Mike Augello: Leafs Announce Development Camp Roster, New ECHL Affiliate

Anybody that knows about hockey knew he was exactly what the Leafs were missing.

If the Leafs had kept Hyman and Kadri then acquired Bennett for peanuts, this Leafs team would have a lot more than just 1 series win.

Hyman / Matthews / Marner
Bennett / Kadri / Domi

Kadri @ 4.5 AAV, Hyman @ 2.25 AAV, Bennett @ 2.5 AAV was less than the price of Tavares (in 2021) by the way.

That top-six could skate by you, score on you, hit you and punch you in the face. Absolutely a disgustingly bad lost opportunity.
- Rare_Jewel

Also, fist 👊🏻

Hey guys. Bennett worked out better than every GM in the league knew.

Source - Captain Obvious

Hey guys. Bennett worked out better than every GM in the league knew.

Source - Captain Obvious
- jribout

Sometimes a GM hits - sometimes he misses right. Awesome for him he got that one right I guess.

….Spencer Knight, Ben Chiarot, Giroux knowing no way they would keep or afford him the following season - those are the low hanging fruit of Zito misses. He definitely scored in the Bennett one though.

It’s like prospects/drafting - there are some sure bets (previous auto current was sore betas haha) but the rest of just educated guessing in a sense.

Hey guys. Bennett worked out better than every GM in the league knew.

Source - Captain Obvious
- jribout

Well except 1 knew

Well except 1 knew
- Aaron_85

Nope Bennett ended up being worth more than a 2nd round pick.

I said over and over and over again that the Leafs should get Bennett a few years back.

I knew. I was right.

Well except 1 knew
- Aaron_85

same

Nope Bennett ended up being worth more than a 2nd round pick.
- jribout

huh? Nope what? Zito was the only guy who knew he might work out.

I said over and over and over again that the Leafs should get Bennett a few years back.

I knew. I was right.
- Horsey Sauce

Pics or it didn't happen

Sometimes a GM hits - sometimes he misses right. Awesome for him he got that one right I guess.

….Spencer Knight, Ben Chiarot, Giroux knowing no way they would keep or afford him the following season - those are the low hanging fruit of Zito misses. He definitely scored in the Bennett one though.

It’s like prospects/drafting - there are some sure bets (previous auto current was sore betas haha) but the rest of just educated guessing in a sense.
- Big23Questions

Buffalo legit drafted their 1 and 2 C and then gave them away.

Pics or it didn't happen
- Aaron_85

It happened and all you F’s know it.

huh? Nope what? Zito was the only guy who knew he might work out.
- Aaron_85

Yes and he knew Montour was going to be a stud, and Reinhart a 57 goal scorer and Verghage and and and.

The point is he threw a lot of darts and enough hit to win.

Yes and he knew Montour was going to be a stud, and Reinhart a 57 goal scorer and Verghage and and and.

The point is he threw a lot of darts and enough hit to win.
- jribout

I don't think gambling on Reinhart, the #2 pick right behind your #1 pick, was a huge gamble. When they got him he was pacing to 30 goals in COVID shortened seasons. Expecting him to score 57 wasn't in the cards - but thinking he could reach 40 was probably not inconceivable.

Bennett was the #4 pick in that same draft, so knowing that they were going to be drafting near the top meant that they probably did do some extensive scouting of the top prospects. I'm surprised more GMs weren't lining up to offer a 2nd for a guy who was the #4oa pick. He'd been floundering in Calgary and was acting entitled to a greater role without earning it at the time, so I guess it's about taking that chance.

I wished that Lou had kept Verhaeghe because he's from my town and the people here sure thought he was something special. I'm happy for the kid.

Montour was interesting because he'd looked good in Anaheim and then so very bad in Buffalo. Looks like the way he'd looked in Anaheim was closer to who he was. But I mean he was drafted 2nd, Buffalo paid a 1st for him and then dumped him to Florida for a 3rd after ruining him.

