you hope for this or expect this?
- clark_griswold

Hope mostly..

It's what needs to happen to make the postseason.. I think it's possible.

The Leafs are underrated IMO.. They gave up 2/3 the way thru last season. I also think Ottawa overachieved. I think they'll be fine next year and not tank like most are saying.

with babcock coming in you will see the leafs take more of a detroit approach to player development

they will keep them in junior or college til they are nearing 20.. then they will have them play in a pro league somewhere (be it the AHL or a Euro league) and when the player has shown that they can handle the rigors of pro hockey, both physically and mentally, will they even be worth babcock's time at the top level.

i think this is the best thing babcock will bring to the leafs.. he has a track record of being patient with prospects.
- Dozzer

I dont think Babcock being coach changes the plan the Leafs have for Drafting and developing at all.

Hope mostly..

It's what needs to happen to make the postseason.. I think it's possible.

The Leafs are underrated IMO.. They gave up 2/3 the way thru last season. I also think Ottawa overachieved. I think they'll be fine next year and not tank like most are saying.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

what about the other 6 seasons going back to 2008? what happened there when they were in the bottom 10 every year, and a few in the bottom 5?

ppl were calling them to be good this year

The word Primadonna is for the lead in Opera singers. People call other people that because they want to be the center of attention and that other stuff when they are the 'star'.

Just because a term is feminine doesn't mean it's sexist.
- KesselRules

Female opera singers..

Is chanting Katy Perry sexist?

Either way I really don't care. We live in a sexist culture.

I dont think Babcock being coach changes the plan the Leafs have for Drafting and developing at all.
- senstroll

yeah but you dont agree with anything anyone says

Hope mostly..

It's what needs to happen to make the postseason.. I think it's possible.

The Leafs are underrated IMO.. They gave up 2/3 the way thru last season. I also think Ottawa overachieved. I think they'll be fine next year and not tank like most are saying.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

At least it's not as delusional as 1979 thinking the Jays have a good farm system while losing and holding on to aging players and being ranked in the middle of the league.

But yea if the Leafs go into this season with many aging players, you pretty much have the Jays 2.0.

I dont think Babcock being coach changes the plan the Leafs have for Drafting and developing at all.
- senstroll

And that is exactly why Shanahan and Babcock are on the same page; and why i have hope!

Female opera singers..

Is chanting Katy Perry sexist?

Either way I really don't care. We live in a sexist culture.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Sure, but only because women are inferior.

Duh.

what about the other 6 seasons going back to 2008? what happened there when they were in the bottom 10 every year, and a few in the bottom 5?

ppl were calling them to be good this year
- clark_griswold

They've gotten better dont'chya think?

They've gotten better dont'chya think?
- Arctic_AARDVARK

ummm...i thought they were horrible going into last year. wait until they start ditching 'star' players.

Auston Matthews is looking very likely in other words

yeah but you dont agree with anything anyone says


- Dozzer

I disagree

They've gotten better dont'chya think?
- Arctic_AARDVARK

how?????????????

how?????????????
- clark_griswold

Magic beans.

Magic beans.
- KesselRules

of course...how could i have missed that

how?????????????
- clark_griswold

They were .500 when they fired Randy..

Brought in an idiot coach to tank. So adding Babcock immediately makes them better than when Carlyle was coaching. Also you can't expect the top line to perform as poorly as they did last year. The farm is also looking better with Leivo, Brown, Liepsic all being a year older. Rielly and Gard are maturing.

Also no Clarkson

Hope mostly..

It's what needs to happen to make the postseason.. I think it's possible.

The Leafs are underrated IMO.. They gave up 2/3 the way thru last season. I also think Ottawa overachieved. I think they'll be fine next year and not tank like most are saying.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

if you are hoping for a positive season....brace yourself.....

Hi friends!
It's alright now, I'm here. Everything is gonna be okay.

Female opera singers..

Is chanting Katy Perry sexist?

Either way I really don't care. We live in a sexist culture.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Stop being a dic k. Is that sexist? How dare I call you a male organ as an insult.

They were .500 when they fired Randy..

Brought in an idiot coach to tank. So adding Babcock immediately makes them better than when Carlyle was coaching. Also you can't expect the top line to perform as poorly as they did last year. The farm is also looking better with Leivo, Brown, Liepsic all being a year older. Rielly and Gard are maturing.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

.500 is horrible. the top line will be gone next year, and the guys you mentioned in Brown, Leipsic, Leivo will not come in and be instant stars. We are lucky to have 2 of the 3 even be full time NHLers over their career. Rielly and Gards are definately 1 year older...and so are other teams good young players.

it's common sense to know they will be horrible, if that's not enough, listen to shanny and babs 'hint' at the troubles coming our way.

i commend your optimism and hope for the best too...i just don't want to see you get your heartbroken. hasn't the last 10 years been bad enough?

I disagree
- senstroll

Hope mostly..

It's what needs to happen to make the postseason.. I think it's possible.

The Leafs are underrated IMO.. They gave up 2/3 the way thru last season. I also think Ottawa overachieved. I think they'll be fine next year and not tank like most are saying.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

This draft-and-develop philosophy they are adopting has somehow been translated to most fans as "Tanking" when really, good drafting means all throughout the draft, every round, as well as acquiring extra picks through shrewd trading to increase the odds of finding NHL talent.

I am like you, and think they will be middle of the pack. I doubt they make playoffs, but can't see them finishing bottom 5 again. Maybe even outside the bottom 10, depending how much they buy in to what Babcock is selling

I'm not saying he's going to be the next Mats Sundin or anything... but he'll be a decent 2nd or 3rd liner.. gotta give him that.
- MCharisma91

The guy can barely hit PPG in the Q, and has shown next to no offensive improvement since being drafted.

How does that strike you as a potential 2nd line C?


Those numbers point to a guy who's unlikely to put up enough offense to be a 3rd line C on a good team.

4th line shutdown C, good expectation for the guy.

if you are hoping for a positive season....brace yourself.....


- clark_griswold

4th line goon.

F-5 to John Scott.

Hope mostly..

It's what needs to happen to make the postseason.. I think it's possible.

The Leafs are underrated IMO.. They gave up 2/3 the way thru last season. I also think Ottawa overachieved. I think they'll be fine next year and not tank like most are saying.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

It's the fact they gave up, and folded the previous year down the stretch, not to mention choking up the 4-1 lead in game 7 against Boston, that has everyone trying to trade away their best players for 18 year olds we hope will be as good ( or better) as JVR, Phaneuf, Kessel etc.

It's a risky strategy but it's the only thing we haven't really tried so it's the thing to do right now.

Drink more Kool Aid, be patient, there's pain coming and by the way drink more Kool Aid.. We will stay the course they say. MLSE gets to lower the payroll, and not be lambasted for a while because they are doing things the "right way" with a big name coach.

I hope they get it right, I really do but I am very skeptical they will succeed.

The guy can barely hit PPG in the Q, and has shown next to no offensive improvement since being drafted.

How does that strike you as a potential 2nd line C?


Those numbers point to a guy who's unlikely to put up enough offense to be a 3rd line C on a good team.

4th line shutdown C, good expectation for the guy.
- Schenn-Sational!

ok Puke Schenn. 4th Liner... I still hope he can be at least a 3rd liner.