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

Nobody wants a small Johnson.

(Iggy told me)

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

I couldn't believe how behind the curve that blog was in terms of analyzing the state of the Leafs.

As if he just stumbled upon some magical revelation that the team sucks poop and has been built horribly.

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

If you actually take the time to look at Detroit's drafting, they've actually been pretty poop for the past decade or more:

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005492.html

And don't give me this crap about them being Zen masters and waiting for the 5th or 6th round.

Their strategy was to wait until the 7th round for Zetterberg, because they needed their earlier picks to take Jari Tolsa, Andrei Maximenko, and Kent McDonell?

They had 7 picks before Datsyuk. Jiri Fischer was a 1st rounder - 305 games. Let's not give them credit for this one - yeah I know, but still.

Ryan Barnes played 2 NHL games. Nobody else had a cup of coffee.

Seriously, take a look at Detroit's drafting for the past 20 years. It's more blind stupid luck than anything.

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

Whether it was intentional or not doesn't really matter. They sucked, they got the best players at the draft and now they're Cup winners. If the Leafs had intentionally or unintentionally tanked for the last 10 years, do you have any idea the type of team they'd have right now?

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

If you subtract Kessel Phaneuf and JVR and add for argument sake a Winnik or Santorelli type back in the team is bottom 5...

Rob Kinsey @solid_guarantee

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






- lumlums

Oh that's good

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

Whether it was intentional or not doesn't really matter. They sucked, they got the best players at the draft and now they're Cup winners. If the Leafs had intentionally or unintentionally tanked for the last 10 years, do you have any idea the type of team they'd have right now?
- JohnFergusonJr

If Burke hadn't traded for Kessel, you add Seguin and Hamilton to the current team and guys who are coming and yeah, I have a bit of an idea.

But hindsight is 20/20.

I'm just glad the team and management are more aligned with the way I feel about drafting and developing than the way you feel about it.

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.
- Atomic Wedgie

No, it makes sense because my point is if you're looking for the best guy at 15th or 25th or 120th, odds are you're not getting McDavid. And as I'm sure you know, this team needs a couple of McDavids.

I couldn't believe how behind the curve that blog was in terms of analyzing the state of the Leafs.

As if he just stumbled upon some magical revelation that the team sucks poop and has been built horribly.
- TheThrill

I just learnt a potential issue that may have caused the last 4-5 years is that the core isn't good enough.

If Burke hadn't traded for Kessel, you add Seguin and Hamilton to the current team and guys who are coming and yeah, I have a bit of an idea.

But hindsight is 20/20.

I'm just glad the team and management are more aligned with the way I feel about drafting and developing than the way you feel about it.
- TheThrill

Ok, so let's stop doing things and looking at them in 20/20 and just tank and draft really high for a couple of years and then be really happy we did it.

Rob Kinsey @solid_guarantee

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






- lumlums

How many came? Another 1 or 2?

If you subtract Kessel Phaneuf and JVR and add for argument sake a Winnik or Santorelli type back in the team is bottom 5...
- Mr_Smokey

I hope that happens but I don't see it.

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
- TheThrill

obviously you haven't got the league-wide memo.

all Leaf players - especially younger ones suck. if drafted 5th overall they are immediately ranked 25 or lower...

and the only press allowed related to those players is negative.

i) if a player scores two... the headline is "player x fails in bid for hat-trick"...
ii) if a player makes five or six good defensive plays... but turns one over .... headline reads "player x turnover machine"

you need to understand this at all times.

- Aetherial

Problem is this coach wants to win a lot.


Idiotic thinking.

No, it makes sense because my point is if you're looking for the best guy at 15th or 25th or 120th, odds are you're not getting McDavid. And as I'm sure you know, this team needs a couple of McDavids.
- JohnFergusonJr

So you want us to applaud you for pointing out that it's harder to find a superstar at #25 than at #1?

What the hell does this have to do with Dale Hunter?

Oh that's good
- robin_steele264

It's ironic, because you could never get your balls to drop the right way.











Too far? 4-hour ban?

Darn.

How many came? Another 1 or 2?
- weirdoh

You know they'll finish 9th in the west next year and still win he lotto with a 0.5% chance.


It's fate.

y are sabres fans so mad?

Ok, so let's stop doing things and looking at them in 20/20 and just tank and draft really high well for a couple of years and then be really happy we did it.
- JohnFergusonJr

We aren't that far apart

It's ironic, because you could never get your balls to drop the right way.








Too far? 4-hour ban?

Darn.
- Atomic Wedgie

1 day

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

What is it?

What is it?

C'mon, don't leave us hanging!!!!!!

What is it?

What is it?

C'mon, don't leave us hanging!!!!!!
- Atomic Wedgie

It could blow up the Leaf threads if true, all you get.

So you want us to applaud you for pointing out that it's harder to find a superstar at #25 than at #1?

What the hell does this have to do with Dale Hunter?
- Atomic Wedgie

You've joined this conversation half-way. I don't remember asking for an applause at any time but if it's common knowledge that it's harder to find a superstar at 25th than it is at 1st then my point is easier to make.

This doesn't have much to do with Dale Hunter and more to do with Mark Hunter. Mark Hunter has a great eye for OHL talent but if he's drafting 25th instead of 1st, it's going to be harder for him to do his job. And with the hiring of Babcock, odds are they won't be drafting 1st overall any time soon but that's the spot the Leafs so desperately need at least a couple of times.

- Pecafan Fan

This.






This is how you troll