I was not able to see last night's game, from all reports it sounds like the Leafs had a solid game. Well done.
- spatso

I was not able to see last night's game, from all reports it sounds like the Leafs had a solid game. Well done.
- spatso

They played well, then fell apart, then pulled it back together.

They played well, then fell apart, then pulled it back together.
- prock

I checked Sports Club Statistics and the Leafs improved on their playoff prospects by .001 to .003 with the win last night over Nashville. I thought the win would be more positive. I am not sure what a number that low could actually mean. Carolina and Edmonton are at 0. Makes you wonder if they put the .003 in there just to encourage wagering on a hopeless case.

I checked Sports Club Statistics and the Leafs improved on their playoff prospects by .001 to .003 with the win last night over Nashville. I thought the win would be more positive. I am not sure what a number that low could actually mean. Carolina and Edmonton are at 0. Makes you wonder if they put the .003 in there just to encourage wagering on a hopeless case.
- spatso

It's not going to happen. Which isn't a big deal to me. I'd rather not see a bottom 5 finish (and still don't think it will happen), but whatever.

Hopefully, the realize this, and start trading away Poni, Stajan, Stempniak, and whoever else they can get a return for. If they actually get someone to bite on Blake, I'd be happy if they don't have to package a pick in to take him. And give more time to Bozak, Hanson, Stalberg. Good enough for me.

I watched some of the Boston/Ottawa game from yesterday afternoon. I found it irritatating listening to the Boston announcers drool over the prospects for next year's draft. I get the impression that the Boston organization believes that the Leaf pick will most likely be a 3rd pick.

It's not going to happen. Which isn't a big deal to me. I'd rather not see a bottom 5 finish (and still don't think it will happen), but whatever.

Hopefully, the realize this, and start trading away Poni, Stajan, Stempniak, and whoever else they can get a return for. If they actually get someone to bite on Blake, I'd be happy if they don't have to package a pick in to take him. And give more time to Bozak, Hanson, Stalberg. Good enough for me.
- prock

But that seems to be the grand problem that Brian Blowhard has created. If they begin to trade off roster players and weaken the team even more they will, in fact, sink further in the standings. I am not sure who that benefits other than Boston.

But that seems to be the grand problem that Brian Blowhard has created. If they begin to trade off roster players and weaken the team even more they will, in fact, sink further in the standings. I am not sure who that benefits other than Boston.
- spatso

Trading off roster players weakens the team short-term, strengthens it long-term. That benefits the Leafs, long-term. Which is how we, and management, should be thinking.

Trading off roster players weakens the team short-term, strengthens it long-term. That benefits the Leafs, long-term. Which is how we, and management, should be thinking.
- prock

I entirely agree. But! if they sink any further in the standings they will have a public relations nightmare around next year's draft.

I entirely agree. But! if they sink any further in the standings they will have a public relations nightmare around next year's draft.
- spatso

I couldn't give a poop about a public relations nightmare. And I can't see how trading Stajan, Stempniak, and the like would result in a public relations nightmare. If anything, the kids step up and it turns into a public relations dream.

I couldn't give a poop about a public relations nightmare. And I can't see how trading Stajan, Stempniak, and the like would result in a public relations nightmare. If anything, the kids step up and it turns into a public relations dream.
- prock

yes you are right. i wish they would have stuck with kids and gone the route of the draft starting five years ago. the pr nightmare is for blowhard during next summer. there are at least 5 superb players in this draft.

I watched some of the Boston/Ottawa game from yesterday afternoon. I found it irritatating listening to the Boston announcers drool over the prospects for next year's draft. I get the impression that the Boston organization believes that the Leaf pick will most likely be a 3rd pick.
- spatso

not trolling but they probably think this because the leafs have been bottom three for 95% of the season with no real signs of improvement.

oh and I know habs suck so you don't have tell me.

not trolling but they probably think this because the leafs have been bottom three for 95% of the season with no real signs of improvement.

oh and I know habs suck so you don't have tell me.
- SUPERDOMINO

I have been very critical of Gainey and his handling of Price. But Montreal has done a very good job of drafting and player development except for Price fiasco. I can only wish that Leaf management had been as responsible as Montreal's over the past five years.

