You gotta see that Paul McCann blog.

Yeah but until it happens multiple times and successfully might I add, how can anybody think that Hunter is a proven master of finding Cup winning talent in unconventional places?

People keep saying just like Hunter work his magic when nobody has actually seen him have successful magic.

I'm not saying he's bad for the job, I'm really happy he's the guy running the draft but that doesn't mean he's proven he's a spectacular drafter and thus why giving him some 1st overall picks would help him do his job immensely.
- JohnFergusonJr

I think his success at finding talent with the Knights is a good place to start. He's shown he is capable of finding talent, no?

And yes, let's get him more 1st (and 2nds as well) for him to work with.

It doesn't have to be but if the Leafs are drafting 15th instead of 1st, the odds of getting the guys they need are going to be much more difficult. Everybody wants to find McDavid at 15th but most of the time he's going 1st so to me, looking for McDavid at 15th or 25th or 120th is rather unconventional.
- JohnFergusonJr

This makes no sense whatsoever.

Nobody is looking for McDavid at 15th or 25th or 120th.

You are looking for the best guy at 15th or 25th or 120th.

That was an over inflated draft year though.
- robin_steele264

THERE IT IS!!!

Boston did have it's bad years and were rewarded with Thornton 1st overall. They decided to stupidly trade him and replace him with Marc Savard but had they kept him they probably would have been just fine.

Just sayin'
- JohnFergusonJr

They were more than just fine. They won a goddamn cup

Getting a high pick is all well and good, if your team is simply bad enough on its own to get there, which the Leafs very well may be. I don't think you need to encourage a losing culture to do it

Not at all, they identified potential talent and drafted it. There is a large element of luck though or like I said they would have drafted those players over the ones who didn't perform as well who they drafted ahead of them.
- Cfser

i just hate the argument "if they would have REALLY known, they would have taken him in the first round..." it's BS. if you think a guy has potential but you know he'll like be around in rd 5 or 6... why would you draft him in round 1 or 2?

They will trade players it's not even worth worrying about. But what most people here fail to realize is the aspirations of getting a few years worth of top 3 picks are probably gone....
- Mr_Smokey

I'm worried about both but drafting high is all but gone. Babcock can coach his way out of a wet paper bag. They could give him any roster and it'll still be middle of the pack somewhere.

i just hate the argument "if they would have REALLY known, they would have taken him in the first round..." it's BS. if you think a guy has potential but you know he'll like be around in rd 5 or 6... why would you draft him in round 1 or 2?
- DoubleDown

Because you never know that someone wont take a chance with them at 3-4.
They have an idea who other teams are looking at but you never really know.

If you really think they will be good that's quite the risk to take.

They were more than just fine. They won a goddamn cup

Getting a high pick is all well and good, if your team is simply bad enough on its own to get there, which the Leafs very well may be. I don't think you need to encourage a losing culture to do it
- TheThrill

And what about Pittsburgh, Chicago and LA? Nobody cares about whatever losing culture they use to have when they drafted 1st, 2nd or 3rd overall and all three of those teams sucked for a long time before they won Cups.

I'm worried about both but drafting high is all but gone. Babcock can coach his way out of a wet paper bag. They could give him any roster and it'll still be middle of the pack somewhere.
- JohnFergusonJr

Good. Try to win.

Always try to win.

Trying to lose is for losers

Rob Kinsey @solid_guarantee

Season ticket package arrived. Well played Oilers. Well played. #Oilers

You gotta see that Paul McCann blog.
- walshyleafsfan

Dozzer brought it up with the admins already.

My location still IS a quote from you, with regards to the #GoonTank which has all but been kiboshed by recent events.

Still, I feel like you, me and Aetherial clicked. Three amigos
- TheThrill

I assume by "Amigos", you mean lazy people who like beer and should be doing more work, at work!

What will never happen again? To find a gem in the later rounds that turn into the kind of player Zetterberg or Datsyuk have turned out to be?

I disagree, Tyler Johnson is a recent perfect example of a guy who wasn't even drafted for god's sake.
- Scabeh

you are talking about late bloomers

datsyuk and zetterberg would have been noticed

datsyuk was a 0.5PPG player in a men's league at the age of 17

zetterberg was 28P in 37GP in his draft year in a men's league

that kind of thing doesnt get by scouts anymore

- Pecafan Fan

That is awesome

- Pecafan Fan

And what about Pittsburgh, Chicago and LA? Nobody cares about whatever losing culture they use to have when they drafted 1st, 2nd or 3rd overall and all three of those teams sucked for a long time before they won Cups.
- JohnFergusonJr

They drafted high because their team was terrible. Not because they wanted to lose. That's ridiculous

i just hate the argument "if they would have REALLY known, they would have taken him in the first round..." it's BS. if you think a guy has potential but you know he'll like be around in rd 5 or 6... why would you draft him in round 1 or 2?
- DoubleDown

It's not BS. How would a team 'know' a guy is 1st line material, but wait until 3rd round (let alone 5-6) to draft him?? Risk not drafting him just to get a perennial 4th line lw??

- Pecafan Fan

Rob Kinsey @solid_guarantee

Season ticket package arrived. Well played Oilers. Well played. #Oilers






- lumlums

That's pretty clever. I like it a lot.

you are talking about late bloomers

datsyuk and zetterberg would have been noticed

datsyuk was a 0.5PPG player in a men's league at the age of 17

zetterberg was 28P in 37GP in his draft year in a men's league

that kind of thing doesnt get by scouts anymore
- Dozzer

Take a stroll over to the room, something strange surfaced.

Dozzer brought it up with the admins already.
- LeafMan

Apparently the Leafs rebuild has already stopped because they have gone the unorthodox route of hiring a coach.

Apparently the Leafs rebuild has already stopped because they have gone the unorthodox route of hiring a coach.
- walshyleafsfan

Good. Try to win.

Always try to win.

Trying to lose is for losers
- TheThrill

Except all the teams that lost and then won.