I was quite confident on Boucher coming to Toronto as a head coach.
Still hoping he'll be brought in as an assistant, that would be absolutely great.
- MaximusAurelius

He would be a great addition. I am thinking Paul MacLean. Have not heard anything from his brother in law, but he was an assistant to Babs in Detroit.

Absolutely, but with this management team in place (with more to come) there's actually going to be a plan, a path to success and a future.
- walshyleafsfan

Babcock said that defence can be taught, so we will see who can be taught and who can't on this team.

You should see the weeds being pulled and discarded.

I was saying it last year. All the "He;'ll never leave Detroit" people were foolish. He avoided signing in Detroit for an entire year. What does that tell you?

And San Jose and the Blues, two other "Top Bets" over the Leafs would not have given him 20 million. So no, they weren't ahead of the Leafs ever.
- RogerRoeper

I know we were out numbered by 100 to 3.. and under fire.

Either way gents, Babcock is a great move, and unlike a big contract for a player, who cares about the money right? Plus, i've switched back and forth between marner, strome, hanafin over and over...point is, can't lose with any of the 3 - all very good players. We need help in every position (we have no elite talent besides nylander) so let's just enjoy the ride for now.

Prediction: Dion is first to be traded. Gut feeling says Columbus for some reason.

Absolutely, but with this management team in place (with more to come) there's actually going to be a plan, a path to success and a future.
- walshyleafsfan

no doubt. i'm not an intentional tanker, but would getting 3-4 top 5ish picks be a great start? absolutely.

future can only get better

I was saying it last year. All the "He;'ll never leave Detroit" people were foolish. He avoided signing in Detroit for an entire year. What does that tell you?

And San Jose and the Blues, two other "Top Bets" over the Leafs would not have given him 20 million. So no, they weren't ahead of the Leafs ever.
- RogerRoeper

You're crazy. No way he leaves Detroit for a tire fire organization like the Leafs

Dozz hates the OHL... they produce little Kleenex boner stocks or some crap like that.
- Tee-Dot

This is a rather dumb comment, Dozz said he preferred Strome to Marner.. Strome plays in the OHL too.

I know we were out numbered by 100 to 3.. and under fire.
- bixll

No one predicted 8 million either so...

Either way gents, Babcock is a great move, and unlike a big contract for a player, who cares about the money right? Plus, i've switched back and forth between marner, strome, hanafin over and over...point is, can't lose with any of the 3 - all very good players. We need help in every position (we have no elite talent besides nylander) so let's just enjoy the ride for now.

Prediction: Dion is first to be traded. Gut feeling says Columbus for some reason.
- clark_griswold

Followed shortly there after by Kessel and Bozak.

it's amazing. this city is so starved for anything positive that any move is genius. Babcock is great but we're still gonna suck for 4-5 years folks. not hard to get - we sucked for 8 years, now we are trying to suck. it's not going to get better at first. but years from now, it will have all been worth it
- clark_griswold

This is not the 1970-1980s anymore.
Current league is very very close, with teams winning cup one year not making playoffs next year WITH (virtually) THE SAME PLAYERS TEAM.

tank to get 3 top 5picks in consecutive years is absolutely no guarantee for good playoff results 5y later, neither is trading away first rounders a guaranteed formula for bad results 5y down the line.
There are various ways how to become competitive and to win, and various ways how to end up failing. It was NEVER an option for the TML organization to have a 5y tank program, NOBODY would accept that and it WILL NOT happen (independent of the fact whether it woudl have been Babcock or an OHL coach being head coach for TML 2015-2016).

I can't find a Babcock jersey anywhere

Babcock said that defence can be taught, so we will see who can be taught and who can't on this team.

You should see the weeds being pulled and discarded.
- LeafMan

Randy said the same thing. It has to be apparent already who can and cannot play the way you need to to succeed. Shanny spent a whole year sitting quietly and watching that. I believe everything has already been decided who should and shouldn't be kept. There's probably a list of 'can keep, but will trade for the right price' list as well.

Phil and Dion are done in Toronto.

No one predicted 8 million either so...
- LeafMan

So,,, what ? I did say for as much as he wants..

No one predicted 8 million either so...
- LeafMan

I don't think it mattered. The people who said he'd go to Toronto said they'd offer the best financial deal.

Absolutely, but with this management team in place (with more to come) there's actually going to be a plan, a path to success and a future.
- walshyleafsfan

Don't compare Carlyle to Babcock please.

No one predicted 8 million either so...
- LeafMan

Real choice was between Leafs and Sabres, so ............

Randy said the same thing. It has to be apparent already who can and cannot play the way you need to to succeed. Shanny spent a whole year sitting quietly and watching that. I believe everything has already been decided who should and shouldn't be kept. There's probably a list of 'can keep, but will trade for the right price' list as well.

Phil and Dion are done in Toronto.
- walshyleafsfan

We know those two are lazy ass players, I'm talking about the the next wave who will have had no influence by the core.

This is a rather dumb comment, Dozz said he preferred Strome to Marner.. Strome plays in the OHL too.
- PatC80

This is rather a dumb statement... He'd still take Noah before either.

Yeah, not after French's description of his play recently. Sounds like a pylon.
- Aetherial

historically those types of D..taken in the 1st..are meh

I don't think it mattered. The people who said he'd go to Toronto said they'd offer the best financial deal.
- RogerRoeper

Man that's a lot of bread to coach...wasted IMO.

We should have let him go to Edmonton..fired in year 3...Leafs pick him up cheap on there way to 1 of many cups in row!!!!!

I was virtually on my own in here, saying Babcock was coming to TO. Even called foolish by a ref. Which I am still not over.. lol.
- bixll

I wonder which ref that was

I wonder which ref that was
- Feeling Glucky?

Not sure, but can give you the time and date.

This is rather a dumb statement... He'd still take Noah before either.
- Tee-Dot

A lot of people would... Myself included.. personally, I'd rather build from the net out.. With that said, I would be happy with any of the three.

I want 2nds at the draft... Love to snag Blackwood and Pilon there.