Mirtle is saying nothing official until noon
- Canada Cup

Thems the rules.

You drink at Christmas ?
- MountAlbert

In-laws, debt, putting up and taking down lights and decorations... you don't??

More hair??
- Fruitcakenipple

More face. Benn's face is wider than his own shoulders.

I googled Connolly and New York Islanders. This came up - he's on the NHL site as an Islander:

http://islanders.nhl.com/...lub/player.htm?id=8467878
- triggermartin

Hit the back to roster on that site and hes nowhere to be seen.
Very clever my friend !!

isles is logical. still doubt any team wastes this years cap space on him...but he's a good veteran presence that could turn his career around on that team...low risk move since hes a ufa this summer. i hope he gets claimed...even more cap space for the leafs this season.
- sensnucksnocups

Leafs dont really need that cap space unless something major is coming.

The need isnt the issue, its the cost. I dont think its wise for Toronto to be giving up too many assets, especially 1st rounders, until they are competing for a playoff spot. Like you said, opinions and such.
- Gunslinger

Indeed. Benn is only 23. I think people put too much stock in 1sts and prospects these days. Getting Benn is getting a young power forward that has already been developed. I seriously doubt Kadri is ever as good and the 1st could wind up anywhere.

Nonis likens it to a similar shift he employed in Vancouver, developing youth in the minors and eventually establishing it as the team's young core. Between 2005 and 2007, Nonis leaned on Vancouver's farm team in Manitoba and called up players that have grown into the foundation of the Canucks' winning teams of the past few years including Ryan Kesler, Alexandre Burrows, Mason Raymond, Alexander Edler, Kevin Bieksa and Cory Schneider.

"We made a decision at a certain point there too, that we had to get younger and bring certain youth into the lineup," he said. "A lot of those players that we started to look at are still playing there. You have to give those players a chance to develop and grow."

The Leafs' organizational depth could, of course, also be used to augment the NHL roster via trade. The Leafs have very publicly been linked to a possible pursuit of Canucks keeper Roberto Luongo, but the total cost to the team's future may deter any such move in the near future.

"I'm not going to give up youth for older players," he said. "We would trade a young player for a young player. We might trade from strength. But we're not going to trade a bunch of young players or first-round picks for short-term gain. You can't build a club that way.

"There's a point in time where you're good enough and deep enough where you can look at doing some of those things -- we're not there," he added. "And if we start to do that, we're going to end up being severely hampered in the development process of our club."

That said, Nonis did admit that goaltending is one area he would like to improve.

"We would upgrade our goaltending by the weekend if we could do it without taking away significant pieces," Nonis said. "It's not that we wouldn't upgrade. But for what's out there right now, we would set our team back, especially in the long term."

The Leafs have a goaltending tandem of James Reimer and Ben Scrivens penciled in to start this season and while Nonis would not undercut their abilities, he does acknowledge the risks associated with leaning on a pair of goaltenders who have played a combined total of 83 career NHL games.

"We believe we have two capable goaltenders," he told LeBrun. "Do we think they're NHL-caliber? The answer is yes, there's no question about that. The only question we have, and that people have, is the experience factor. And that's fair. You can't sit there and say we have two experience goaltenders because we don't. That's one area we would like to improve -- an experienced goalie that can play. At this point, there hasn't been a price reasonable enough for us to act on it."

Nonis did acknowledge that he's under pressure to perform.

He had an opportunity as the new man in charge to plead for patience as he puts together his blueprint for success, but instead admitted that he doesn't expect patience out of one of hockey's most rabid fan bases.

"Am I asking the fans to be more patient? Not really, because I understand what they've gone through," he said. "We've got fantastic fans. I don't think you ask the fans to be patient. But we have to be. We have to be. It's up to us to try to put together a team that can win and win for a long time. Our ownership group has made it clear what they want: a winning team that can win for a very long time."

Nonis had a message of hope for Leafs fans that the NHL's longest playoff drought could soon come to an end and that better times could be not so far ahead. But he refuses to take short cuts to get to that point.

"We have everything we need here to try and put together a winning team," he told LeBrun. "But we're going to take the time that we need to allow these players to grow. If we can make moves that will fast-track it, we will, but not at the expense of first-round picks and good, young players."
- Gunslinger

You lost me at Nonis. lol JK,

No one on here has the attention span to read more than a small paragraph, unless it is pure Vancouver bashing.