I don't think gambling on Reinhart, the #2 pick right behind your #1 pick, was a huge gamble. When they got him he was pacing to 30 goals in COVID shortened seasons. Expecting him to score 57 wasn't in the cards - but thinking he could reach 40 was probably not inconceivable.

Bennett was the #4 pick in that same draft, so knowing that they were going to be drafting near the top meant that they probably did do some extensive scouting of the top prospects. I'm surprised more GMs weren't lining up to offer a 2nd for a guy who was the #4oa pick. He'd been floundering in Calgary and was acting entitled to a greater role without earning it at the time, so I guess it's about taking that chance.

I wished that Lou had kept Verhaeghe because he's from my town and the people here sure thought he was something special. I'm happy for the kid.

Montour was interesting because he'd looked good in Anaheim and then so very bad in Buffalo. Looks like the way he'd looked in Anaheim was closer to who he was. But I mean he was drafted 2nd, Buffalo paid a 1st for him and then dumped him to Florida for a 3rd after ruining him.
- Monkeypunk

Again I agree with all that. Calculated risks. They worked out. Zito is probably top end GM. But the captain obvious' on here. The "anybody that knew anything about hockey" guys. Holy cow, how many top 5 picks have been busts?

It happened and all you F’s know it.
- Horsey Sauce

then it should be easy for you -cause I ain't doing it - to search the hockeybuzz archive for those poste eh!

Yes and he knew Montour was going to be a stud, and Reinhart a 57 goal scorer and Verghage and and and.

The point is he threw a lot of darts and enough hit to win.
- jribout

Montour was a stud in Anaheim. Reinhart was/is a solid #2 C. 57 goals no one would have guessed but that doesn't take away that he took the chance on Bennett by seeing something worth trading for.

Verghage looked legit I think by Tampa? So made sense but I don't think anyone expected him to be as good as he has been.

then it should be easy for you -cause I ain't doing it - to search the hockeybuzz archive for those poste eh!
- dmnted

When it comes down to brass tacks, I could give a flying (frank) about the Panthers and their 150 trailer trash fans. If the Panthers don't make the playoffs next season few will give a poop. Like the moves to shore up the D that the Leafs made. GLG

Again I agree with all that. Calculated risks. They worked out. Zito is probably top end GM. But the captain obvious' on here. The "anybody that knew anything about hockey" guys. Holy cow, how many top 5 picks have been busts?
- jribout

I looked at the 2014 draft and if top picks (like a lot of guys here think are easy) then Virtanen/Fluery/Dal Colle all wouldn't have gone before Nylander. Arguably even Bennett.

Has anyone signed Alex Nylander? That's a no risk flyer I'd like the Leafs to take. Give him a look in camp with big bro. If it doesn't work out so be it

For the record ..

<------ this guy also was all about grabbing Sam Bennett back when FLA grabbed him.

...mostly b/c he was a yuge Dougie G fan and part of the whole Kingston connection.

I remember when he was struggling in Calgary the word was that he wasn't good enough defensively to play 3C and he didn't score enough to play top 6.

Honestly, I think he's a little fringy as a true C but he's gelled so well with Tkachuk.

I always wanted Bennett for the Commando references and my reasoning proved sound.

Picking up Reinhart from waivers early on helped me win both of my fantasy pools, which are decades-long grudge matches now, so I will always love and hate Reinhart.

I looked at the 2014 draft and if top picks (like a lot of guys here think are easy) then Virtanen/Fluery/Dal Colle all wouldn't have gone before Nylander. Arguably even Bennett.
- Aaron_85

Who saw that coming, oh yeah yours truly

Buffalo legit drafted their 1 and 2 C and then gave them away.

- Aaron_85

Boston trading Seguin for nothing was pretty bad too. That’s the kind of thing that could happen with a Marner trade.

Boston trading Seguin for nothing was pretty bad too. That’s the kind of thing that could happen with a Marner trade.
- shack67

It could ....or it could end up like the other Seguin trade.

The classic "two firsts and a second" .....Seguin and Hamilton