Fair enough but when you find an example of that working let me know. While the Sedin's are here they will keep pushing for playoffs. I just want them to compete hard period but I don't want quick fixes either. Unfortunately none of us get to make those decisions and while it may seem a bit unorthodox, I don't think the Leafs, Flames, and Oilers have had any success in the past 10 years slowly rebuilding through the draft. I'd say the Oilers are the closest if they can get a solid performance from Talbot and find a way to get a puck moving D man.

It shouldn't really matter where Benning is drafting if he is as good as some think. He just needs to start holding onto more picks and selling at the TDL if they aren't a playoff team. I think this past years TDL was a bit unfortunate but he was put in a tough spot.

The main differences in the Leafs model and ours is that we still have great leadership and may have begun a retooling transition at the right time. Only time will tell but I feel very situation is different and I don't think we have made moves for quick fixes.
- WhatTheNuck

Chicago and Pittsburgh spring to mind. Tampa look like they are teetering on the cusp

Fair enough but when you find an example of that working let me know. While the Sedin's are here they will keep pushing for playoffs. I just want them to compete hard period but I don't want quick fixes either. Unfortunately none of us get to make those decisions and while it may seem a bit unorthodox, I don't think the Leafs, Flames, and Oilers have had any success in the past 10 years slowly rebuilding through the draft. I'd say the Oilers are the closest if they can get a solid performance from Talbot and find a way to get a puck moving D man.

It shouldn't really matter where Benning is drafting if he is as good as some think. He just needs to start holding onto more picks and selling at the TDL if they aren't a playoff team. I think this past years TDL was a bit unfortunate but he was put in a tough spot.

The main differences in the Leafs model and ours is that we still have great leadership and may have begun a retooling transition at the right time. Only time will tell but I feel very situation is different and I don't think we have made moves for quick fixes.
- WhatTheNuck

Leafs traded 2 1sts and a 2nd for Kessel 6 years ago.


They've only been rebuilding through the draft 3 years now

Fair enough but when you find an example of that working let me know. While the Sedin's are here they will keep pushing for playoffs. I just want them to compete hard period but I don't want quick fixes either. Unfortunately none of us get to make those decisions and while it may seem a bit unorthodox, I don't think the Leafs, Flames, and Oilers have had any success in the past 10 years slowly rebuilding through the draft. I'd say the Oilers are the closest if they can get a solid performance from Talbot and find a way to get a puck moving D man.

It shouldn't really matter where Benning is drafting if he is as good as some think. He just needs to start holding onto more picks and selling at the TDL if they aren't a playoff team. I think this past years TDL was a bit unfortunate but he was put in a tough spot.

The main differences in the Leafs model and ours is that we still have great leadership and may have begun a retooling transition at the right time. Only time will tell but I feel very situation is different and I don't think we have made moves for quick fixes.
- WhatTheNuck

The Leafs, Flames, and Oilers have a cup/cups. It has worked for them. They have accomplished what every NHL team strives to do. Win a cup.

We have not. Brutal ownership and management over the years. Repeating the same mistakes. And now the brain trust of the team I support wants to take one last ditch effort to win the cup with our aging stars. My god, when will they learn.

Leafs traded 2 1sts and a 2nd for Kessel 6 years ago.


They've only been rebuilding through the draft 3 years now
- walshyleafsfan

2 Years. They started the tear down 3 seasons ago in the middle of the season.

2 Years. They started the tear down 3 seasons ago in the middle of the season.
- Retinalz

Seems longer.

Let me join n in on the Tyesday poop since I'm bored....

Tanev, Pedan and a 1st for Barrie and a 3rd
Baertschi for Kane


Sedin/Sedin/Eriksson
Kane/Sutter/Hansen
Rodin/Horvat/Virtanen
Etem/Granlund/Dorsett

Edler/ Barrie
Hutton/Gudbranson
Shias/Larsen
- chompsey

This team should never trade a 1st! No way.

Seems longer.
- walshyleafsfan

Ya, it was quite funny. They were still in the race for playoffs, just had a bad losing streak that took them out of it. Then they decided to go for McDavid instead and purposely removed themselves from a playoff spot. I have a couple Leafs fans at work and they were livid at first. Then(like true Leafs fans) they would just start talking about how good McDavids number would look in a Leafs jersey.

Elder needs a bounce back season or he can be gone by 2017
- VANTEL

Agreed. Move on from him, Wally Buono style. Before he completely breaks down. Canucks got rid of Kesler (even tho it was Kes's doing) before he began to really crumble.

Get good value. Teach Edler to shoot right handed. Trade him for a butt load. Of course NTC.

Joe Thornton just had a 82 point season

Where's your pavelski? Couture ? Burns ? Pickles ? Jones ?
- Redmile247

Yep. The Canucks are what the Sharks are minus Couture, Pavelski, Burns, Pickles........

They missed out on that whole generation. 3 of them were draft picks.

They have youth now. But, looking at the Sedins age, the timing is all wrong.

Exactly. Our teams have been down this road before may times. It doesn't work. You got to draft your superstars and build around them. Signing Loui at this time makes no sense.

I agree with most of the talking heads out there, the timing just seems weird.
- bloatedmosquito

Not really. It has become apparent (to me, anyways) that the Aquillini's are directing and they want to win now. So this is what we are stuck with. I was really hoping that they would just sit back and let the hockey people build a contender throw drafting & developing but........

