There were plenty of choices made to try and keep the party going. Being unlucky in the draft happens. Signing marginal vets to longer term deals was a choice.
- belcherbd

Jury is out on JV but plenty of time for him to get straightened out.
OJ is nearing the time to add to our d corp quality.
Gaudette looks to be a great pick.
Problem is time is needed for them to develop.
Demko the same but they all will be together for the next wave.

True but miles ahead is a WC spot cuz of a weak division.
D is weak & none in the system that will impact change.
Ignoring OJ & his potential is yet to be seen.
Sedins & our lack of another top C is our achilles heal.
- Nighthawk

They're 16th overall in the league. Their conference is as good as ours, yet has 16 teams not 14. That's an old, overused excuse.

They have young D on their team, as do we. They also have cap space coming. You can deny all you want, it doesn't change the fact they are miles ahead of us.

So was drafting Virtanen.
- golfingsince

Premature

They're 16th overall in the league. Their conference is as good as ours, yet has 16 teams not 14. That's an old, overused excuse.

They have young D on their team, as do we. They also have cap space coming. You can deny all you want, it doesn't change the fact they are miles ahead of us.
- golfingsince

I don't use excuses but pointing out a fact.
If i used excuses i'd say injuries the last 2 years.
But i don't cuz our depth was woeful.
Miles ahead is results & the Leafs r only beginning.

Nobody here really likes the Leafs, but you need to be more realistic. Even without Matthews, the young talent level on the Leafs easily surpasses ours.
- golfingsince

They should be ahead of us... we were a dominate team for a decade... they have been a bottom feeder for well over a decade. It's easy to say they are ahead of us in a rebuild when they are off the starting line much earlier.

If we won the lottery last year... narrative changes with nothing being done differently by the Gm's up to that point.

So was drafting Virtanen.
- golfingsince

Tramkin

They should be ahead of us... we were a dominate team for a decade... they have been a bottom feeder for well over a decade. It's easy to say they are ahead of us in a rebuild when they are off the starting line much earlier.

If we won the lottery last year... narrative changes with nothing being done differently by the Gm's up to that point.
- boonerbuck

Premature
- Nighthawk

Is it though? What do you think the absolute ceiling is for his skillset?

Tramkin
- VanHockeyGuy

They should be ahead of us... we were a dominate team for a decade... they have been a bottom feeder for well over a decade. It's easy to say they are ahead of us in a rebuild when they are off the starting line much earlier.

If we won the lottery last year... narrative changes with nothing being done differently by the Gm's up to that point.
- boonerbuck

I agree they should. Putting Matthews on our team and Laine as a consolation on theirs doesn't put us on equal footing with them prospect wise though.

The original post I quoted said the Leafs would be years off without Matthews, which I disagree with.

Is it though? What do you think the absolute ceiling is for his skillset?
- DrChristianTroy

He is 20 with an August bday

What kind of a trade chip did he have? He gave a list of one (frank)ing team. I (frank)ing hate Kessler
- CanuckDon

True.

Tramkin
- VanHockeyGuy

It's a nice pick, but when JV was drafted there were highly skilled guys like Nylander and Ehlers available. We went for a banger. Getting Tree later on doesn't change that.

He is 20 with an August bday
- CanuckDon

Skillset has nothing to do with age.

Is it though? What do you think the absolute ceiling is for his skillset?
- DrChristianTroy

3rd line 20 goals & a force who impacts with his speed & hitting.
2nd line if he learns from Burrows/Hansen what hardwork & determination game in & game out does.

to be honest, I prefer anyone in the top 10 except for Rassmussen. Whoever Jim Benning picks, at whatever spot, I will trust him with it.
- Codes1087

Agree 100%

JB has earned the right, despite what the peanut gallery might think, to get the benefit of the doubt (even Virtanen from what I understand was Aquaman's pick)... for his draft picks AND trades with the performance of Bear and Granola...

3rd line 20 goals & a force who impacts with his speed & hitting.
2nd line if he learns from Burrows/Hansen what hardwork & determination game in & game out does.
- Nighthawk

So then you'll agree we bypassed 1st/2nd line guys for a 2nd/3rd line guy.

Agree 100%

JB has earned the right, despite what the peanut gallery might think, to get the benefit of the doubt (even Virtanen from what I understand was Aquaman's pick)... for his draft picks AND trades with the performance of Bear and Granola...
- kaptaan

I've seen this posted a bunch of times, without ever seeing one shred of evidence towards it.

It's a nice pick, but when JV was drafted there were highly skilled guys like Nylander and Ehlers available. We went for a banger. Getting Tree later on doesn't change that.
- golfingsince

Too early to tell with JV. I saw a wicked goal he got the other day. He's a kid that still needs to learn, he has the tools. I'm looking forward to seeing him at camp.

3rd line 20 goals & a force who impacts with his speed & hitting.
2nd line if he learns from Burrows/Hansen what hardwork & determination game in & game out does.
- Nighthawk

Yeah... So in reality, the jury isn't out. That ceiling can be acquired outside the lottery. Can't waste lottery picks on anything other than top line forwards or top pairing dmen. Scouts have to identify skillsets with those ceilings.

So then you'll agree we bypassed 1st/2nd line guys for a 2nd/3rd line guy.
- golfingsince

I wanted Ehlers tbh. He is a good 2nd liner IMO
Nylander i was up in the air on but liked him.
JV i was more into for what we lacked & he could provide.
Atm i'll agree we appeared to pass on better players.

Skillset has nothing to do with age.
- DrChristianTroy

You don't like Virtanen skill set? Shot, size and speed. Pretty decent set of tools

Too early to tell with JV. I saw a wicked goal he got the other day. He's a kid that still needs to learn, he has the tools. I'm looking forward to seeing him at camp.
- VanHockeyGuy

I wanted Nylander, DCT and Nucker wanted Ehlers. Either way, we're talking 20+ goals and 50+ points this year in the NHL.

JV has a long ways to go to even post those numbers in the AHL.

For Don, their birthdays are May and February respectively.

I've seen this posted a bunch of times, without ever seeing one shred of evidence towards it.
- golfingsince

it's not like CSIS is on the case... its innuendo and speculation. Aquaman probably thought a local boy would be great for marketing... but that's just foolish, when there were other two way guys that JB likes on the board who were as good or better than Virtanen.

It's not like JB can come out and say, "Aquaman put me up to it"...

Too early to tell with JV. I saw a wicked goal he got the other day. He's a kid that still needs to learn, he has the tools. I'm looking forward to seeing him at camp.
- VanHockeyGuy

If he gets his poop together he has a great NHL shot.