Cody was already better then Grabo, makes no sense.
- November-Juliet

until Cody gets semi concussed twice in one game by Chara, and gets the game winning goal a few shifts later...he will NEVER be better than Grabo

Your not making much sense with the above ....do you really think all of the highlighted players will be gone from the Leafs roster in three years?
- Leafshammer

they are all ufas in 2 or 3 years....absolutely no guarantee any will re-sign.

You guys are missing the diamond in the rough with Wilson.

He has never lost a game in the playoffs as the coach of the Leafs! PERFECT RECORD!
- markmark

tho his winning percentage is still 0.00%

You guys are missing the diamond in the rough with Wilson.

He has never lost a game in the playoffs as the coach of the Leafs! PERFECT RECORD!
- markmark

I would rather have the Leafs pick in the top 5 that make the playoffs and get there asses handed to them in 4 games.

it was stated by many that we were offered a confidtional first round pick for Mac, based on how many playoff games they play or how well they do. The rest were straight up first rounders...all likely being late first rounders.

So, figure all those picks get us NHL ready players in 3-5 years, if not traded right away. Could we trade those picks to effectively replace what those players bring to the table? Hard to say...theres no guarantee trading those players improve the team. Its a gamble other teams are placing on us, so they can improve their team now.

It made no sense for us to gamble some more.
- noename09

I agree. Plus, the team isn't really THAT far off being a good playoff team. We held a playoff spot for a VERY long time this season. As a young team they started to lose it a little bit and haven't been able to keep the composure and confidence up. As they mature as a group I think that will change.

Our team is playoff caliber right now if they were to play THEIR game every night. But as a young team they go into the game thinking "how do we play in order to beat this team" and that gets them in trouble. they need to play their game and not worry about how the other team plays. If they can play their speed game then it has OTHER teams thinking, what do we need to do to beat the Leafs, which is how it was for quite a lot of the season, even leading into February for the most part.

It's the youth factor in my opinion. Lack of consistent confidence and composure.

umm.....seriously!?
- noename09

ummm....sorta....playing devils advocate to a certain degree.
but seriously, the leaf trio of lupul,kessel and phanuef are all ufas in the 2-3 years.

they are all ufas in 2 or 3 years....absolutely no guarantee any will re-sign.
- Barx

I should hope that in atleast 2 years we have become a competitive team and should compete within the playoffs...and maybe 3-4 years legit contenders.

Hope.

Aslong as Burke keeps being patient and slowly improves little by little, we should continue to get a stronger roster. Would like to see some faster results...but Burke has done quite well so far, and hes trending this team into a stronger and stronger roster.

I agree. Plus, the team isn't really THAT far off being a good playoff team. We held a playoff spot for a VERY long time this season. As a young team they started to lose it a little bit and haven't been able to keep the composure and confidence up. As they mature as a group I think that will change.

Our team is playoff caliber right now if they were to play THEIR game every night. But as a young team they go into the game thinking "how do we play in order to beat this team" and that gets them in trouble. they need to play their game and not worry about how the other team plays. If they can play their speed game then it has OTHER teams thinking, what do we need to do to beat the Leafs, which is how it was for quite a lot of the season, even leading into February for the most part.

It's the youth factor in my opinion. Lack of consistent confidence and composure.
- Domaju

their top six are all mid twenties....

I would rather have the Leafs pick in the top 5 that make the playoffs and get there asses handed to them in 4 games.
- wolfos412

*honestly*

I would rather the playoffs...only because its been so long and it could do WONDERS for the group. Get them hungry for next year and year after. Young group, the experience is priceless.

I would rather have the Leafs pick in the top 5 that make the playoffs and get there asses handed to them in 4 games.
- wolfos412

Exactly. Would you rather lose your virginity at 30 to her:



Or would you rather wait another year or two to lose it to her:



??

ummm....sorta....playing devils advocate to a certain degree.
but seriously, the leaf trio of lupul,kessel and phanuef are all ufas in the 2-3 years.
- Barx

And Lupul and Kessel will likely get similar to what they're getting now, maybe a bit of an increase. But Dion might actually get LESS. He isn't the player he was when he signed the giant deal he has now if I'm not mistaken. He's better than he was in the end of his Calgary days, but still not good enough to command what he's making now. So perhaps, if he DOESN'T get back to where he used to be, then he could get a pay decrease......unlikely, but I can dream.

