In all fairness to them, they weren't the worst team in the league that year. They happened to win the lottery with a 6.7% chance or something like that.

I still like the Philly fans that say they wouldn't have wanted him anyway.
- HonkFortheGoose

Chicago was bad for 10 years before they started to turn things around.

Spot on, Boosie. I personally look forward to the time when the Sabres and Leafs are both firing on all cylinders again. I really miss that rivalry meaning something.

In all fairness to them, they weren't the worst team in the league that year. They happened to win the lottery with a 6.7% chance or something like that.

I still like the Philly fans that say they wouldn't have wanted him anyway.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yeah they definitely missed a bullet there.

Yeah they definitely missed a bullet there.
- SolidGoldBricks

I hope that's sarcasm. I know he's not exactly a choir boy, but he's damn good.

Chicago was bad for 10 years before they started to turn things around.
- ImThatGuy

And the only people who knew were in the stands....fans couldn't even watch them on tv.

I kind of hope Edmonton wins the lottery again.

It would cause the hockey world completely to melt down.
- ImThatGuy

No, the hockey world had a melt down last year when they got McDavid. If it happens again this year it will only cause the NHL to lose fans.

Leafs are tanking and anyone who thinks different is well an idiot.

Chicago was bad for 10 years before they started to turn things around.
- ImThatGuy

I know. But I think that the change in ownership has just as much to do with it as the high picks did. You can't just make the picks, you have to develop them and pay them to stay, and previous to Rocky owning the team, a lot of that wasn't happening. The entire culture in that organization has been changed.

Jealous much? Holy. The funniest part both Mattias and Polak weren't even close to our best players. You could argue Phaneuf but everyone knew his time was eventually up here with Lou around. We got a decent package as well that most teams would have accepted. We're not even close to guaranteed Matthews even if we finished last and you could the say the top 10 players in this draft all have very high ceilings. We were never gonna be better then 10th worst in the league. You guys got Eichel and are greedy for Matthews that's what this is about. The hatred is comical. Please continue to complain this is very entertaining .

Buffalo traded away anything that had a pulse and another Gm was willing to trade for. The Leafs purposely signed free agents on one year contracts to trade them for picks and or prospects, in effect buying draft choices.

This blog is a week early. It would only make sense if Toronto traded away JVR,Kadri,Garner etc . What Buffalo did last year is why the league changed the rules for the lottery.

You were guaranteed McDavid/Eichel. We have no guarantee of a first overall, 2nd etc. Best is a 4th rounder. Are we rebuilding ..yes, without question. But not the way Buffalo did it.
- sparky

You're oblivious to the fact that you traded away your captain with term on it and will be trading any player that another team will take. Leafs are doing the exact same thing Buffalo did. Believing otherwise would make you insane. Case closed.

Chicago was bad for 10 years before they started to turn things around.
- ImThatGuy

Was thinking about this the other day. When teams finally started to become contenders after drafting their "guy". Some teams saw quick turn arounds others took almost a decade.

The scary thought about rebuilds and the nhl in general is that there's a lot of luck involved in the process that can either aid or impede your rebuild.

I hope that's sarcasm. I know he's not exactly a choir boy, but he's damn good.
- HonkFortheGoose

it is. And Philly effectively ended up with Luke Schenn instead of Patty Kane. Soooooo, that sucks.

Jealous much? Holy. The funniest part both Mattias and Polak weren't even close to our best players. You could argue Phaneuf but everyone knew his time was eventually up here with Lou around. We got a decent package as well that most teams would have accepted. We're not even close to guaranteed Matthews even if we finished last and you could the say the top 10 players in this draft all have very high ceilings. We were never gonna be better then 10th worst in the league. You guys got Eichel and are greedy for Matthews that's what this is about. The hatred is comical. Please continue to complain this is very entertaining .
- bmoney411

yes, that's what most fans around here have had meltdowns every single day about how this team isn't that much better than last year.

It's not hatred and it's not jealousy. It's frustration that when we made the same type of moves last year that Toronto is now, we got told we were a disgrace to the NHL. Yet now that Toronto is doing it, it's just what clubs need to do to get better.

