Brown was drafted in the 2nd Round. Kopitar was outside the top ten. Quick was drafted 72nd overall. Bernier was drafted to be the Top Flight Goalie. Doughty was their only Top 5 pick they've had that worked out. Remember Hickey the 4th overall?

The organization drafted well, not at the top every year.
- Viktory

Check your facts. Brown was a 1st round pick.

Find me a player the Leafs have drafted outside of the top ten who turned out to be like Kopitar or a goalie 72nd overall who turned out like Quick. Good luck finding him.

And yet, without Doughty, they don't have enough to win it all.

Yup, the player they are going to build around is just going to appear out of thin air.
- Two_For_Truth

Good one, UG, good one. If you think so, then yes, thin air. Nothing ever appears out of thick air.

Generally and historically speaking, the team is built around the most talented player. Keeping Lupul is one way of showing they are planning to keep Kessel and continue trying to build around him. Notice how the talk is always about "getting a center for Kessel"? That's a sign they're building around him. He's the guy they're going to pay the most.
- Two_For_Truth

If you get a center for Kessel, that center is then your "Guy" and people stop talking about Kessel like he's the best player on the Roster.

Signing Lupul, to me, is that he wants to play here, believes that he makes a difference and wants to be a leader. Why would the organization not sign him? Not like you can go out and sign Olli Jokinen and expect him to be the guy.

Icing a poopty team increases your odds, but it doesn't guarantee anything.
- joel878

Increasing the odds of drafting high is what they need.

how long has calgary been looking for a C for iginla? 10-12 years?
- wingz4life

They obviously should've gutted the team of anyone with value and drafted a center for iginla 12 years ago. But how? With still having iginla, the team was to good to finish last, and would've drafted 5th-7th every year.

I forgot that in the new CBA you can't make any more trades you can only draft
- twiztedmike

Thats thick air for you. What can you do?

Yes lets just trade away every good player so we can just draft every (frank)ing year 1st overall into the end of time
- twiztedmike

Nah, just until 2015 so we can get McDavid. That should be good enough.

By trading draft picks.. And prospects. Trick question?
- joel878

Wrong again. By drafting really high and really well, something the Leafs can't and won't do.

Increasing the odds of drafting high is what they need.
- Two_For_Truth

How many top 10 draft picks are on the leafs current roster, compared to la's?

Curious.

Check your facts. Brown was a 1st round pick.

Find me a player the Leafs have drafted outside of the top ten who turned out to be like Kopitar or a goalie 72nd overall who turned out like Quick. Good luck finding him.

And yet, without Doughty, they don't have enough to win it all.
- Two_For_Truth

Find me something you've said that turned out to work. And sorry, another non-top ten pick in Brown. My mistake.

I forgot that in the new CBA you can't make any more trades you can only draft

x
- twiztedmike

I also forgot that you can't draft good players with your own first round pick without tanking and it being a lottery pick.

I also forgot that you can't draft good players unless you trade your superstars for first round picks that are absolutely guaranteed to be lottery picks...

If you get a center for Kessel, that center is then your "Guy" and people stop talking about Kessel like he's the best player on the Roster.
- Viktory

And where does this guy come from? Is he 32 years old? Or is he 22 years old? Does he cost you half of your team to acquire? Or does he come for free? Is he signed for 7 years at 10 million dollars per year or is he cheap on an ELC?

I also forgot that you can't draft good players with your own first round pick without tanking and it being a lottery pick.

I also forgot that you can't draft good players unless you trade your superstars for first round picks that are absolutely guaranteed to be lottery picks...
- twiztedmike

You know what im doing right now?

Shaking my fist at thick air, thats what.

Wrong again. By drafting really high and really well, something the Leafs can't and won't do.
- Two_For_Truth

You arrogant little poop.

You would've told da Vinci the Mona Lisa's nose was to crooked, and still be arguing against it hundreds of years after it becomes legendary.

You know what im doing right now?

Shaking my fist at thick air, thats what.
- systemtool

That (frank)ing thick air! That damnable thick air!

Find me something you've said that turned out to work. And sorry, another non-top ten pick in Brown. My mistake.
- Viktory

I would also like to hear something.

Cause after 5 years of hockeybuzz.. There's a loooong list of all the things he's been wrong about.

That (frank)ing thick air! That damnable thick air!
- twiztedmike

Maybe we can steal some thin air from Poland so we can draft with our own picks, make trades, and make some signings...If only....sigh...

You know what im doing right now?

Shaking my fist at thick air, thats what.
- systemtool

Hey do you wanna join my Yahoo Fantasy Hockey League? Every day we delete the rosters and have a draft! We draft 1 player each and take turns drafting first overall and then tomorrow we get to do it all over again!!!

Maybe we can steal some thin air from Poland so we can draft with our own picks, make trades, and make some signings...If only....sigh...
- systemtool

leafs should trade with oilers, they have lots of top 10 picks

Wrong again. By drafting really high and really well, something the Leafs can't and won't do.
- Two_For_Truth

Who says they won't draft well? I think they've drafted pretty well in the last few years. Kadri, Gunnerson, Reimer, Frattin and the American league is full of guys they've drafted who are either developing or ready to make the big step. They also went out and signed guys like kostka who were nice surprises thus far.

I think there is plenty of opportunity for the Leafs to continue finding gems in the draft, and maybe picking a keeper this year, maybe even picking up another first. Weird poop is going to happen this year at the deadline considering how close it is to the end of the season.

I think you're just upset about not seeing the Leafs do well. Which in that case, follow another team alongside the Leafs. I've been following the Predators the last 7-8 years and I'm still loyal to my favourite team.

Good one, UG, good one. If you think so, then yes, thin air. Nothing ever appears out of thick air.
- systemtool

Seriously. Where is this guy you speak of going to come from?

Obviously, you don't know exactly who it is or when it's going to happen but think of if logically. I'm sure you're capable of doing so.

Where is this guy going to come from?

The draft? You honestly believe the Leafs are capable of pulling a guy out of the 2nd to 7th round? Hell, even the middle of the 1st round is tough for the Leafs.

An UFA who is probably in his 30s and costs way more than he should? Probably only gives you three or four years as a window of opportunity too.

A trade? Any guy who is worth acquiring is almost never available and when they are available, there's usually something wrong with him. Or, he costs way too much to acquire and ends up destroying the team depth.

Think about it. Where is the most efficient way to get "the guy" you expect to appear one day?

Increasing the odds of drafting high is what they need.
- Two_For_Truth

No they don't.

Making a losing atmosphere the standard to develop the young talent we already have is not functional.

Increasing the odds of drafting high is what they need.
- Two_For_Truth

Like trading Kadri and Frattin. Those guys sure are decreasing the odds lately...

(frank)ing busts. Thick air losers.

Kadri?
Schenn? - Traded for JVR (2nd overall)

Yes, we would all prefer Seguin and Hamilton but you don't get that if we trade Kessel for 2 picks we won't get players as good as those 2.

Komisarek was a top 5
Phaneuf was a top 10
- twiztedmike

don't foget Lupul 7th

How many top 10 draft picks are on the leafs current roster, compared to la's?

Curious.
- joel878

How many Leaf draft picks are as good as Brown, Kopitar, Quick and Doughty?

Curious.