the Maple Leafs are trying to get back in playoffs starting 2017-2018 season.
that's a MAX two year rebuild (not counting last year).
plan will be to get 1st/2nd round picks this draft and next draft (Lupul, Phaneuf, maybe one of the goalies, some other non-role players).
sign some good UFAs to not become a second Buffalo/Edmonton .
More than two rebuild seasons are unacceptable, especially after these 10y of suffering.
Leafs should be able to do a quicker rebuild than most of the other teams in the league because of the financial means (example: Clarkson).
I can't believe some of the guys around here that say they are willing to accept 5 tank seasons
- MaximusAurelius

how old are you? not being a jerk..just wondering?

im 34. i've seen your quick rebuild on the fly fail several times. i would gladly take 5 years, hell 7 years to get it right. not just a playoff team, a CONTENDING team.

seems the younger fans are more impatient. A rushed rebuild takes years, or decades to repair. we are still reeling huge from the kessel deal, 6 years later. that's just one trade. don't get me started on JFJ

Being between 2 dudes? Yup.
- 1979AD

ty

I doubt Stamkos leaves TB if he doesn't win the cup with them this year.

However if he does (this year), there's a chance he will probably test free agency and anything can happen there.

So what I'm saying is Leafs fan should be cheering for the Bolts.
- KesselRules

LOL I am!

I think, like with Babcock, money will talk though.

Leafs could do league max x max term

weird how strike throughs require a different set of brackets, eh?
- Feeling Glucky?

Not weird as they are html.

He didn't just win gold with Team Canada.

He won the Olympic tournament without ever being behind at any point in any of seven games.

"that's because that team was so great"

So the 1998 team wasn't great? The 2002 team that tied the Czechs and lost to Sweden wasn't great? The 2006 team that finished 7th wasn't great? They were all (frank)ing great, but they didn't have Babcock.
- 1979AD

agreed. coaches matter big time. dismissing babs or carlyle's 07 win is a joke.

Here's the takeaway that I like from 2014:

Apparently senior management came up with the gameplan from day 1: we are going to win each game 2-0.

Babcock implemented the plan, and the entire team shut up and did it.
- Atomic Wedgie

It was a thing of beauty. Didn't stop people complaining about the lack of scoring though.

He didn't just win gold with Team Canada.

He won the Olympic tournament without ever being behind at any point in any of seven games.

"that's because that team was so great"

So the 1998 team wasn't great? The 2002 team that tied the Czechs and lost to Sweden wasn't great? The 2006 team that finished 7th wasn't great? They were all (frank)ing great, but they didn't have Babcock.
- 1979AD

you cannot argue the job he did with TC, especially in 2014. the 2010 team was a bit disjointed but the 2014 team was an absolute machine. but i think it's kind of irrelevant when judging him as an NHL coach. i think he's in the discussion for best NHL coach (i don't think there is ONE best NHL coach) but i don't think the Olympic success factors into that discussion.

how old are you? not being a jerk..just wondering?

im 34. i've seen your quick rebuild on the fly fail several times. i would gladly take 5 years, hell 7 years to get it right. not just a playoff team, a CONTENDING team.

seems the younger fans are more impatient. A rushed rebuild takes years, or decades to repair. we are still reeling huge from the kessel deal, 6 years later. that's just one trade. don't get me started on JFJ
- clark_griswold

In case I am under this umbrella of folks you are talking about, let me make it clear that I'm all for doing the long, draft-and-develop process.

I just don't think we will continue to be that bad (since nobody is going to intentionally lose) the entire time.

I keep coming back to Florida, because they are a good team, IMO. But they are drafting 11th overall, will likely get a Zacha and be even better for it. I expect that sort of steady improvement while maintaining the building plan

When there is nothing left in my beer haven, I will steal one but not my taste. Like I said, not much of a drinker, I enjoy an ice tea most of the time.
- LeafMan

I enjoy mine with rum at times. now I'm thinking of an long island ice tea. YUM!

Not all, but Nylander and the high pick this year seem pretty can't miss.

Some may not pan out, you are 100% correct, but for each one of those is a Mark Stone or Johnny Hockey who come out of nowhere and prove to be pretty good players.

I just think 3 years from now we are, at worst, on par with where Florida is right now which, IMO, is right on the cusp of being right up there
- TheThrill

Florida has Ekblad, Barkov, Hubredeau, Bjugstad. Plus Luongo and some other crafty vets. we'll be more than lucky to be near Florida in 3 years.

again, i hope you are right and i'm wrong, just don't want to see you dissapointed. The last decade must have taken it's toll on you.