I watched some of the Boston/Ottawa game from yesterday afternoon. I found it irritatating listening to the Boston announcers drool over the prospects for next year's draft. I get the impression that the Boston organization believes that the Leaf pick will most likely be a 3rd pick.
- spatso

You also have to realize that the leafs/Boston draft position may win the lottery and move up to pick even higher in the draft.

Of the three bottom teams (for most of the season) that will likely be there at the end of the season......... the leafs have absolutely no reason to tank..............and by that I mean trade away rentals, and play minor leaguers to finish in a better draft position.

I have been very critical of Gainey and his handling of Price. But Montreal has done a very good job of drafting and player development except for Price fiasco. I can only wish that Leaf management had been as responsible as Montreal's over the past five years.
- spatso

they've turned out quite a few good players, but nothing exceptional. You would hope that would be the case, as they sucked for nearly a decade. Without exception, however, almost every one has left the organization. The haven't hung on to ANY of them. Or gotten much of a return for that matter, either.

they've turned out quite a few good players, but nothing exceptional. You would hope that would be the case, as they sucked for nearly a decade. Without exception, however, almost every one has left the organization. The haven't hung on to ANY of them. Or gotten much of a return for that matter, either.
- prock

If that is what you think of Montreal over the past 10 years what would you say about the Leafs?

If that is what you think of Montreal over the past 10 years what would you say about the Leafs?
- spatso

When you're talking drafting, I'd start a little more like 3 or 4 years ago, and THEN go back 10 years. Talking drafts within a year or two after them happening is sort of useless.

the Leafs have done decently with the picks they've kept over that period. And kept and developed a few of them into players that have made decent contributions to the organization(Kaberle, Antropov, Ponikarovski, Cola, Steen, Stajan, White, and now Kulemin and Stalberg). Is there anything exceptional there, other than Kabs in the late rounds? Not really. The problem is not that they've done too poorly with what they've kept, it's that they've kept so few of them. What do you expect when you're first draft pick is typically somewhere around 50?

It's not a bad record considering. It only makes me wish they'd keep the damn picks more often.

When you're talking drafting, I'd start a little more like 3 or 4 years ago, and THEN go back 10 years. Talking drafts within a year or two after them happening is sort of useless.

the Leafs have done decently with the picks they've kept over that period. And kept and developed a few of them into players that have made decent contributions to the organization(Kaberle, Antropov, Ponikarovski, Cola, Steen, Stajan, White, and now Kulemin and Stalberg). Is there anything exceptional there, other than Kabs in the late rounds? Not really. The problem is not that they've done too poorly with what they've kept, it's that they've kept so few of them. What do you expect when you're first draft pick is typically somewhere around 50?

It's not a bad record considering. It only makes me wish they'd keep the damn picks more often.
- prock

Can I assume from your comment that you give Montreal a higher mark for the management of their player assets than you would give the Leafs. It does not matter if you are trading or acquiring picks. It is all part of the overall challenge of managing your player assets. I don't think there are any teams who are dismal than the Leafs. The world of asset management of players changed after the lockout and the new CBA. It seems that nobody bothered to tell Leaf management how the world had changed. You would think that Blowhard given his Vancouver and Anahiem experience would have understood the long term importance of the draft. Yet he seems to forget what he once knew.

The point is, he can score without Savard and is an elite goal scorer. His last 3 out of 4 goals have been fantastic. Very few guys could score those goals in the NHL.