I should hope that in atleast 2 years we have become a competitive team and should compete within the playoffs...and maybe 3-4 years legit contenders.

Hope.

Aslong as Burke keeps being patient and slowly improves little by little, we should continue to get a stronger roster. Would like to see some faster results...but Burke has done quite well so far, and hes trending this team into a stronger and stronger roster.
- noename09

kessel, lupul, phaneuf are all gone by then....who is the 'core'?

*honestly*

I would rather the playoffs...only because its been so long and it could do WONDERS for the group. Get them hungry for next year and year after. Young group, the experience is priceless.
- noename09

Getting pumped in 4 may do the exact opposite.

Exactly. Would you rather lose your virginity at 30 to her


Or would you rather wait another year or two to lose it to her


??
- 1979AD

Where was the 2nd girl?

All I saw was a young hottie, and Flyfreaky...

they are all ufas in 2 or 3 years....absolutely no guarantee any will re-sign.
- Barx

it's pretty rare a team just let's go of their 1st line. For what Burke paid to get Kessel I highly doubt he's going anywhere.

ummm....sorta....playing devils advocate to a certain degree.
but seriously, the leaf trio of lupul,kessel and phanuef are all ufas in the 2-3 years.
- Barx

They can also sign new long term contracts anytime within the last year of their contract.....as a high percentage of players do.

Where was the 2nd girl?

All I saw was a young hottie, and Flyfreaky...
- wolfos412

That's not FlyFreaky, that's actually his mom, but I can see how you'd be confused.

If leafs arent good in the next 2 years, where burke has this summer to look at bernier, schneider, parise, nash and centerman stasny with the next summer most of our crap players going to be UFA'S. I give it 2 years, if we dont have a decent team by then meaning we have decent players that can compete and we know they can compete and not mediocre players, then Burke can be looked upon as a success. If not, forget it. Then we get a new GM.

That's not FlyFreaky, that's actually his mom, but I can see how you'd be confused.
- 1979AD

Ahhh! I see, they just look so similar being paralyzed under the weight of their own fat like that...

their top six are all mid twenties....
- Barx

Still fairly young and consider that Lupul didn't get a steady chance ANYWHERE really until here because of injuries and trades.

Mac wasn't really given a shot in Buffalo or anywhere else until he got here as well.

Grabovski was never expected to become this good of a player. He was a throw away by MTL.

Bozak is only a young pro player since he went to college for a couple years.

Kessel is still getting better defensively, but he IS learning, slowly, but it's happening.

Kulemin has had to work his way up on the team from the get-go.

Plus, this is really only the 2nd year for most of these guys playing together. Lupul was brought it at the end of last year. And last year was the first time that Bozak and Kessel played together, and same with the Grabo/Mac/Kuli line. So it'll take a while to get into a groove when guys were never really given a chance until last year or so. Still plenty of learning that can be done by all of them.

They can also sign new long term contracts anytime within the last year of their contract.....as a high percentage of players do.
- Leafshammer

would you re-up with this sideshow?

kessel, lupul, phaneuf are all gone by then....who is the 'core'?
- Barx

They are the "core". just b/c they are UFA does not mean they are leaving. If that's the case we can count on getting Crosby in 2 years, since he's a UFA and Kessel and Lupul will be gone

Still fairly young and consider that Lupul didn't get a steady chance ANYWHERE really until here because of injuries and trades.

Mac wasn't really given a shot in Buffalo or anywhere else until he got here as well.

Grabovski was never expected to become this good of a player. He was a throw away by MTL.

Bozak is only a young pro player since he went to college for a couple years.

Kessel is still getting better defensively, but he IS learning, slowly, but it's happening.

Kulemin has had to work his way up on the team from the get-go.

Plus, this is really only the 2nd year for most of these guys playing together. Lupul was brought it at the end of last year. And last year was the first time that Bozak and Kessel played together, and same with the Grabo/Mac/Kuli line. So it'll take a while to get into a groove when guys were never really given a chance until last year or so. Still plenty of learning that can be done by all of them.
- Domaju

i appreciate the optimism.
but ottawa and florida completely retooled in the off season and got results.
is that a testament to good gm work or the fact that both those teams hired highly touted coaches rather than sticking with a coaching formula that doesn't work.

You guys are playing fantasy hockey.. Cant just trade out our entire roster for first round picks... Doesnt work that way, they still need to ice a product at the end of the day... Sorry
- ejeezy

There are guys down in Reading