He is 5'11 , he would make a good Leaf
- VANTEL

Or a Hab...

Boycott The Province

Some players don't like to be spoon fed the koolaid in the locker room. You don't buy into Coopers system you get benched or (demoted to the AHL) you don't like being benched play the system. Some younger players thrive under certain coaches others not so much.
- thundachunk

Kinda like what happened with Yak in Edmonton.

Just the right size to fit under the lumbering checks of oafs like Pedan...
- lumlums

Don't go smack talkin our boy.


Makita where are you.

Buffalo reset the clock hard last year.
- CubanBuffet

Yes they did but don't forget how many middle picks they acquired or had, plus assets they traded, before they hit the reset. The Canucks don't have that.

This trade deadline could change some of that though if Benning has any brains in his head and he trades Vrbata, Hamhuis and maybe Miller. These are the picks they actually made, and below it are the older players they traded for picks to land other players.

2011 - they picked 16th overall
2012 - they picked 12th & 14th overall
2013 - they picked 8th & 16th overall plus 3 second round picks
2014 - they picked 2nd overall plus 3 second round picks again
2015 - they picked second overall again

Also, their asset management was good with the Miller, Ott and Vanek trades.

Vanek to the Islanders for the 21st pick, then to the Sens for Lehner
Miller & Ott to the Blues for the 25th pick used to land Kane & Bogo

They didn't just start from scratch like the Oilers did with 18 year olds, they traded for young established players.

I thought they would be top 4 this year
- VANTEL

#dysfunctional

That's one thing that I know for sure with the Leafs now: if you come on board you follow Babcock's directions. But more than that, he really seems to take lots of time and effort to make sure that everybody understands the system and buys in to it
- lumlums

I honestly read about a week ago that Babs is a real Dyck. I heard he is a screamer not a moaner.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Pedan turned out to be a top 4 find and partnered well with Tryamkin. One can dream


If we don't win the Mathews sweeps we need a big Finn on the team
- VANTEL

Didnt really like when WD was like I didnt really like what I saw in camp so he is a bit of a surprise... Like if you didnt why not take the time to go and talk to the player and talk about expectations or whats on the players mind. Isnt the the whole part of being a coach??

Yes they did but don't forget how many middle picks they acquired or had, plus assets they traded, before they hit the reset. The Canucks don't have that.

This trade deadline could change some of that though if Benning has any brains in his head and he trades Vrbata, Hamhuis and maybe Miller. These are the picks they actually made, and below it are the older players they traded for picks to land other players.

2011 - they picked 16th overall
2012 - they picked 12th & 14th overall
2013 - they picked 8th & 16th overall plus 3 second round picks
2014 - they picked 2nd overall plus 3 second round picks again
2015 - they picked second overall again

Also, their asset management was good with the Miller, Ott and Vanek trades.

Vanek to the Islanders for the 21st pick, then to the Sens for Lehner
Miller & Ott to the Blues for the 25th pick used to land Kane & Bogo

They didn't just start from scratch like the Oilers did with 18 year olds, they traded for young established players.
- LeftCoaster

Miller is a hard one to move.

I honestly read about a week ago that Babs is a real Dyck. I heard he is a screamer not a moaner.
- VANTEL

Link? I'd be intrigued to read that.


And tbh I can see that. But whatever he does seems to work, and I'm drinking the koolaid

Didnt really like when WD was like I didnt really like what I saw in camp so he is a bit of a surprise... Like if you didnt why not take the time to go and talk to the player and talk about expectations or whats on the players mind. Isnt the the whole part of being a coach??
- mauryballstein

Yup

Don't go smack talkin our boy.


Makita where are you.
- VANTEL

Link? I'd be intrigued to read that.


And tbh I can see that. But whatever he does seems to work, and I'm drinking the koolaid
- lumlums

Can't remember where I saw it. It basically said in front of camera he is really pleasant, when they are turned off , not so much.

Crawford was like that too

Can't remember where I saw it. It basically said in front of camera he is really pleasant, when they are turned off , not so much.

Crawford was like that too
- VANTEL

I can see it for sure. With success you get a certain amount of liberty to run things your own way, Babs has earned that

Didnt really like when WD was like I didnt really like what I saw in camp so he is a bit of a surprise... Like if you didnt why not take the time to go and talk to the player and talk about expectations or whats on the players mind. Isnt the the whole part of being a coach??
- mauryballstein

How do you know he didn't talk to the player or have an asst talk to him? it was camp and there was 50+ players to talk to.

Miller is a hard one to move.
- VANTEL

Yes I'm just dreaming, but the example is of how they used asset management correctly, hopefully Jim Benning is smart enough to move Vrbata and Hammer.

That's one thing that I know for sure with the Leafs now: if you come on board you follow Babcock's directions. But more than that, he really seems to take lots of time and effort to make sure that everybody understands the system and buys in to it
- lumlums

I like the way he's starting to get tried of the media, love his condescending answers.

I like the way he's starting to get tried of the media, love his condescending answers.
- Makita

Signing that contract will do that.

He's the Leafs highest paid asset, someone has to fill in the void left by Kessel.

I like the way he's starting to get tried of the media, love his condescending answers.
- Makita

Yup.

I'm just waiting for the time he shuts down Simmons or Feschuk by whipping out one of his Olympic gold's similar to what Roy did with his rings

5 more sleeps

5 more sleeps
- A_SteamingLombardi

Yup.

I'm just waiting for the time he shuts down Simmons or Feschuk by whipping out one of his Olympic gold's similar to what Roy did with his rings
- lumlums

If the team struggles, or doesn't advance any further than 10-15 pick overall, will there be media backlash?

Miller is a hard one to move.
- VANTEL

Nah hes an easy move, only one year left on his deal at 6 mil. We just need one contenders starter to get hurt and Benning could get a boatload for him

If the team struggles, or doesn't advance any further than 10-15 pick overall, will there be media backlash?
- Makita

Doesn't matter, there's almost nobody out there writing in TO whose opinion is actually worth a damn

5 more sleeps
- A_SteamingLombardi