You didn't answer my question: Why did NO ONE take him for FREE???
- fifty__missions

Still an hour and a half for that, no?

Clarkson was a poopty player before the Leafs ever signed him, he has never proven anything, there is no form to regain. Most Leaf fans couldn't see this....because the guy was tough....big deal.

Richards is a proven performer, he can still regain his form.

There's a difference.
- ThePresident

Answer the question.

You didn't answer my question: Why did NO ONE take him for FREE???
- fifty__missions

answered last night, cause someone will get him for half price

Still an hour and a half for that, no?
- TheThrill

You seriously think he's gonna get taken now???

You didn't answer my question: Why did NO ONE take him for FREE???
- fifty__missions

Because its not 12pm yet.

answered last night, cause someone will get him for half price
- the_eye

I would like to hear "the President's" take on this one, thanks.

Because its not 12pm yet.
- ThePresident

You didn't answer my question: Why did NO ONE take him for FREE???
- fifty__missions

Fancy stats has done some investigating

Stephen Burtch @SteveBurtch
ironic thing - Richards' defense with the #Kings was improving as he dropped down the line up - he's only SLIGHTLY below 4th line skill

in other words - Richards is very close to being defensively a 4th liner on an elite possession team... but his offense has declined faster.

Richards is declining faster than Clarkson - which is scary.

He does sound like a Nonis type move

You seriously think he's gonna get taken now???
- fifty__missions

No, not personally. But it's technically still possible is all I'm saying.

"Nobody took him for free" can't actually be validated for 1.5 hours is my point

Don't start poop with me just because Prezzy's spouting nonsense.

- fifty__missions

I think its funny how you're asking why no one has taken him yet, almost as if you don't know the time is until 12pm.

No, not personally. But it's technically still possible is all I'm saying.

"Nobody took him for free" can't actually be validated for 1.5 hours is my point

Don't start poop with me just because Prezzy's spouting nonsense.
- TheThrill

ok

Key pieces going forward for Toronto: Nylander, rielly. Kadri (i'll throw him in for you).

Key for Edmonton: Eberle, Hall, RNH, Nurse, Drasitil, Eichel or mcdavid. I'm not even putting Yak in here.

Toronto = cap hell. Edmonton = doesn't.

We have a few guys who can get us good returns, not many. They can also move (and should) Yak and possibly eberle for better positional needs.

They have a 2nd first already added from Perron.

To me it ain't close. Again, we have been barely better than them and after we make the sweeping changes (unless you think we get very good returns for our expensive
underperforming players) there's no reason to think anything changes anytime soon.
- clark_griswold

Eberle is in there but JVR isn't? Wow

I think its funny how you're asking why no one has taken him yet, almost as if you don't know the time is until 12pm.
- ThePresident

yeah yeah

I'd rather rebuild properly than continue to go down the road of adding other team's castoffs and hoping, maybe this time, it will work.

#defintionofinsanity
- fifty__missions

so you'd rather draft 3 first overalls and hope that it might work ala EDM. It is still only hope you are pinning your future on when you go the tank and draft route. Everyone thinks is a sure fired way to success...it can be, but it can also blow up in your face year after year.

ok
- fifty__missions

For what its worth, I think a move like grabbing Richards would be 100% the wrong thing to do.

They really should be doing the opposite. Trying to rid themselves of cap hits on guys 27 or older.

A proper rebuild of an internal core, one not composed of guys that other teams were willing to part ways with.

Core players occasionally get traded, sure. But for your ENTIRE core to be pieces that other teams cut loose? That's just a recipe for disaster, IMO and it shows with the results the last 5 years

so you'd rather draft 3 first overalls and hope that it might work ala EDM. It is still only hope you are pinning your future on when you go the tank and draft route. Everyone thinks is a sure fired way to success...it can be, but it can also blow up in your face year after year.
- vermie22

Listen, there is Edmonton, yes. But there is also Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Tampa, Pittsburgh, hell, even Montreal's core was assembled through the draft. Clearly, the method the Leafs have tried for more than a decade has NOT worked. It's time to try another method. Plus, Edmonton have completely franked up the development of their picks. You also have to develop your prospects correctly. Detroit are exemplary at that, for example.

No, not personally. But it's technically still possible is all I'm saying.

