Funny, I had him as a sliders kind of guy.
- Scooby_Doo

The problem is that if things go well we are a bubble team. Wrong side of the bubble and it's kind of a lost season as we pick middle of the pack (most likely). At least the kids get another year of development.
- golfingsince

The leafs did it for 10 years and look how it worked out for them.

Picking in the bubble position is terrible

- A_SteamingLombardi

Yeah sorry for your cat. Long life

The problem is that if things go well we are a bubble team. Wrong side of the bubble and it's kind of a lost season as we pick middle of the pack (most likely). At least the kids get another year of development.
- golfingsince

I hated the middle. I know exactly what you are talking about. I would hate to have a team year after year 10-20 .

If it is a one year progress and continue the upward progress the following year, I can live with that.

Boeser was a nice pick at 23.

The leafs did it for 10 years and look how it worked out for them.

Picking in the bubble position is terrible
- classic321

I want to say we aren't the Leafs but we will have to wait and see what happens...

With JB's scouting, maybe finishing around 20th isn't so bad.

It is kind of crazy that a team has to decide at or before tdl to go for the playoffs or liquidate and get worse quick to get a better draft pick.

Winning is the bottom line for playoff teams and losing is the focus for those that will miss. there is something wrong with that.

The leafs did it for 10 years and look how it worked out for them.

Picking in the bubble position is terrible
- classic321

Leafs were only a bubble team for a couple of years, 2005/06 & 2006/07, other than that they've been a bottom ten team for the past eight of nine seasons. Prior to the lockout in 2004/05 they had pretty good teams for a few years.

2008 - 7th last
2009 - 7th last
2010 - 2nd last (traded for Kessel)
2011 - 9th last (traded for Kessel)
2012 - 5th last
2013 - 21st last
2014 - 8th last
2015 - 4th last
2016 - 1st last

Leafs were only a bubble team for a couple of years, 2005/06 & 2006/07, other than that they've been a bottom ten team for the past eight of nine seasons. Prior to the lockout in 2004/05 they had pretty good teams for a few years.

2008 - 7th last
2009 - 7th last
2010 - 2nd last (traded for Kessel)
2011 - 9th last (traded for Kessel)
2012 - 5th last
2013 - 21st last
2014 - 8th last
2015 - 4th last
2016 - 1st last
- LeftCoaster

Yup. Almost a decade of top 10 drafting

Yup. Almost a decade of top 10 drafting
- VANTEL

Funny thing is, in 2005 they drafted Tukka Rask in the first round 21st overall & Stralman in the seventh round. In 2006 they drafted Jiri Tlusty 13th overall, Kulemin, Reimer, Stalberg & Kormarov after that.

Probably their best drafting in the past ten or eleven years and they were a bubble positions both years. Even though 2005 was from a lottery.

Yup. Almost a decade of top 10 drafting
- VANTEL

imagine if they would have kept some of those picks instead of trading them away, like in the Kessel trade.

I wanted to say we aren't the Leafs, but we just traded away a first rounder in McCann.

anyway, I'm fine with the direction JB is taking us, I didn't want to tank.

Funny thing is, in 2005 they drafted Tukka Rask in the first round 21st overall & Stralman in the seventh round. In 2006 they drafted Jiri Tlusty 13th overall, Kulemin, Reimer, Stalberg & Kormarov after that.

Probably their best drafting in the past ten or eleven years and they were a bubble team both years.
- LeftCoaster

Vancouver fan base would not accept bottom 10 finishes for a decade. Neither would ownership or management.

The fact you bring up Gauthier Holl Valiev kinda shows you don't know much about the leafs system which is fair cause why would you
- ClarksonDavid

So explain the system and timeline? 10-20-30-40-50 years? to....

a) Playoffs?

b) Stanley Cup??

imagine if they would have kept some of those picks instead of trading them away, like in the Kessel trade.

