You should not take the comments so personally. Every year the team that wins the lottery sees a lot of traffic from other teams debating the nuances of the draft. It is one of the best discussion times for hockey. Leaf fans need to relax and enjoy the lime light. You have the #1 and everyone else wishes they had it. On the other hand, as a general observation, some scouts are reluctant to take the oldest player in the draft as they believe age distorts the development curve for the other players available. In the last week you hear about more scouts dropping Matthews to support Laine. This was entirely predictable and just part of the normal build up to draft day. People should not get psyched out by the discussion. It is all pretty normal for this time of the year. Enjoy having the focus being on your #1 pick.
- spatso

You think the leafs traffic is higher because of the 1st pick? What scouts have dropped Matthews?


It's official, not only do you not care about being embarassed...... You seek it out.

9) Francis Perron is simply better than Mitch Marner.

10) Non- Leafs fans that visit Leafs threads do so in peace. Leafs fans who visit other teams thread do so in order to troll said fan base. Leafs fans, not unlike the residents of any district outside of the Capital in the Hunger Games, are just too sensitive
- walshyleafsfan

You should not take the comments so personally. Every year the team that wins the lottery sees a lot of traffic from other teams debating the nuances of the draft. It is one of the best discussion times for hockey. Leaf fans need to relax and enjoy the lime light. You have the #1 and everyone else wishes they had it. On the other hand, as a general observation, some scouts are reluctant to take the oldest player in the draft as they believe age distorts the development curve for the other players available. In the last week you hear about more scouts dropping Matthews to support Laine. This was entirely predictable and just part of the normal build up to draft day. People should not get psyched out by the discussion. It is all pretty normal for this time of the year. Enjoy having the focus being on your #1 pick.
- spatso

Trust me when I tell you I don't take the comments personally.

Leaf fans ARE relaxed about the draft- anyone of the Leaf fans with 1/2 a functioning brain knows the Leafs are taking Matthews.

On the other hand, those same Leaf fans find it absolutely fantastic the degree to which various media hacks, other team's fans and random doinks will go to try and prove the TO THEMSELVES that the Leafs will be making the wrong pick.

Additionally, these "scouts" that are dropping Matthews in favor of Laine based on their view, which they are entitled to. How in any universe would that be of concern or interest to the Leafs? (When the scouts your refer to are highly respected sources like Button or anyone who's had anything to do with the Oilers staff, or the Leafs staff pre-2014 - WHY WOULD WE CARE.

The entire effort is an attempt to make the non-Leaf fanbases feel better about the Leafs picking Matthews - nothing more.

Personally, I'd be thrilled with either Matthews or Laine - clearly it matters more to other fanbases that the Leafs are "seen to be not getting/selecting the best prospect" than they are worried about what their own clubs do in the draft.

and in Ottawa's particular case... they have Perron, so why are they concerned about the Leafs getting Matthews or Laine? Isn't he better than both anyway? And that really doesn't matter because Ottawa is so deep up the middle already - they have Turris and Pageau - why would they need anyone else.?

Love the Leafs. Everyone in Eastern Ontario was either a Leaf or Canadiens fan before the Sens rolled into town. No fan base has been more loyal or punished more severely than the blue and white faithful. They really do deserve something to cheer about. It is kind of romantic to see them celebrating their successful last place finish. Reminds me of the Hungarian team gathering at one end of the ice with their fans to sing their national anthem after each losing game. Leaf fanatics really do want to believe they have the best pool of prospects ever assembled. No doubt in my mind, Shanahan is doing it the right way. We know there will be more suffering and I believe the Leaf fans are well prepared for the long haul. They can easily handle a few more years of bottom feeding. The quality of off season trash talk from Leaf fans is somewhat legendary in its excitement and anticipation. This year the trash talk is exceptional. I have always thought that I provide a good target to let them get their frustrations out. And, this is an especially strong season for them spinning a new hope cycle. God has been very good to them this year.
- spatso

What in God's name does any of this mean? When and why did you start believing you're some overlord who over sees what is and isn't acceptable regarding the Leafs as well as the emotions fans should and shouldn't be feeling? Leaf nation doesn't revolve around the spatso belief system and acceptability scale.

Please. Kindly go (frank) off and go (frank) yourself.

The leafs dont have the best prospect pool of all time. Nobody has suggested that. What they do have though is one of the best if not thee best prospect pool in the game today.

This isn't my opinion. It's the opinions of various sources who rank the prospect pools of teams.

We're not celebrating anything here but the fact we finally have hope. No sure fire plan of success. Just hope.

You think the leafs traffic is higher because of the 1st pick? What scouts have dropped Matthews?


It's official, not only do you not care about being embarassed...... You seek it out.
- burn

probably Button (highly respected at home)

please substitute embarrassed for obliterated going forward.

What in God's name does any of this mean? When and why did you start believing you're some overlord who over sees what is and isn't acceptable regarding the Leafs as well as the emotions fans should snd shouldn't be feeling?

Please. Kindly go (frank) off and go (frank) yourself.

The leafs dont have the best prospect pool of all time. Nobody has suggested that. What they do have though is one of the best if not thee best prospect pool in the game today.

This isn't my opinion. It's the opinions of various sources who rank the prospect pools of teams.

We're not celebrating anything here but the fact we finally have hope. No sure fire plan of success. Just hope.
- systemtool

'tool.... I don't have time for over-rating the prospects....