LOL I am!

I think, like with Babcock, money will talk though.

Leafs could do league max x max term
- TheThrill

Such rebuild.

Much patience.

Florida has Ekblad, Barkov, Hubredeau, Bjugstad. Plus Luongo and some other crafty vets. we'll be more than lucky to be near Florida in 3 years.

again, i hope you are right and i'm wrong, just don't want to see you dissapointed. The last decade must have taken it's toll on you.
- clark_griswold

Florida is building their young team the right way.

Jagr will help too.

Not weird as they are html.
- KesselRules

I know, but why does this site use teh square brackets in the first place? Why not just go all HTML?

Seems like an added layer of complexity.

agreed. coaches matter big time. dismissing babs or carlyle's 07 win is a joke.
- clark_griswold

Florida has Ekblad, Barkov, Hubredeau, Bjugstad. Plus Luongo and some other crafty vets. we'll be more than lucky to be near Florida in 3 years.

again, i hope you are right and i'm wrong, just don't want to see you dissapointed. The last decade must have taken it's toll on you.
- clark_griswold

Much as people want to poop on all our guys, Rielly, Kadri, JVR, Bernier aren't (frank)ing terrible players.

It's a light-years better core than Stajan, Blake, Kaberle and Toskalol

I enjoy mine with rum at times. now I'm thinking of an long island ice tea. YUM!
- zazzle

coconut water with spiced rum.

you cannot argue the job he did with TC, especially in 2014. the 2010 team was a bit disjointed but the 2014 team was an absolute machine. but i think it's kind of irrelevant when judging him as an NHL coach. i think he's in the discussion for best NHL coach (i don't think there is ONE best NHL coach) but i don't think the Olympic success factors into that discussion.
- DoubleDown

In a league where it takes princesses like Kessel to completely buy into a system and work his ass of for it to win it all, it does mean a lot in my opinion. Every single TC player was 100% on side with the coach even though it meant not scoring very much at all.

That said, I'm not advocating that he'll now fix Kessel and he shouldn't be traded any more. I'm thinking more along the lines of developing Nylander.

Such rebuild.

Much patience.
- Scabeh

How does signing a 27 year old, 50-goal scoring #1 center equal not rebuilding and not having patience?

You think removing the 24.7 million from the big 4 won't allow us to do one major signing?

EDIT: Also, (frank) off with the dogwow bullpoop. It's annoying as (frank) and never was funny

In case I am under this umbrella of folks you are talking about, let me make it clear that I'm all for doing the long, draft-and-develop process.

I just don't think we will continue to be that bad (since nobody is going to intentionally lose) the entire time.

I keep coming back to Florida, because they are a good team, IMO. But they are drafting 11th overall, will likely get a Zacha and be even better for it. I expect that sort of steady improvement while maintaining the building plan
- TheThrill

i hope you are right. im preparing and expecting a LONG rebuild personally.

i hope you are right. im preparing and expecting a LONG rebuild personally.
- clark_griswold

probably a good idea. Expect the worst and you are never disappointed

New Buzzword: PROCESS!

How does signing a 27 year old, 50-goal scoring #1 center equal not rebuilding and not having patience?

You think removing the 24.7 million from the big 4 won't allow us to do one major signing?
- TheThrill

think he is saying, Leafs are not getting Stamkos..

i hope you are right. im preparing and expecting a LONG rebuild personally.
- clark_griswold

It has to be. No short cuts this time. Do it right once, and allow the kids coming along, time to develop in the A.

How does signing a 27 year old, 50-goal scoring #1 center equal not rebuilding and not having patience?

You think removing the 24.7 million from the big 4 won't allow us to do one major signing?
- TheThrill

I'm just messing with ya.

Signing Stamkos is always a good idea.

But it's amazing how things have changed from a couple of weeks ago since Babcock came on board.

Clearly optimism is back in Leafs land.

In a league where it takes princesses like Kessel to completely buy into a system and work his ass of for it to win it all, it does mean a lot in my opinion. Every single TC player was 100% on side with the coach even though it meant not scoring very much at all.

That said, I'm not advocating that he'll now fix Kessel and he shouldn't be traded any more. I'm thinking more along the lines of developing Nylander.
- 1979AD

interesting point but remember... Phil Kessel was named top player in that tournament. getting a guy to play hard for 10 days representing his country on the world stage is not the same as getting a guy dialed in for 6-7 months. i see it as apples and oranges. but either way we both agree he's a really great coach and you guys are lucky to have him.