Steve Thomas to be honorary captain?
- faceto27

Richard Park

Looking to score your first goal? Having trouble finding the back of the net? Come'on down to Buffalo we have just the pathetic enough team here to make sure you get it done. Just ask customers Alex Ovechkin and Eric Staal if playing the Buffalo Sabres helped them get off their goal less streaks........
- sbroads24

The Markham Orientals?
- AdamFrench

Actually, the Markham Waxers have a pretty impressive resume of alumni....... including the current Richard trophy holder......

Steven Stamkos

Richard Park
- AdamFrench

I hear he's scary good.

I hear he's scary good.
- Jeffmt

Hottest young player in the game. A ripe young 32 at the time

If the city council approves the new rink...... Markham officially just became closer to the NHL playoffs than the leafs

David Alter ‏@DavidAlter590

#leafs lines, JVR-Bozak-Kessel, McClement-Grabovski-Kulemin, Frattin-Kadri-Komarov, Brown-Steckel-Orr

David Alter ‏@DavidAlter590

#leafs d, Phaneuf-Kostka, Gunnarsson-Liles, Franson-Fraser. Goalies: Reimer, Scrivens.

Richard Park
- AdamFrench

id bet they would settle for a Jim Paek

David Alter ‏@DavidAlter590

#leafs d, Phaneuf-Kostka, Gunnarsson-Liles, Franson-Fraser. Goalies: Reimer, Scrivens.
- faceto27

that bottom pairing defense scares the poop out of me

I don't think Howard's been debt free for 14+ years.
- Tee-Dot

It's ok I haven't been debt free since 1997. Not the end of the world. I rented an apt for 6 years, no problem paying rent. I've owned a house for almost 5 years. No problem paying the mortgage every 2 weeks. Not made of money, far from it. How do I do it? I just do. Like Nike says JUST DO IT.

The voices of all aports fan's in today's world with 24/7 non stop sports coverage, Twitter, Facebook etc etc are now much louder than ever. If the Leaf fans had screamed loud enough that they wanted a re-build, the GM would have noticed. Why do u think Burke fired Wilson not to long after chants of "fire Wilson became a regular nightly chant at the ACC? Burke couldn't take the pressure anymore of the fans hating Wilson. If the Leaf fans were serious about a re-build, would Burke want the rath of the fans if he didn't listen?
- GCHonda

Burke talked to "fans" but means season ticket holders, most of whom don't know poop and aren't at the games to enjoy sports.

Burke said in his opening presser he wasn't doing a traditional rebuild. Period. That was it. He said what he was going to do, and tried to do it. He was doing things his way.

Burke fired Wilson shortly after his good buddy Carlyle came available too. Was that just a coincidence?

It's ok I haven't been debt free since 1997. Not the end of the world. I rented an apt for 6 years, no problem paying rent. I've owned a house for almost 5 years. No problem paying the mortgage every 2 weeks. Not made of money, far from it. How do I do it? I just do. Like Nike says JUST DO IT.
- GCHonda

Of course you're made of money... you work for the TTC!!

that bottom pairing defense scares the poop out of me


- faceto27

only gonna play <10 mins anyway... who cares

At this point you can't really trade Kessel until this time next year. If you look at the Edmonton Oilers current rebuild, they kept their only true Star in Hemsky and traded most everyone else for some decent value. I remember some of the crazy trades they pulled off for guys like Klefbom etc. If anything, the Leafs should be trading guys like;

Franson (Right-Handed Defenseman, desperate need in the league for a Right D, decent return value and doesn't really seem to mesh with the team)
MacArthur (Solid Top 9 player for a contender, he's usually good for 40 points and can really play anywhere in the line-up, gives space for Prospects in the roster)
Bozak (As dominate as he has been in Face-Offs, the fact is he has value we can actually trade for. Unlike other players on this team, he is either not too important, or just not good enough to keep; perhaps a team looking for another center such as Florida, Carolina, Minny etc. would be willing to trade for a B level prospect and a low pick)

Other than that, the Leafs MIGHT trade lower draft picks, or prospects on D for prospects for C/G etc. It's better for the Leafs to trade Franson and Bozak for decent return at the deadline. Maybe they can pick up a late first like Buffalo did for Gaustad but instead for Mac. Or in Fransons case, maybe trade for another C prospect that isn't considered a blue chip. Could be a couple guys out there ready to break out or are under the Radar. I also hope we can draft Barkov, and if a late first is to be had and the stars align, Max Domi

But for the draft, I think the most likely guy we can get that best fits our needs, it's Barkov. Kid is highly underrated, should be a Top 3 pick. Plays within an adult league and is big. Not overly physical, but reminds me of Kulemin in terms of physicality (Can throw a big hit, probably won't unless it makes sense defensively). He's also a guy who'll go to the net on the PP, win pressure face-offs, won't get knocked off the puck easily and plays a two-way game that Carlyse likes. To me, that's exactly what the Leafs need on the 1st Line between Kessel and Lupul.