I'm spending my time drinking blue and white koolaid and planning the parade.... and tweeting Simmons and Berger sitings.

'tool.... I don't have time for over-rating the prospects....

I'm spending my time drinking blue and white koolaid and planning the parade.... and tweeting Simmons and Berger sitings.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Ever try a tangwich? Delicous.

Ever try a tangwich? Delicous.
- systemtool

nah... in keeping with my "blue and white" koolaid fetish... and my age...

I prefer sugar coated blueberry poptarts. Stale - not toasted.

What in God's name does any of this mean? When and why did you start believing you're some overlord who over sees what is and isn't acceptable regarding the Leafs as well as the emotions fans should and shouldn't be feeling? Leaf nation doesn't revolve around the spatso belief system and acceptability scale.

Please. Kindly go (frank) off and go (frank) yourself.

The leafs dont have the best prospect pool of all time. Nobody has suggested that. What they do have though is one of the best if not thee best prospect pool in the game today.

This isn't my opinion. It's the opinions of various sources who rank the prospect pools of teams.

We're not celebrating anything here but the fact we finally have hope. No sure fire plan of success. Just hope.
- systemtool

Pretty sure the Leafs having the #1 pick is tormenting him to the point where it's keeping him up all night long...

Good stuff..

9) Francis Perron is simply better than Mitch Marner.

10) Non- Leafs fans that visit Leafs threads do so in peace. Leafs fans who visit other teams thread do so in order to troll said fan base. Leafs fans, not unlike the residents of any district outside of the Capital in the Hunger Games, are just too sensitive
- walshyleafsfan

seriously, we should collect this 10 rules... and post them in every new thread as it spins up.

except Garths - no point there.

Pretty sure the Leafs having the #1 pick is tormenting him to the point where it's keeping him up all night long...

Good stuff..
- Fruitcakenipple

I'm just glad for the traffic now we have the number 1 pick. Honest to goodness this place is just so dead most of the time

Pretty sure the Leafs having the #1 pick is tormenting him to the point where it's keeping him up all night long...

Good stuff..
- Fruitcakenipple

Watching him try to spin it like leaf fans are loosing it over the pick is truly hilarious.

seriously, we should collect this 10 rules... and post them in every new thread as it spins up.

except Garths - no point there.
- BorjeFan4Ever

It'd also be nice to have T-Shirts made

I'm just glad for the traffic now we have the number 1 pick. Honest to goodness this place is just so dead most of the time
- walshyleafsfan

Leafs thread seeing more traffic cause of the pick.

It'd also be nice to have T-Shirts made
- walshyleafsfan

Have to be front and back..... That's a lot of rules to cover.

Watching him try to spin it like leaf fans are loosing it over the pick is truly hilarious.
- burn

My one worry, as mentioned by Spatso, is that Leafs scouts have never heard of this Patrick Laine character. Can anyone confirm Brendan gets a copy of Sports Illustrated 'Draft Edition'.?

Pretty sure the Leafs having the #1 pick is tormenting him to the point where it's keeping him up all night long...

Good stuff..
- Fruitcakenipple

He's probably having one of those moments where reality sets in. I ditched the Leafs for who?! What was I thinking? The Leafs are in the right direction and I'm reliving the Ballard years only this time it's in Ottawa.

Leafs thread seeing more traffic cause of the pick.
- burn

Gord Downie

Have to be front and back..... That's a lot of rules to cover.
- burn

May have to have shorts made up as well

Leafs thread seeing more traffic cause of the pick.
- burn

He's not wrong about the draft being one of the best conversation momemts. We all want to be the one who says we knew that guy would be this good five years from now.

However I'm not sure how anyone would pick Laine over Matthews. I know what Pronman's list says, but his article would get more attention if people here he's the first guy to place Laine over Matthews.

My one worry, as mentioned by Spatso, is that Leafs scouts have never heard of this Patrick Laine character. Can anyone confirm Brendan gets a copy of Sports Illustrated 'Draft Edition'.?
- walshyleafsfan

He's a secret mystery enigma...... Only a secect few are privileged enough to know of him.

He's not wrong about the draft being one of the best conversation momemts. We all want to be the one who says we knew that guy would be this good five years from now.

However I'm not sure how anyone would pick Laine over Matthews. I know what Pronman's list says, but his article would get more attention if people here he's the first guy to place Laine over Matthews.
- BetterCallSaul

Pronman also have 6 or 7 Leafs prospects in the top 60 or so, so that's not bad.

Think Marner and Nylander are top 3 or 4

He's probably having one of those moments where reality sets in. I ditched the Leafs for who?! What was I thinking? The Leafs are in the right direction and I'm reliving the Ballard years only this time it's in Ottawa.
- systemtool

Based on his posts, and couple that with his fail of a choice to leave the leafs for a bigger failure...... Maybe it's him. Maybe he seeks out failure, or vice versa.

He's not wrong about the draft being one of the best conversation momemts. We all want to be the one who says we knew that guy would be this good five years from now.

However I'm not sure how anyone would pick Laine over Matthews. I know what Pronman's list says, but his article would get more attention if people here he's the first guy to place Laine over Matthews.
- BetterCallSaul

Yeah, but there isn't more traffic. Leaf blogs routinely get thousands of posts in a day or so before the 1st overall.