Last year at this time we were discussing the probable drop in rankings of the Leaf prospects by Hockey Futures. The results are now beginning to come out. Leaf prospects are being dropped to 18th place. An outrage for a team that has not made the playoffs for eight years.

Considering the Leafs have a top 5 pick coming their way I'd say it's a bit premature for any organizational rankings.

It is done every year at this time by HF. It will be revised again in their fall edition. My point, although repetitive, is profoundly important. We are entering the eighth season without the Leafs having made the playoffs. There is no top ranked Leaf player on the prospect list. We need to insist on a better level of performance by MLSE.

Tends to happen when you don't have any forwards projected to be 1st liners and your top D and G prospects graduate. Odds are after this draft they'll be top 10 again.

Last year at this time we were discussing the probable drop in rankings of the Leaf prospects by Hockey Futures. The results are now beginning to come out. Leaf prospects are being dropped to 18th place. An outrage for a team that has not made the playoffs for eight years.
- spatso

Rather interesting considering the Leafs had #18 (Colborne), #37 (Ashton) ranked Prospects and 21 year olds KAdri and Gardiner.....

I like what they have and what they are potential going to add. They have depth.

who do they have listed as graduated?
reminer, gunnersson, bozak, are givens

frattin?gardiner? id hope they dont list colborn or kadri

who do they have listed as graduated?
reminer, gunnersson, bozak, are givens

frattin?gardiner? id hope they dont list colborn or kadri
- nightmare3020

65 games and under is the cut off I believe. don't know for goalies but Reimer has graduated for sure.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is still considered a prospect to them lol.

65 games and under is the cut off I believe. don't know for goalies but Reimer has graduated for sure.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is still considered a prospect to them lol.
- daeth

Its a really moronic cutoff. I don't think it should necessarily be fewer games but it was evident in the nuges case that he was going to play every game he was healthy, and that should count for something

not everything should be math

common sense should play into it.

Looking at the rankings now....Leafs 18 TB 17?? The Leafs top 5 (all I see right now) is Miles ahead of TB's top 5. The Leafs have better and deeper and they are behind TB?? OK.

Its a really moronic cutoff. I don't think it should necessarily be fewer games but it was evident in the nuges case that he was going to play every game he was healthy, and that should count for something
- Morris

Same thing with Schenn. You always have some top players who carry over because of injury or being sent to the minors. Age is probably a more meaningful criteria. Generally, players tend to sink pretty quickly in the prospect rankings in their third year after the draft if they have not made it to the NHL.

Same thing with Schenn. You always have some top players who carry over because of injury or being sent to the minors. Age is probably a more meaningful criteria. Generally, players tend to sink pretty quickly in the prospect rankings in their third year after the draft if they have not made it to the NHL.
- spatso

Detroit consistently stays high in the rankings because they are very slow to graduate their prospects. They're in the top 10 due to guys who are 20-23 years old usually. Age doesn't seem to hurt rankings at all.

Detroit consistently stays high in the rankings because they are very slow to graduate their prospects. They're in the top 10 due to guys who are 20-23 years old usually. Age doesn't seem to hurt rankings at all.
- daeth

Different teams follow different development approaches. Detroit does bring their players along more slowly. Because they are so different they may get more love from HF than they deserve.

[dp

Last year at this time we were discussing the probable drop in rankings of the Leaf prospects by Hockey Futures. The results are now beginning to come out. Leaf prospects are being dropped to 18th place. An outrage for a team that has not made the playoffs for eight years.
- spatso

Is this the rankings site (http://www.hockeysfuture.com/team-rankings/) you're talking about?

Is this the rankings site (http://www.hockeysfuture.com/team-rankings/) you're talking about?
- Doppleganger

Try this, it is the second story. http://www.hockeysfuture.com/ This listing features teams 11 to 20 in the HF spring ranking. I assume they will do 1 to 10 sometime next week and put out the final list before the full draft discussion heats up. They do it the same way with individual players releasing the rankings 10 at a time starting with 41 to 50.

its what happens when your top 2 prospects graduate and you trade 2 top 10 picks for a 35 goal scorer. they will definitely get a boost after this years draft, probably back into the top 10.

its what happens when your top 2 prospects graduate and you trade 2 top 10 picks for a 35 goal scorer. they will definitely get a boost after this years draft, probably back into the top 10.
- sens rock

I think that is how it should work. If the Leafs had added Seguin and Hamilton and had a #5 this year they would have a serious reputation around their prospect depth.

I think that is how it should work. If the Leafs had added Seguin and Hamilton and had a #5 this year they would have a serious reputation around their prospect depth.
- spatso

Seguin isn't considered a prospect this year. He wouldn't factor in the rankings at all. He wouldn't have even factored in last year, like Hamilton, at this time.

Use your head for once.

Seguin isn't considered a prospect this year. He wouldn't factor in the rankings at all. He wouldn't have even factored in last year, like Hamilton, at this time.

Use your head for once.
- prock

You make the assumption that Seguin would have played his rookie year had he been drafted by the Leafs. It makes sense for the Bruins as they had a stacked team and could protect him. Had he been drafted by the Leafs there is a good chance they would have delayed his first year and he would just be coming off his rookie year.

Still does not change the fact that you need to develop players in order to establish your reputation as a team capable of drafting and producing home grown talent. There is still no evidence that the Leafs have made any progress in that direction.

It makes sense the leafs Drop in the ranking...they didnt have a high 1st rounder for 2 years.

But still added Gardiner who was not listed on the leafs as a prospect because he came in a played right away.

Schultz is listed for Anaheim, he should be gone soon...hopefully to Toronto, most have him as a better player than Gardiner...but 3rd on Anaheims list. I am not sure I would trade Gardiner for Any of Anaheim top 2 rated prospects...so its strange.

Add in this years pick at 5th...its getting better.

It makes sense the leafs Drop in the ranking...they didnt have a high 1st rounder for 2 years.

But still added Gardiner who was not listed on the leafs as a prospect because he came in a played right away.

Schultz is listed for Anaheim, he should be gone soon...hopefully to Toronto, most have him as a better player than Gardiner...but 3rd on Anaheims list. I am not sure I would trade Gardiner for Any of Anaheim top 2 rated prospects...so its strange.

Add in this years pick at 5th...its getting better.
- senstroll

So, why do you think HF has them sliding back?

So, why do you think HF has them sliding back?
- spatso

They seem to be bang on this year. Leafs>>>> TB and they are ranked higher. Detroit seems ridiculously high. Where are their blue chippers? Their pool is underwhelming, but because it's the Wings they get a pass. K.

They seem to be bang on this year. Leafs>>>> TB and they are ranked higher. Detroit seems ridiculously high. Where are their blue chippers? Their pool is underwhelming, but because it's the Wings they get a pass. K.
- burn

I think that is true. Teams that have a history of good player development get a pass from HF. Teams that have not had a great deal of success in their player development have to have some success at NHL development before HF acknowledges the progress.

I think the Leaf evaluation may be somewhat problematic. HF seems to like the individual players but not the package that it has become. My guess is when some of the Leaf prospects stick with the big team the overall team evalution will improve. It all seems so upside down. Yet, we cannot ignore the fact that the Leafs have not made the playoffs in eight years. Overall results should be better.

So, why do you think HF has them sliding back?
- spatso

for the reason I just explained