only gonna play <10 mins anyway... who cares
- Big_Lightnin

Reimer

If the city council approves the new rink...... Markham officially just became closer to the NHL playoffs than the leafs


- Sheppy99

What seemed like a lock months ago that it would be approved, uhhhh not so fast. The Markham Mayor's waffling on how exactly they would pay for this has angered alot of residents aswell as several counsellors. Many fear that the $300 million cost is a farce & that it will cost double when all is said & done. Many also fear that in the end, the cost will be thrown onto the taxpayers pf Markham. A few counsellors actually want the arena axed. Going to be a VERY heated debate tonight in Markham. And lastly, many counsellors simply do not believe that it is possible to get an NHL team.

the idea of trading Kessel is very simple. if you get more than fair value, trade him. if you get fair value or less, don't. fair value id say would be the equivalent of a top prospect/top 10 pick plus a player in the 21-24 range who can step in and contribute immediately on the second line.

the idea of trading Kessel is very simple. if you get more than fair value, trade him. if you get fair value or less, don't. fair value id say would be the equivalent of a top prospect/top 10 pick plus a player in the 21-24 range who can step in and contribute immediately on the second line.
- DoubleDown

so 3 peices that will never be as good as Kessel I don't see them getting more than that.

no thanks

At this point you can't really trade Kessel until this time next year. If you look at the Edmonton Oilers current rebuild, they kept their only true Star in Hemsky and traded most everyone else for some decent value. I remember some of the crazy trades they pulled off for guys like Klefbom etc. If anything, the Leafs should be trading guys like;

Franson (Right-Handed Defenseman, desperate need in the league for a Right D, decent return value and doesn't really seem to mesh with the team)
MacArthur (Solid Top 9 player for a contender, he's usually good for 40 points and can really play anywhere in the line-up, gives space for Prospects in the roster)
Bozak (As dominate as he has been in Face-Offs, the fact is he has value we can actually trade for. Unlike other players on this team, he is either not too important, or just not good enough to keep; perhaps a team looking for another center such as Florida, Carolina, Minny etc. would be willing to trade for a B level prospect and a low pick)

Other than that, the Leafs MIGHT trade lower draft picks, or prospects on D for prospects for C/G etc. It's better for the Leafs to trade Franson and Bozak for decent return at the deadline. Maybe they can pick up a late first like Buffalo did for Gaustad but instead for Mac. Or in Fransons case, maybe trade for another C prospect that isn't considered a blue chip. Could be a couple guys out there ready to break out or are under the Radar. I also hope we can draft Barkov, and if a late first is to be had and the stars align, Max Domi

But for the draft, I think the most likely guy we can get that best fits our needs, it's Barkov. Kid is highly underrated, should be a Top 3 pick. Plays within an adult league and is big. Not overly physical, but reminds me of Kulemin in terms of physicality (Can throw a big hit, probably won't unless it makes sense defensively). He's also a guy who'll go to the net on the PP, win pressure face-offs, won't get knocked off the puck easily and plays a two-way game that Carlyse likes. To me, that's exactly what the Leafs need on the 1st Line between Kessel and Lupul.
- Viktory

his value then will be about 60-70% of what it is now. that's just lousy asset management. good thing for the Leafs about getting rid of Burke is that they're out from under that deal. Nonis's legacy doesn't hang on the deal so he can trade Kessel and not have to worry about the backlash.

Of course you're made of money... you work for the TTC!!
- Tee-Dot

That's a myth that the public is led to believe but it's false. TTC workers pay ALOT of taxes so really we aren't made of money. Yes we are paid good but with the ridiculous amount of taxes we pay, honestly we are average as far as maiking a living.

his value then will be about 60-70% of what it is now. that's just lousy asset management. good thing for the Leafs about getting rid of Burke is that they're out from under that deal. Nonis's legacy doesn't hang on the deal so he can trade Kessel and not have to worry about the backlash.
- DoubleDown

I doubt the Toronto Media agrees with you on that one...

This market still brings up Kervers for Neidermeyer for crying out loud.

Trading Kessel is a no-win situation.

id rather lock him up long term and add other pieces a different way...free agency, maybe nonis will be more successful than burke

That's a myth that the public is led to believe but it's false. TTC workers pay ALOT of taxes so really we aren't made of money. Yes we are paid good but with the ridiculous amount of taxes we pay, honestly we are average as far as maiking a living.
- GCHonda

you pay the same taxes everyone else does. And you have a ridiculous pension. That's the kicker.

so 3 peices that will never be as good as Kessel I don't see them getting more than that.

no thanks
- Big_Lightnin

your logic is flawed. did you think any of the pieces the Leafs traded for him would ever be as good as Kessel at the time? now it's conceivable that Kessel could wind up being the third best player in that deal. that's the thing about trading futures. it's a risk for both parties and usually the better run organization gets the better of the deal.