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.
- daeth

you can't count on making a last minute push. toronto has been a consistently poor team all year. the fact is, you guys are a bottom 5 team in terms of talent (i know my team sucks too) and there's no indication that you guys will magically become a much better team to push your way out of a lottery pick. best case scenario, you guys finish 4th last, and thats with an IMPROVEMENT in play IMO.

you can't count on making a last minute push. toronto has been a consistently poor team all year. the fact is, you guys are a bottom 5 team in terms of talent (i know my team sucks too) and there's no indication that you guys will magically become a much better team to push your way out of a lottery pick. best case scenario, you guys finish 4th last, and thats with an IMPROVEMENT in play IMO.
- gretzky

This has been a bottom three team by my estimation for the last few years, yet they haven't had a lottery pick yet. If they weren't making a habit of having late season pushes I wouldn't even mention it. Like I said before though it may have something to do with the teams around them at the bottom of the league stinking up the place big time in the second half due to trading away players to contenders at the trade deadline. The Leafs haven't really done that much, and unless they finally do trade off a bunch of players this deadline I can see the team repeating their late season push once again.

If they don't, oh well. What timing it would be for them to finally tank right though.

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

I'm pretty sure Doppleganger is a woman, from how picky she is.

IMO, if the Leafs never made that trade for Kessel and had that 1st round pick, then they probably wouldn't be playing so bad.

edmonton has had it pretty easy on this site and elsewhere considering how bad their record has been lately when compared to the leafs start to the season. where's the dozens of oiler threads in the main forum and on their team forum?

And give more time to Bozak, Hanson, Stalberg. Good enough for me.
- prock

Bozak, Hanson and Stalberg who all are pretty average prospects. Poor Leafs.

IMO, if the Leafs never made that trade for Kessel and had that 1st round pick, then they probably wouldn't be playing so bad.
- Holy-Mackinaw

Either that or they pick Hall and hes a bust!

Bozak, Hanson and Stalberg who all are pretty average prospects. Poor Leafs.
- hello_there

lol... Louis LeBlanc...

Bozak, Hanson and Stalberg who all are pretty average prospects. Poor Leafs.
- hello_there

And? I realize that. I never said they had top end potential. All 3 have the potential to be complimentary players in the top 6. Not the kind of players you'd build a team, or even a line around, but good complimentary player potential. You still have to give them the ice time to hopefully develop them into that.

lol... Louis LeBlanc...
- Holy-Mackinaw

yeah, that was a terrible pick. It's because he's french.

The funny part is, Bozak isn't our best centre prospect, but he might possibly be theirs if he was a Habs prospect. Leblanc isn't looking too impressive, and they don't really have any other decent ones. Ben Maxwell?

This has been a bottom three team by my estimation for the last few years, yet they haven't had a lottery pick yet. If they weren't making a habit of having late season pushes I wouldn't even mention it. Like I said before though it may have something to do with the teams around them at the bottom of the league stinking up the place big time in the second half due to trading away players to contenders at the trade deadline. The Leafs haven't really done that much, and unless they finally do trade off a bunch of players this deadline I can see the team repeating their late season push once again.

If they don't, oh well. What timing it would be for them to finally tank right though.
- daeth

toronto has been a lottery pick team every year since the lockout.

EVERY team that fails to qualify for the post season is a lottery pick team.

these were the teams odds of winning the the lottery from last year.

25.0% - New York Islanders
18.8% - Tampa Bay Lightning
14.2% - Colorado Avalanche
10.7% - Atlanta Thrashers
8.1% - Los Angeles Kings
6.2% - Phoenix Coyotes
4.7% - Toronto Maple Leafs
3.6% - Dallas Stars
2.7% - Ottawa Senators
2.1% - Edmonton Oilers
1.5% - Nashville Predators
1.1% - Minnesota Wild
0.8% - Buffalo Sabres
0.5% - Florida Panthers

Teams can only move up 4 spots maximum so here were the odds of the only teams, that could move up to the top pick, from last year.

48.1% - New York Islanders
18.8% - Tampa Bay Lightning
14.2% - Colorado Avalanche
10.7% - Atlanta Thrashers
8.1% - Los Angeles Kings

Obvious the 30th place team has the biggest chance of retaining the first overall spot, but Los Angeles could have won the lottery, and moved up four spots to select Tavares.

toronto has been a lottery pick team every year since the lockout.
- Doppleganger

When I say "lottery pick" I mean top 5, since that is the only range that can get you the 1st overall pick. I am aware how the draft works.

When I say "lottery pick" I mean top 5, since that is the only range that can get you the 1st overall pick. I am aware how the draft works.
- daeth

The point is a high draft pick, not only the first overall, has a good chance in becoming a top prospect and eventually a everyday NHLer.

the last entry draft yielded these NHLers

John Tavares, Victor Hedman, Matt Duchene, Evander Kane, & Brayden Schenn........and yes it was a good year............but the potential for the Bruins of getting a good player is quite good, IMHO.

The point is a high draft pick, not only the first overall, has a good chance in becoming a top prospect and eventually a everyday NHLer.

the last entry draft yielded these NHLers

John Tavares, Victor Hedman, Matt Duchene, Evander Kane, & Brayden Schenn........and yes it was a good year............but the potential for the Bruins of getting a good player is quite good, IMHO.
- Doppleganger

Originally the only point was that if they continue their trend of finishing the season strong they probably won't end up with a top 5 pick. Regardless the pick will be good, but at least if it was 6th or later it couldn't turn into Hall.

