Also, do they not get anymore draft picks ever again to refill the system? Im confused.
- ImThatGuy

Guess not lol.

What do the Leafs have in the pipeline that the NHL is not seeing yet? Kirby Rachel, maybe? They're going to be good, no doubt about that, but how much better is the question?

Nylander and Guhle are at least two key pieces that should be solid for us and are not in Sabres' uniforms yet, we will add another top 9 pick this summer, so we still have some quality on its way.
- sskkoo1

Jeremy Bracco
Josh Leivo and Kasperi Kapanen have barely been used in the NHL and are both good.

Also, do they not get anymore draft picks ever again to refill the system? Im confused.
- ImThatGuy

We know you are

Guess not lol.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

They are going to trade JVR for a top 4 D, and be completely loaded.

Matthews
Marner
Nylander
Kadri
Kapanen
Hyman
Brown
Bozak
Leivo
Bracco

Rielly
Gardiner
Carrick
Top 4 D trade

Jesus

They are going to trade JVR for a top 4 D, and be completely loaded.

Matthews
Marner
Nylander
Kadri
Kapanen
Hyman
Brown
Bozak
Leivo
Bracco

Rielly
Gardiner
Carrick
Top 4 D trade

Jesus
- sbroads24

Missing Zaitsev is that D core....who is 25 and pretty good.

They are going to trade JVR for a top 4 D, and be completely loaded.

Matthews
Marner
Nylander
Kadri
Kapanen
Hyman
Brown
Bozak
Leivo
Bracco

Rielly
Gardiner
Carrick
Top 4 D trade

Jesus
- sbroads24

You forgot Zaitsev(sp?)

Right...... So Matthews, Nylander, Marner are all going to get worse.
Kadir is going to suddenly be terrible.
JVR will forget how to skate.
Reilly and gardnier are going to forget how to defense.
Also Babcock is suddenly going to become a terrible coach.
- ImThatGuy

I literally said none of this

BUT

it wouldn't be that big of a surprise to see 1 or more of Matthews, Nylander, and Marner have an "off" sophomore season.

Kadri played over his norm - he had 11 more points than any NHL season previously. He is not that great and I wouldn't be surprised if he dips.

I'll leave the rest alone because I never made any claims but ya know its possible just as injuries and other things are.

Missing Zaitsev is that D core....who is 25 and pretty good.
- DDM-Coga

JESUS

Also, I like Guhle a lot but anyone who thinks he, alone, steps on this team next year and makes us an immediate contender is nuts. Hes going to go through learning curves and ups/downs like young players do.

Remember when the Sabres had a giraffe win the Calder and never make any significant improvements in his game? It happens sometimes. Some guys don't put in the work or get too cocky or get hurt or {insert real life thing here}.

JESUS
- sbroads24

Kadri and Gardiner are the old men at 26. They really flipped the switch on a team that was filled with Vets and some youth sprinkled in to 3/4 of the team is under 25 and surrounded by in their late 20s vets

I literally said none of this

BUT

it wouldn't be that big of a surprise to see 1 or more of Matthews, Nylander, and Marner have an "off" sophomore season.

Kadri played over his norm - he had 11 more points than any NHL season previously. He is not that great and I wouldn't be surprised if he dips.

I'll leave the rest alone because I never made any claims but ya know its possible just as injuries and other things are.
- Phatjohnsn

Nah, he's been criminally under rated for two years now. This is who he is. He gets a ton of shots and scoring chances and they are starting to go in for him.

Last year he shot at 6.5%, a career low. This year he shot around what he usually does

Also, I like Guhle a lot but anyone who thinks he, alone, steps on this team next year and makes us an immediate contender is nuts. Hes going to go through learning curves and ups/downs like young players do.

Remember when the Sabres had a giraffe win the Calder and never make any significant improvements in his game? It happens sometimes. Some guys don't put in the work or get too cocky or get hurt or {insert real life thing here}.
- Phatjohnsn

Nah, he's been criminally under rated for two years now. This is who he is. He gets a ton of shots and scoring chances and they are starting to go in for him.

Last year he shot at 6.5%, a career low. This year he shot around what he usually does
- sbroads24

And he has talent around him now.

I have yet to find a fanbase that says anything differently about their own media personalities.
- buffalofan19

When you are watching from afar like me ............ it's quite clear. The Buffalo media borders on madness.

Nah, he's been criminally under rated for two years now. This is who he is. He gets a ton of shots and scoring chances and they are starting to go in for him.

Last year he shot at 6.5%, a career low. This year he shot around what he usually does
- sbroads24

He has always underwhelmed in my opinion and I think his output and his game are easily replaceable. He is pretty close to the bottom of the list of guys I'd pick out on the Leafs roster that I think will improve at all.

nothing is guaranteed, or so I was just told so we cant count on them being good.

Or is this a case where Toronto = bad no good and Buffalo = Best going to be dominant
- ImThatGuy

No, I agree, nothing is guaranteed. But, if we had to count on any of our prospects being future core pieces of this team, they would be at the top of the list, wouldn't you agree? A top 10 pick in any draft should also be considered a serious future core piece.

And, I'm not saying we'll be better than Toronto or Toronto will be better than us, but I do think we are closer than people will have us believe. We have a lot of dead weight which will be leaving us soon, and that will free up a lot of cap to at least add 1 or 2 more quality players.

I don't think we are terrible at all, unlucky yes, but not terrible.
Switch Kuli with Antipin, move Bogo to the 3rd pairing, hope the Moulson goes to Vegas and Okposo will be back, and just these moves could make us look completely different next year. This year was a setback in the rebuild, not an un-repairable failure of the rebuild.

The press is a cakewalk in Buffalo.

It takes two sides to create a bad relationship.
Maybe if both teams didn't seem so dysfunctional the press would back off some.

How about making the playoffs for either team once every 5 or so year.
- ImThatGuy

Exhibit A

And he has talent around him now.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

The Leafs have 3 guys capable of playing 1C with Matthews, Marner and Kadri

Don't worry....people can keep female doging about him...dumbass harrington can keep trashing him.......and Jack will be a Bruin when his contract is up
- feetontheair22

There is no doubt in my mind Jack bails from Buffalo the minute he is able.

Harrington can then add another bullet-point to his resume.

The Leafs have 3 guys capable of playing 1C with Matthews, Marner and Kadri
- sbroads24

If they are forced to have Kadri play 1C for any length of time (for example because of injury), they aren't a playoff team. Simple as that.

Just out of curiosity - is this convo even happening if Stamkos played 30 games instead of 17 and TB beat out the Leafs for that final playoff spot?

If they are forced to have Kadri play 1C for any length of time (for example because of injury), they aren't a playoff team. Simple as that.
- Phatjohnsn

You mean if Marner and Matthews, their two best players get hurt? Yeah, probably.

There is no doubt in my mind Jack bails from Buffalo the minute he is able.

Harrington can then add another bullet-point to his resume.
- fastek

Where is all this coming from? Because Jack complained about losing? Good, he should. He's here for at least another 5 years unless someone offer sheets and we don't match. I'm sure he'll settle down and take charge of his team by then. If Drouin is still in Tampa after that mess, than I'm not worried about Jack going anywhere.

Oh you...still banging that drum
- DDM-Coga

And your team is on the Clock too bossman -

ROR is a leader - if not, why does he play everything (PP - PK etc) skates 29 mins a night - stays out of the penalty box (Lady Byng winner) offers after practice sessions...


Yep - he's a EXCELLENT Captain -

Hows Landy doing in year 10 of the "Landy Era" ?

Exhibit A
- fastek

Im sorry, how is this "Exhibit A"