I wanted to say we aren't the Leafs, but we just traded away a first rounder in McCann.

anyway, I'm fine with the direction JB is taking us, I didn't want to tank.
- hillbillydeluxe

Boston also traded the picks away . Hamilton and Seguin gone. Eriksson gone. They seem competitive every year.

imagine if they would have kept some of those picks instead of trading them away, like in the Kessel trade.

I wanted to say we aren't the Leafs, but we just traded away a first rounder in McCann.

anyway, I'm fine with the direction JB is taking us, I didn't want to tank.
- hillbillydeluxe

Yep we got robbed!

Vancouver fan base would not accept bottom 10 finishes for a decade. Neither would ownership or management.
- VANTEL

I think attendance would be lower but they'd come back when/if those picks turned out. From 1980 until 1991 they only picked outside the top ten once (11th), just imagine if they could draft

That said, it shouldn't take bottom ten finishes for a decade to remake your lineup.


Edit: there was only 21 teams back then though.

Yep we got robbed!
- VanHockeyGuy

I am okay with that trade.

I was looking at where Rask was drafted and wanted to comment on the error in trading him away and then looked at where McCann was drafted and didn't want to sound like a hypocrite. But I'm still okay with the trade.

I am okay with that trade.

I was looking at where Rask was drafted and wanted to comment on the error in trading him away and then looked at where McCann was drafted and didn't want to sound like a hypocrite. But I'm still okay with the trade.
- hillbillydeluxe

I understand the thought process behind it, but I still don't like it

I think attendance would be lower but they'd come back when/if those picks turned out. From 1980 until 1991 they only picked outside the top ten once (11th), just imagine if they could draft

That said, it shouldn't take bottom ten finishes for a decade to remake your lineup.
- LeftCoaster

We need to get the season going. Then we will know what we have and what we need.

I do expect a big trade before the season starts.

I have faith in our top three lines , the D and the goalies. We still need change though. Every year upgrade.

I am okay with that trade.

I was looking at where Rask was drafted and wanted to comment on the error in trading him away and then looked at where McCann was drafted and didn't want to sound like a hypocrite. But I'm still okay with the trade.
- hillbillydeluxe

I certainly would like to see Yost & Co wear that one.

We need to get the season going. Then we will know what we have and what we need.

I do expect a big trade before the season starts.

I have faith in our top three lines , the D and the goalies. We still need change though. Every year upgrade.
- VANTEL

What they need is a few more top five picks

What they need is a few more top five picks
- LeftCoaster

Do you think Boeser will be a top 6 guy.

Do you think Boeser will be a top 6 guy.
- VANTEL

I sure hope so, his skating needs to improve but he's really talented. If they could always find a diamond like him that high in the draft I'd love it, but, history shows you don't always get that lucky.

What they need is a few more top five picks
- LeftCoaster

Thanks. I'm still thinking we finish a lotto team. The rest is math.

Thanks. I'm still thinking we finish a lotto team. The rest is math.
- VanHockeyGuy

I sure hope so, his skating needs to improve but he's really talented. If they could always find a diamond like him that high in the draft I'd love it, but, history shows you don't always get that lucky.
- LeftCoaster

In the old days it was luck. Benning lives at the rink on the road. I think his hard work eliminates the the luck factor.

I think Juolevi won't be the only NHL picked by Canucks this year.

In the old days it was luck. Benning lives at the rink on the road. I think his hard work eliminates the the luck factor.

I think Juolevi won't be the only NHL picked by Canucks this year.
- VANTEL

it's funny how much you've changed your mind. last off season you went apoplectic during draft weekend saying that the draft picks sucked (and that the rebuild hadn't even started). the meltdown was monumental.

now you're already placing boeser in a feature role.

my point is, let's not be so hasty to label players busts or core pieces before they actually prove themselves to be.

also, the fact that benning appears to be great at drafting should mean that higher picks are even more valuable. a high pick isn't only valuable in the first round. it gives you good opportunities in every round to pick up overlooked guys.