The point is a high draft pick, not only the first overall, has a good chance in becoming a top prospect and eventually a everyday NHLer.

the last entry draft yielded these NHLers

John Tavares, Victor Hedman, Matt Duchene, Evander Kane, & Brayden Schenn........and yes it was a good year............but the potential for the Bruins of getting a good player is quite good, IMHO.
- Doppleganger

picks are even more likely to be busts or just average players, so the chances of Boston getting a better player than Kessel are not quite good, especially with the poor quality of these drafts.

Bozak, Hanson and Stalberg who all are pretty average prospects. Poor Leafs.
- hello_there

remember preseason they were saying stalberg would win the calder

picks are even more likely to be busts or just average players, so the chances of Boston getting a better player than Kessel are not quite good, especially with the poor quality of these drafts.
- Feeling Glucky?

uh may not wanna make blanket statements

might wanna look at who has gone top 5 since about 2002

picks are even more likely to be busts or just average players, so the chances of Boston getting a better player than Kessel are not quite good, especially with the poor quality of these drafts.
- Feeling Glucky?

to be fair, you'd have to compare Kessel over five years min, to the three picks (or what they may be traded for) over five years to see if his production is better.

Right now he is tied with Stephen Weiss, Matt Moulson and others at .37 goals per game (This season so far) ranking in the mid 40s overall..............not bad, but the jury will be out on this trade until the middle of the next decade.

to be fair, you'd have to compare Kessel over five years min, to the three picks (or what they may be traded for) over five years to see if his production is better.

Right now he is tied with Stephen Weiss, Matt Moulson and others at .37 goals per game (This season so far) ranking in the mid 40s overall..............not bad, but the jury will be out on this trade until the middle of the next decade.
- Doppleganger

this is true, the trade is too early to call either way.

picks are even more likely to be busts or just average players, so the chances of Boston getting a better player than Kessel are not quite good, especially with the poor quality of these drafts.
- Feeling Glucky?

This is a superb draft. Good chance Boston deals the drafts before the deadline. I believe they will take a run at Kovalchuck or failing that they look at the availability of LaCavalier. Those picks are enormous poker chips in terms of possible deals.

remember preseason they were saying stalberg would win the calder
- FirstClass

If he played like he did in preseason he could have had a chance...

This is a superb draft. Good chance Boston deals the drafts before the deadline. I believe they will take a run at Kovalchuck or failing that they look at the availability of LaCavalier. Those picks are enormous poker chips in terms of possible deals.
- spatso

If they get Lecavalier, they're fools. His contract is horrible. It should cost a lot less than a top deaft pick to get Vinny at this point.

And no, it's not a "Superb" draft at all. As usuall, you're exagerating a point against the Leafs. It's a very good top 5 draft, but it seriously lacks depth beyond that.

If they get Lecavalier, they're fools. His contract is horrible. It should cost a lot less than a top deaft pick to get Vinny at this point.

And no, it's not a "Superb" draft at all. As usuall, you're exagerating a point against the Leafs. It's a very good top 5 draft, but it seriously lacks depth beyond that.
- RogerRoeper

Yot are correct, I meant it was a superb draft for a team holding a top pick as Boston does. I think I agree with you on LeCavalier, but I also think that Boston will do something. I do believe they will play the big poker chips (Leaf picks) to get the scoring (Kovalchuck) they need to be an elite threat going into the playoffs. And, if they don't get Kovalchuck they will role on to the next best deal available.

In fact, I went through the various teams who will not be part of the playoff hunt wondering which team and player would best meet Boston needs and might be available in the right set of circumstances. I was surprised by my conclusion.

This is purely speculative on my part, however the team that may have the greatest need to regroup and rebuild and has a need to go back to the drawing board is Columbus. They seem to be going nowhere. Like Edmonton they showed a bit of youthful promise but the slippage is really bad this past year.

So, if I am Chiarelli I pick up the phone and I call Columbus and ask what is required beyond the Leaf picks in order to get Rick Nash. If I am Columbus I think long and hard about a deal involving 2 possible lottery picks and some skaters. It would be hard for Columbus to do but they are in the same place as Edmonton. Time to blow it up and start again.

Yot are correct, I meant it was a superb draft for a team holding a top pick as Boston does. I think I agree with you on LeCavalier, but I also think that Boston will do something. I do believe they will play the big poker chips (Leaf picks) to get the scoring (Kovalchuck) they need to be an elite threat going into the playoffs. And, if they don't get Kovalchuck they will role on to the next best deal available.

In fact, I went through the various teams who will not be part of the playoff hunt wondering which team and player would best meet Boston needs and might be available in the right set of circumstances. I was surprised by my conclusion.

This is purely speculative on my part, however the team that may have the greatest need to regroup and rebuild and has a need to go back to the drawing board is Columbus. They seem to be going nowhere. Like Edmonton they showed a bit of youthful promise but the slippage is really bad this past year.

So, if I am Chiarelli I pick up the phone and I call Columbus and ask what is required beyond the Leaf picks in order to get Rick Nash. If I am Columbus I think long and hard about a deal involving 2 possible lottery picks and some skaters. It would be hard for Columbus to do but they are in the same place as Edmonton. Time to blow it up and start again.
- spatso

Interesting thought.

yeah, that was a terrible pick. It's because he's french.

The funny part is, Bozak isn't our best centre prospect, but he might possibly be theirs if he was a Habs prospect. Leblanc isn't looking too impressive, and they don't really have any other decent ones. Ben Maxwell?
- prock

Brock Trotter > Tyler Bozak

You just don't hear about him because we have better prospect than undrafted players.