"Nobody took him for free" can't actually be validated for 1.5 hours is my point

Don't start poop with me just because Prezzy's spouting nonsense.
- TheThrill

you go ahead and john scott that bastard

For what its worth, I think a move like grabbing Richards would be 100% the wrong thing to do.

They really should be doing the opposite. Trying to rid themselves of cap hits on guys 27 or older.

A proper rebuild of an internal core, one not composed of guys that other teams were willing to part ways with.

Core players occasionally get traded, sure. But for your ENTIRE core to be pieces that other teams cut loose? That's just a recipe for disaster, IMO and it shows with the results the last 5 years
- TheThrill

Yes.

so you'd rather draft 3 first overalls and hope that it might work ala EDM. It is still only hope you are pinning your future on when you go the tank and draft route. Everyone thinks is a sure fired way to success...it can be, but it can also blow up in your face year after year.
- vermie22

key is drafting and developing in all rounds. Not just the top 5 picks in the 1st

Bottom line, in a cap era, you gotta be able to draft and develop your own talent. It's the only way to get ahead of the curve talent-wise

Eberle is in there but JVR isn't? Wow
- JVR_42_PK81

And somehow Kessel isn't either. You know cause he sucks and they'll never get anything in a trade for him.

Somehow, the Oilers who are worse than the Leafs in reality, are somehow wayyyyy better because of a whole lot of ifs, maybes and potential.

For what its worth, I think a move like grabbing Richards would be 100% the wrong thing to do.

They really should be doing the opposite. Trying to rid themselves of cap hits on guys 27 or older.

A proper rebuild of an internal core, one not composed of guys that other teams were willing to part ways with.

Core players occasionally get traded, sure. But for your ENTIRE core to be pieces that other teams cut loose? That's just a recipe for disaster, IMO and it shows with the results the last 5 years
- TheThrill

but there was that one time, oh yeah Reimer (frank)ed that all up. my bad

but there was that one time, oh yeah Reimer (frank)ed that all up. my bad
- the_eye

I firmly believe that, had that season been 82 games, we would have missed the playoffs anyway.

Game 7 was just the hockey gods maintaining the status quo

Listen, there is Edmonton, yes. But there is also Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Tampa, Pittsburgh, hell, even Montreal's core was assembled through the draft. Clearly, the method the Leafs have tried for more than a decade has NOT worked. It's time to try another method.
- fifty__missions

I honestly don't think Detroit's success is from drafting better than other teams. It's from developing properly and rewarding performers accordingly despite their "draft potential". From what I have seen many GMs seem to favor their high end draft picks over later pics or even predecessor GM's pics no matter the draft position. Many times giving those guys opportunities they haven't necessarily deserved. Detroit lets their draft pics develop in the AHL, and they promote the guys that perform and deliver the results while buying into their system. Draft position and potential seem to have little to no sway in the way they manage their roster.

I honestly don't think Detroit's success is from drafting better than other teams. It's from developing properly and rewarding performers accordingly despite their "draft potential". From what I have seen many GMs seem to favor their high end draft picks over later pics or even predecessor GM's pics no matter the draft position. Many times giving those guys opportunities they haven't necessarily deserved. Detroit lets their draft pics develop in the AHL, and they promote the guys that perform and deliver the results while buying into their system. Draft position and potential seems to have little no sway in the way the manage their roster.
- vermie22

Exactly! Its one thing to draft, its another thing to develop them properly and bring those young players in a structured system and into roles theyre ready for. Unlike the Oilers who tossed all their picks right into the line up and asked them to do it all on their own. The last model we should be looking at is the Oilers IMO. The only thing the Oilers have done is show up at the draft and take the consensus pick. Bravo for them, but its produced no results.

I really cannot believe that fans that have been subjected to suckery over the last decade, have no interest in grabbing a proven #1 centerman for free. I'd rather have a Richards Kadri combo as our centers over a Bozak Kadri.....picking up Richards would make the team better than they were yesterday. PK, PP, Faceoffs, defensive game, winning pedigree, why would you not want to add that to a team that sucks? It would make us better, I just don't get peoples refusal to improve. He has the potential to become our best centerman.....Hell, I'd trade Bozak for him before he was ever on waivers.
- ThePresident

This is the reason you are not involved in hockey

He won't even get picked up off waivers, I think if he was a #1 C he would have been traded a long time ago.