 shots and over 100 hits. I wish we could get a Reilly like prospect on our team. Kid is fun to watch. JVR wasnt developed there really but has talent. Cant remember if Gardiner was drafted by the Leafs or not. The Leafs have talent coming now for sure. Marner is better than Nylander in my eyes but he is a bit small. Another Nuge type player to me which is ok. The draft this year will really help them. They have a record amount of picks this year do they not?

EDIT. Pokka isnt going anywhere. I would be shocked if they traded him. My guess it was what JB wanted for Hamhuis and even I wouldnt do that deal with those kids numbers in the AHL. Pokka plays in next 2 years full time in Chicago imo.

I think the reason why JB has such a big job is our recent success as a contender. We had a really good thing going and time just past by and core aged past prime. If we can get lucky in the next two years in the draft and find a few bluechip blueliners as well as continue to move the team towards a youth movement, we will look pretty good in a short amount of time. I think net year is our tank year for sure, following year will bring clarity and depth in the prospect department with Demko coming up. Larsen is who I am excited to watch next year. Hutton too. Im totally on board with the way things are as long as we keep the versaility of money in and money out flowing.
- WhatTheNuck

Pretty much the way i see it.
Only add that the kids should grow n make a mark.
From here on cap management will be huge.

Pretty much the way i see it.
Only add that the kids should grow n make a mark.
From here on cap management will be huge.
- Nighthawk

Which I think is what JB is better at than he is given credit for. We have zero contracts that screw us past end of next year. Dorsett is a solid 4th liner and young enough too. I hope we find ways to trade Edler and Hansen at the draft for picks and prospects. Hansen has had a good enough year that someone might make a gamble on him. Our core is the thing that is up in the air... The Sedins have 2 more years which is the last remaining of the original core. How about...

Sedin-Sedin-Hansen
?-Sutter-McCann
Baertschi-Horvat-Virtanen
Dorsett-Granlund-Etem

My guess is we move a center like McCann at the draft.

How would a McCann for Drouin swap look? If Stamkos moves on?

Or they move McCann and /or Granlund to the wing.

Sign Lucic maybe to line up with Sutter and find someone to play the right side?

EDIT I forgot about Burr, but it could be someone they buyout next year maybe? Anyone know if we can do that or not?

How about make a pitch for stamkos?

McCann can be tradable asset or start in Utica. No rush.
I figure we r situated to pick a good D prospect in the draft.
Do we use cap space n get a key piece?

Exactly, I'm really excited to see what he can do now going forward. Larsen will give us a good idea of what JB can provide. Not top talent but he will definitely have a full time role if he steps into the NHL with something to prove. I like how Baertschi panned out all things considered. The position JB has put the team in is good, good contracts so far and next year looks better with Burr and Miller off the books. ALmost another 10 million gone. My guess is 3 years and we will have a good young talented team with a more defined direction.
- WhatTheNuck

just curious, burrows and miller still have one more year left..are you sure someone will take them at those cap hits?

just curious, burrows and miller still have one more year left..are you sure someone will take them at those cap hits?
- Isles_since_6

What does it matter? Trading either of them next year doesnt make our team better period. Picks are great and only how they play next year will define any return, if any. Regardless, they finish next season and will not be resigned which frees up 10 million in cap space for the following year. The way I see it is we have about 10 million or so this year to find a solid top 4 D man through a trade or signing. That is still no small task but the cap space is there. The next year we have the same amount of new cap space. If the cap drops next year we are in a really good spot to pick up players from cap troubled teams.

EDIT In short, no I am not convinced anyone will take them but depending on what we do we could retain salary too because they come off the books regardless at the end of the year.

just curious, burrows and miller still have one more year left..are you sure someone will take them at those cap hits?
- Isles_since_6

If we could move Burrows we would have to retain salary.
Miller only will play on the west coast n thats not happening.
His last year will here n maybe a TDL move.