And aside from goals, Kessel is working his butt off every shift, he was 8-0 on face/offs on Saturday. He's far from the one-dimensional player most claimed.
- RogerRoeper

Kessel is proving he doesn't need Marc Savard. He's a pure goal scorer. Those 2 goals were ones only true snipers can make.

Too bad Boston is struggling to score goals so much

And maybe, just maybe, yours truly was right about Kessel's mediocre ice-time in Boston limiting what he could do?
- RogerRoeper

He's hit a bit of a dry spell...............so perhaps "elite goal scorer", "true sniper" & "a pure goal scorer" were a bit to strong when trying to justify the high price Burke paid for Kessel.

I think it does show that he needs a player like Savard, as do most goal scorers.

i cant believe 46 pages have been wasted tryin to convince people who dont want to be convinced. An Oiler Fan, Hab Fan, And Sen fan, are you kidding me? Aside from having your draft picks, you're all in just as bad as the leafs aside from the Sens who have impressed of late, but Alfie is 37, People say Kessel needs savard, i think Spezza needs Heatley. Your quick fix Kovalev isnt a quick fix and is gone in a year and a half, Michalek i havnt given up on yet, but you criticize kessel? id say he is more of pure scorer than Michalek.( did anyone ever notice how brutal san jose picked in 03 draft with 2 1st rounders?) The Habs can stay where they are never improving just floating around 8th its all good. Maybe trade for Drury next year. and the oilers have a ton of young guys who should be flourishing, but they dont, they licks balls. 1 - 15 i think? lost 9 in a row? wow. So in conclusion, Sens better win it all this year, OIlers go ahead pick top 5 ruin that prospect to, and Habs limbo sucks doesnt it ? we would know, at least you won the conference 1 year, what a fluke that was.

i cant believe 46 pages have been wasted tryin to convince people who dont want to be convinced. An Oiler Fan, Hab Fan, And Sen fan, are you kidding me? Aside from having your draft picks, you're all in just as bad as the leafs aside from the Sens who have impressed of late, but Alfie is 37, People say Kessel needs savard, i think Spezza needs Heatley. Your quick fix Kovalev isnt a quick fix and is gone in a year and a half, Michalek i havnt given up on yet, but you criticize kessel? id say he is more of pure scorer than Michalek.( did anyone ever notice how brutal san jose picked in 03 draft with 2 1st rounders?) The Habs can stay where they are never improving just floating around 8th its all good. Maybe trade for Drury next year. and the oilers have a ton of young guys who should be flourishing, but they dont, they licks balls. 1 - 15 i think? lost 9 in a row? wow. So in conclusion, Sens better win it all this year, OIlers go ahead pick top 5 ruin that prospect to, and Habs limbo sucks doesnt it ? we would know, at least you won the conference 1 year, what a fluke that was.
- sniper12

When are you saying the Habs were Conference Champions?

It's got to be at least 16 or 17 years ago...............

When are you saying the Habs were Conference Champions?

It's got to be at least 16 or 17 years ago...............
- Doppleganger

They were #1 in the east just a couple years ago. Of course that's in the regular season.

They were #1 in the east just a couple years ago. Of course that's in the regular season.
- daeth

Qualifying for the first seed in the Conference, is not winning the Conference.

Qualifying for the first seed in the Conference, is not winning the Conference.
- Doppleganger

No, but he probably just worded it wrong. Not a huge deal imo.

They played well, then fell apart, then pulled it back together.
- prock

So do you still think that Leafs pick wont be a top 5 pick at the draft?.. it's at number 3 right now

So do you still think that Leafs pick wont be a top 5 pick at the draft?.. it's at number 3 right now
- ZOLTAN

Almost every season since the lockout they have had a late season push that resulted in them getting a far worse pick than seemed possible at the half way point in the season. A lot of that likely had to do with the teams around them trading roster players for picks, while the Leafs have either been dumb enough to add players or have stayed put.

If they continue that trend odds are we'll see the same thing happen again, and the pick will be closer to 7th than 3rd.