they haven't drafted a good NHLer since 2004, in Franzen. Since then, only Shawn Matthias, Darren Helm, and Justin Abdelkader have played more than 80 games. They have one of the worst draft records in the league in that timeframe.

7 NHL players in the last ten drafts. Almost all of them 9 or 10 years ago.
- prock

Hopefully Reilly changes that terrible trend!!

So true. The rules are constantly changing.
- OBGYN Kenobi

Burke is the type of GM the leafs need. Oh, he's coming? (frank) him.

Impossible- too many first overalls.
- Feeling Glucky?

I know that the sanctity and infallibility of the "tank to win" strategy is above reproach to some people, so the very idea of it not working in Edmonton is practically heresy around here.

However, at what point can a rebuild be officially declared dead?

Hopefully Reilly changes that terrible trend!!
- Cooshie

Trade him. He was drafted.

Between 1990 and 1999, there were 2,600 names called at the NHL Entry Draft.

160 were selected in the first round.
Of those 160 career players, over 81 have played more than 500 NHL games.

The total means that only 3% of first rounders play 500 games.. over a decade...

The results also vary year to year... 12% of the players beyond the first round have 500+ games..
- DoctorNHL

no. this isn't right.

So bring in better scouts. We're a billion dollar franchise FFS, this shouldn't be hard to do!!!
- lumlums

I agree. They should have better results. But since they can't really make it work from unconventional positions, they would be doing themselves a great deal of help by improving their odds when and where they can by drafting as often and as high as possible.

I know that the sanctity and infallibility of the "tank to win" strategy is above reproach to some people, so the very idea of it not working in Edmonton is practically heresy around here.

However, at what point can a rebuild be officially declared dead?
- Leeman4Gilmour

When it translates into wins on the ice. No?

Trade all first round picks. Agreed.

Thats the best idea ive heard all night.
- systemtool

No as usual you didn't get the fact that draft picks are 85% chance to fail... so trading for them when you have a proven commodity is a moronic thing to do.. draft the ones you draft.. & develop them properly.. hope that you get the luck of the lottery every year you don't make the playoffs.. which will get harder with all non-playoff teams in the new cba with a chance to get the first..

Besides those numbers didn't address just the top 10 that was all first rounders including those teams that were in the playoffs..

no. this isn't right.
- prock

Google draft success...

Hopefully Reilly changes that terrible trend!!
- Cooshie

what?

No as usual you didn't get the fact that draft picks are 85% chance to fail... so trading for them when you have a proven commodity is a moronic thing to do.. draft the ones you draft.. & develop them properly.. hope that you get the luck of the lottery every year you don't make the playoffs.. which will get harder with all non-playoff teams in the new cba with a chance to get the first..

Besides those numbers didn't address just the top 10 that was all first rounders including those teams that were in the playoffs..
- DoctorNHL

Yea...so trade all draft picks. All the time. I agreed with you. Drafting sucks and is nothing but a joke. We get it.

5 firsts for Luongo. 6 if we catch Gillis napping.

With what they have now, where is it going to get them in the next few years?
- Two_For_Truth

I hear you ....I can understand the pessimism based on how things have been done in Leaf Town. If they can sign the right free agents (BIG if), I think they can be very competitive in the next 2-3yrs with the pieces they have in place.

I know that the sanctity and infallibility of the "tank to win" strategy is above reproach to some people, so the very idea of it not working in Edmonton is practically heresy around here.

However, at what point can a rebuild be officially declared dead?
- Leeman4Gilmour

I didn't realise that you were in Edmonton? The excitement about the team is almost palpable to the point or threatening to choke me on it...

On the other hand, I'd rather the oilers have success than those effing Canucks

Yea...so trade all draft picks. All the time. I agreed with you. Drafting sucks and is nothing but a joke. We get it.

5 firsts for Luongo. 6 if we catch Gillis napping.
- systemtool

Again you didn't read what I said.. didn't say to trade draft picks.. said to develop the ones you have better..

Seems like something you're wishing for more than anything else.
- Two_For_Truth

Just another game of tardball where you excitedly offer yourself up as the game ball.

Rinse.Lather.Repeat

Take another sip, son.

poopty ass Cogeco
though I haven't looked. Could be. upstairs in the TV-less room ATM so have to check later.

piss me off cause I couldn't wathc Pens=Flyers yesterday. thought NBC would have it, but only in US
- Big_Lightnin

Cogeco sucks balls. That's who I have. Nucks oil game is on 455.

what?
- prock

Terrible drafting record....

Google draft success...
- DoctorNHL

don't need to. In two seconds I know those numbers aren't right. for starters, 10 years of first round picks, even with only 20 teams, which there was about that in the early 90s, would be more than 160 picks.

Leafs talk.
- Two_For_Truth

K

I didn't realise that you were in Edmonton? The excitement about the team is almost palpable to the point or threatening to choke me on it...

On the other hand, I'd rather the oilers have success than those effing Canucks
- lumlums

I hope they both miss the playoffs...

Again you didn't read what I said.. didn't say to trade draft picks.. said to develop the ones you have better..
- DoctorNHL

And draft as much as you can. Otherwise you wouldnt be argueing against it.

Stop jumping sides at your convenience.

Terrible drafting record....
- Cooshie

who is reilly, and what does he have to do with the wings?

I hear you ....I can understand the pessimism based on how things have been done in Leaf Town. If they can sign the right free agents (BIG if), I think they can be very competitive in the next 2-3yrs with the pieces they have in place.
- Cooshie

And by very competitive you mean what exactly?

Google draft success...
- DoctorNHL

Success rate of first-round draft picks


•Of the 494 career players drafted in the 1990s, 160 were selected in the first round.
•Of those 160 career players, over half have played more than 500 NHL games.
•Among the older players (those drafted from 1990 to 1994), six first-round picks have made it to 1,000 games. Another couple of dozen are still active and within reach of 1,000.
•Based on the 1990s sample, a first-round draft pick has a 63 percent chance of being a career player.
Results can vary widely from year to year:

•The 1993 NHL Draft produced 22 career players from 26 first-round picks.
•In 1999, less than half of the first-round selections went on to become career players (12 out of 28).

Don't need a crystal ball to see this team is going nowhere in the next five years except in circles in the middle of the pack.
- Two_For_Truth

Here's an idea since you have determined that the Leafs won't be competitive for the next five years: just sit them out.

Go away for five years, free up thousands of hours, and come back when Lupul is gone. Maybe you can re-assess the next five years at that point and determine whether they will be worth your time.