Get off your high freaking horse and shut the F up.

it is. And Philly effectively ended up with Luke Schenn instead of Patty Kane. Soooooo, that sucks.
- SolidGoldBricks

Yeah....it's worked out so well for them.

Can't say I have a problem with it though. I'd much rather see Kane in Chicago. I like the Hawks and can't stand Philly.

No, the hockey world had a melt down last year when they got McDavid. If it happens again this year it will only cause the NHL to lose fans.
- sskkoo1

Edmonton wins lottery

Trades RNH to STL for Shattenkirk
Trade Eberle to ANA for one of their D-men.


We all run and hide in fear of that team.

Jealous much? Holy. The funniest part both Mattias and Polak weren't even close to our best players. You could argue Phaneuf but everyone knew his time was eventually up here with Lou around. We got a decent package as well that most teams would have accepted. We're not even close to guaranteed Matthews even if we finished last and you could the say the top 10 players in this draft all have very high ceilings. We were never gonna be better then 10th worst in the league. You guys got Eichel and are greedy for Matthews that's what this is about. The hatred is comical. Please continue to complain this is very entertaining .
- bmoney411

Nobody here is mad the Leafs are tanking. They get it. They just did it.

They are mad that the media (and some fans) were roosters about it when Buffalo did it, but now love that the Leafs are doing it.

Buffalo last season and Toronto this season could not be more parallel, honestly.

This guy?

https://youtu.be/W08Dion--kc?t=1m24s

(stick tap to Homie)
- Der Kaiser

Yeah....it's worked out so well for them.

Can't say I have a problem with it though. I'd much rather see Kane in Chicago. I like the Hawks and can't stand Philly.
- HonkFortheGoose

Understandable. I'm glad too, because there's no way Philly would have traded Kane for Schenn. It worked out for both of us

Edmonton wins lottery

Trades RNH to STL for Shattenkirk
Trade Eberle to ANA for one of their D-men.


We all run and hide in fear of that team.
- ImThatGuy

Why does St. Louis need RNH?

RNH for Hamonic more like it.

Did you literally just type these words together: "...it's the lack of ridicule for Toronto in the media."?!
- Shazamboni

That's what I thought. It's possibly the most bizarre comment I've read in 2016

Nobody here is mad the Leafs are tanking. They get it. They just did it.

They are mad that the media (and some fans) were roosters about it when Buffalo did it, but now love that the Leafs are doing it.

Buffalo last season and Toronto this season could not be more parallel, honestly.
- SolidGoldBricks

I cant wait until both teams are good again.

I'm tired of the back and forth about who's tank was tankier.

I want to argue and spew my hatred towards Toronto about game 4 of a playoff game.

Nobody here is mad the Leafs are tanking. They get it. They just did it.

They are mad that the media (and some fans) were roosters about it when Buffalo did it, but now love that the Leafs are doing it.

Buffalo last season and Toronto this season could not be more parallel, honestly.
- SolidGoldBricks

hahah, had to quote your post just for the bolded...wondering if some filter did something.

Nobody here is mad the Leafs are tanking. They get it. They just did it.

They are mad that the media (and some fans) were roosters about it when Buffalo did it, but now love that the Leafs are doing it.

Buffalo last season and Toronto this season could not be more parallel, honestly.
- SolidGoldBricks

Agreed. Both teams moved on from "cornerstone pieces" that weren't good enough to win with

Phanuef=Myers
Kessel=Vanek

The 2015 Buffalo or 2016 Toronto management teams trading UFA's for draft picks is a smart way to stock your talent pool with young players. Combined they have 26 draft picks (and counting) in this years entry draft. Naysayers are just jealous...

Jealous much? Holy. The funniest part both Mattias and Polak weren't even close to our best players. You could argue Phaneuf but everyone knew his time was eventually up here with Lou around. We got a decent package as well that most teams would have accepted. We're not even close to guaranteed Matthews even if we finished last and you could the say the top 10 players in this draft all have very high ceilings. We were never gonna be better then 10th worst in the league. You guys got Eichel and are greedy for Matthews that's what this is about. The hatred is comical. Please continue to complain this is very entertaining .
- bmoney411

No. Dave Hodge's article was jealousy over the fact that the Sabres were going to get a generational player as long as they finished 30th.