Indeed. Benn is only 23. I think people put too much stock in 1sts and prospects these days. Getting Benn is getting a young power forward that has already been developed. I seriously doubt Kadri is ever as good and the 1st could wind up anywhere.
- sanfordnson

Just my opinion, but I think a team would have to offer a player of equal talent to get Benn. Be it a winger, Kessel, or a centre Kesler, to get him outta Dallas. He's the face of the franchise now.

Leafs dont really need that cap space unless something major is coming.
- Gunslinger

never hurts to have cap space.

Agreed....Burke was a blowhard...No team should want that as the face of there team
- Fruitcakenipple

Burke is a swing for the fences guy ,he is good for a contender that needs that emotional shot .But it looks as if Nonis should have been the one to rebuild the leafs from day one .Patiance is what was needed not make the p.o ,s at any cost

You lost me at Nonis. lol JK,

No one on here has the attention span to read more than a small paragraph, unless it is pure Vancouver bashing.
- hooligoon

It's from TSN I believe? At some point the Leafs will have to give up youth for an established star player if they want get over the edge, like the Rangers did to acquire Nash. But they're definitely not there yet.

Most Habs fans are funny... you're not!!!


- jimmc7722

He's an odd combination:

He's a Montreal Fan
His location is Ottawa
His favorite thing to do is hanging with Toronto fans
His picture is a mime

What creature are you?

Just my opinion, but I think a team would have to offer a player of equal talent to get Benn. Be it a winger, Kessel, or a centre Kesler, to get him outta Dallas. He's the face of the franchise now.
- LeftCoaster

I'll just confirm I seriously doubt they would move Benn for anything the Leafs have. I was just running with Eks subject matter instead of bashing it for a change.

I agree. Most Hab fans are a pleasure to laugh at.

Only half the Islander fans are. The other guy is just grumpy all the time.
- Gunslinger

Are you saying there is 2 Isles fans out there. mmmmm they are becoming a threat to Leafs nation. They are growing at an alarming rate.

46 years should not be chirping
- VANTEL

You realize the Canucks have been around since 1970 ,right? Big three year difference not really in a position to be chirping 1967 since you haven't won poop.

I'll just confirm I seriously doubt they would move Benn for anything the Leafs have. I was just running with Eks subject matter instead of bashing it for a change.
- sanfordnson

Dont be silly. Of course they would. The problem is that the Leafs wont pay what it takes so its a moot point. Benn will stay with Dallas, its just a matter of time. They'll get it done.

Are you saying there is 2 Isles fans out there. mmmmm they are becoming a threat to Leafs nation. They are growing at an alarming rate.
- hooligoon

THEY'RE MULTIPLYING!!!!

You realize the Canucks have been around since 1970 ,right? Big three year difference not really in a position to be chirping 1967 since you haven't won poop.
- Yeti1181

If the Leafs had won 2 Presidents Trophies in a row and appeared in the SCF a couple years ago you guys would insufferable around here.

You drink at Christmas ?
- MountAlbert

Since I was little, my letters to Santa were: I don't want your stinking elf made toys. Give that sh!t to dumb kids, you have a genuine beer belly so don't give me that sh!t.

Ever since, it has become a tradition.

Indeed. Benn is only 23. I think people put too much stock in 1sts and prospects these days. Getting Benn is getting a young power forward that has already been developed. I seriously doubt Kadri is ever as good and the 1st could wind up anywhere.
- sanfordnson

The Leafs are not trading their 2013 1st round pick.

Period.

If the Leafs had won 2 Presidents Trophies in a row and appeared in the SCF a couple years ago you guys would insufferable around here.
- sanfordnson

I thought we already were.

Dont be silly. Of course they would. The problem is that the Leafs wont pay what it takes so its a moot point. Benn will stay with Dallas, its just a matter of time. They'll get it done.
- Gunslinger

Agree to disagree. They have nothing that would replace what the Stars would lose. I think others could dance with Dallas better.

I thought we already were.
- Atomic Wedgie

Nah. Asides from Jimmy T and his ilk, which every team has, you guys are ok.

The Leafs are not trading their 2013 1st round pick.

Period.
- Atomic Wedgie

....say it came out that that deal was on the table at some point, and that 1st winds up being a 7-10 pick.

If the Leafs had won 2 Presidents Trophies in a row and appeared in the SCF a couple years ago you guys would insufferable around here.
- sanfordnson

Kinda like the oilers and having all the talent in the world but can't get out of the basement?