Ya, it was quite funny. They were still in the race for playoffs, just had a bad losing streak that took them out of it. Then they decided to go for McDavid instead and purposely removed themselves from a playoff spot. I have a couple Leafs fans at work and they were livid at first. Then(like true Leafs fans) they would just start talking about how good McDavids number would look in a Leafs jersey.
- Retinalz

Yeah. I'm so glad Shanahan finally thought, screw this, we're starting again.

If not, we'd still be battling with the Sens for 9th or 10th

It is common sense for a rebuild but that's not what's going on here... you said it yourself.
- bloatedmosquito

I'd argue they are rebuilding but they are doing it a different way than Toronto. Management has loaded up on young guys in the 21-25 age range and they have added/ retained their key prospects. Virtanen, Boeser, Tree (maybe), Demko, Horvat and Juolevi. They are the future of the team. They feel they can reload on young players while still pushing for the playoffs every year. I understand you don't like the method but make no mistake, the new core of the team is being assembled.

Yeah. I'm so glad Shanahan finally thought, screw this, we're starting again.

If not, we'd still be battling with the Sens for 9th or 10th
- walshyleafsfan

What Shanny is doing is going to take awhile, some Leaf fans think this is gonna be a quick turnaround, I disagree.

You've got two more years at the bottom IMO.

The Leafs, Flames, and Oilers have a cup/cups. It has worked for them. They have accomplished what every NHL team strives to do. Win a cup.

We have not. Brutal ownership and management over the years. Repeating the same mistakes. And now the brain trust of the team I support wants to take one last ditch effort to win the cup with our aging stars. My god, when will they learn.
- bloatedmosquito

Leafs have a cup? From over sixty years ago!!!! Lols

Auston Matthews just scored a goal.
It was practice, during warm up with no goalie, but he just scored his first goal as a Leaf.

Do I think Sedins are elite? Not any more.

Are they better than Thorton/Marleau? Yes, but the sharks lost. Never follow the example of the losing side.

Are Vancouver fans the most fickle hockey market in the NHL? No way and that comparison drives me nuts. The canucks have done poop in their history. Blunder after blunder. Disappointment after disappointment. And yet the team is still in vancouver and is still making money. The fickle fan base is a delusion.

If you promoted the redevelopment of the canucks through patience and drafting, explaining your plan clearly to the fan base and stuck to it, I think there would be buy-in. Instead, we get double talk from our owner, prez, and GM.
- bloatedmosquito

Darius is 100% correct on his points. Our fanbase is extremely fickle and the demographics don't help the situation. If we don't push for the playoffs this year you will be able to pick up seats for $15. If I am running the business I'd telling Benning playoffs or find a new job.

What Shanny is doing is going to take awhile, some Leaf fans think this is gonna be a quick turnaround, I disagree.

You've got two more years at the bottom IMO.
- LeftCoaster

Could be longer if they keep trading their vets for picks. Whenever they trade a vet it is an AHL player or a youth that takes his spot. Teach young guys to lose,and they will always lose.

Auston Matthews just scored a goal.
It was practice, during warm up with no goalie, but he just scored his first goal as a Leaf.
- Scooby_Doo

Should be a full ten minute segment on TSN tonight to cover it

Auston Matthews just scored a goal.
It was practice, during warm up with no goalie, but he just scored his first goal as a Leaf.
- Scooby_Doo

I think I've stated the exact opposite many, many times. I've never been one to jump off the bridge.

Slow rebuild through the draft. No need to take another shot at a cup for the twins. Very simple concept. What’s happening now is quick fixes. The only reason names like Lucic and Loui were being thrown around because of the canucks desire to compete now and not wait and try a different approach.

Once again, this team seems to be stuck in no man's land.
- bloatedmosquito

lets see where we are in a couple seasons. I think being in no man's land is just missing out on the playoffs and not adding any players or the players we have (with the big club or in Utica) aren't developing properly.

We will see more turnover in the lineup as Miller, Burrows and Sbisa's contracts expire and they move on.

We need a potential top line centre and hopefully JB drafts or trades for one (would prefer the draft, trading for a legit one will be too costly and we don't have the assets) with our first round picks.

Much like that point for flames fans you can see a divide in the fan base ...some want to try and compete for playoffs and others are fed up with going for in when your probably not going to be a legit contender
- Redmile247

This is incorrect. The Canucks aren't "going for it." Adding a UFA only costs cap space. We are still collecting valuable parts of the future core while we make a playoff push. Management isn't selling youth and draft picks for veteran players. Big difference in the two situations.

Auston Matthews just scored a goal.
It was practice, during warm up with no goalie, but he just scored his first goal as a Leaf.
- Scooby_Doo

Is Sportsnet & TSN carrying this live?!?!

What Shanny is doing is going to take awhile, some Leaf fans think this is gonna be a quick turnaround, I disagree.

You've got two more years at the bottom IMO.
- LeftCoaster

I agree. I think that's his plan as well. Doubt we'll see Marner this year. Like you said, lots of Leafs fans think we'll try to go for it this year due to it being the centennial year, but I think you'll see more of the same. Flipping for picks at the deadline, emphasis on drafting, continuous learning of Mike's system and blooding some youngsters. Full season for Nylander, Matthews, Zaitsev, Rychel, Soshnikov and Hyman. Rest will roster in and out

Is Sportsnet & TSN carrying this live?!?!
- Marwood

balloons and streamers

or

buffoons and steamers

Could be longer if they keep trading their vets for picks. Whenever they trade a vet it is an AHL player or a youth that takes his spot. Teach young guys to lose,and they will always lose.
- Retinalz

To be fair they still have JVR, Bozak, Lupul, Kadri, Komarov, Laich, Martin, Michalek, Greening, Hunwick and Polak