Summary: unlikely either will be moved.

If we could move Burrows we would have to retain salary.
Miller only will play on the west coast n thats not happening.
His last year will here n maybe a TDL move.

Summary: unlikely either will be moved.
- Nighthawk

Burrows has a modified NTC does he not? Again, like we have said before, once theses contracts are done in the next two years, including the Sedins, we will have a much clearer picture on the direction. If we continue to resign any of these players beginning with Hamhuis we are only delaying the inevitability of becoming, as Tumbleweed would say, the new Leafs.

What does it matter? Trading either of them next year doesnt make our team better period. Picks are great and only how they play next year will define any return, if any. Regardless, they finish next season and will not be resigned which frees up 10 million in cap space for the following year. The way I see it is we have about 10 million or so this year to find a solid top 4 D man through a trade or signing. That is still no small task but the cap space is there. The next year we have the same amount of new cap space. If the cap drops next year we are in a really good spot to pick up players from cap troubled teams.

EDIT In short, no I am not convinced anyone will take them but depending on what we do we could retain salary too because they come off the books regardless at the end of the year.
- WhatTheNuck

15m if cap stays the same:

Vrbata 5m
Prust 2.5m
Hamhuis 4.5m
Bartkowski 1.75
Weber 1.5m

If we buyout Burrows n sign Stamkos to 7yr/9m it can be done.
The above r useless to us unless Hammer is say 3yr/3m.
We will need 4 F n 1 D only.
Baertschi Etem Granlund will slot in.
Leaves 1 F spot to be won n 2 D

15m if cap stays the same:

Vrbata 5m
Prust 2.5m
Hamhuis 4.5m
Bartkowski 1.75
Weber 1.5m

If we buyout Burrows n sign Stamkos to 7yr/9m it can be done.
The above r useless to us unless Hammer is say 3yr/3m.
We will need 4 F n 1 D only.
Baertschi Etem Granlund will slot in.
Leaves 1 F spot to be won n 2 D
- Nighthawk

Ok Ill bite. Where would Stamkos slot in with the other abundance of Centers wwe have. Would he play wing with the Sedins? OR center Sutter? I feel we would need to move a center and McCann would be the one that jumps out at me.

Larsen will be signed and get a roster spot I think. He will have a ton to prove and will be either a hit or miss. He will come really cheap too and maybe get 2 years tops in term.

Ok Ill bite. Where would Stamkos slot in with the other abundance of Centers wwe have. Would he play wing with the Sedins? OR center Sutter? I feel we would need to move a center and McCann would be the one that jumps out at me.

Larsen will be signed and get a roster spot I think. He will have a ton to prove and will be either a hit or miss. He will come really cheap too and maybe get 2 years tops in term.
- WhatTheNuck

McCann would have to earn his spot at C.

Dank Hank Sutter
Sven Bo Stamkos
Hansen JM JV
Etem Granlund Dorsett
Gaunce Vey

Tanev/Hutton
Edler/Sbisa
Biega/Larsen
Subban

McCann would have to earn his spot at C.

Dank Hank Sutter
Sven Bo Stamkos
Hansen JM JV
Etem Granlund Dorsett
Gaunce Vey

Tanev/Hutton
Edler/Sbisa
Biega/Larsen
Subban
- Nighthawk

I think the D needs work still. Doesnt Sbisa and Edler both play the left side?

If we could I like to move out Hansen and Edler still. Need more hits on the back end. That defense is too soft. The offense has potential with Stamkos but I feel as though the defense is a higher priority than a top 6 signing.

Benning is so damn arrogant he believes he doesn't need lots of draft picks to find good players.

McCann would have to earn his spot at C.

Dank Hank Sutter
Sven Bo Stamkos
Hansen JM JV
Etem Granlund Dorsett
Gaunce Vey

Tanev/Hutton
Edler/Sbisa
Biega/Larsen
Subban
- Nighthawk