As frustrated as I am, at least Winnipeg and Columbus didn't try to tank. I agree with an earlier poster, no team should get more than 2 top five picks in a five year period. And the Oilers shouldn't get a top 50 for the next five years due to gross incompetence.
- bazz

That was the "fix" that the League failed to make.

The problem was never with the last place team getting the first pick. The problem was that one team got a bunch of first over-alls.

The simple solution is to only allow a first overall say once in 5 years, or some other restriction like that. I am still not sure why the league didn't do that.
- Aetherial

Completely agree.

We need scoring desperately. I don't care what position they play.
- CanuckDon

Stamkos

Stamkos
- Nighthawk

We need to prevent it just as badly, and there ain't much in the system.

With hansen he will more than likely get picked up in the expansion draft so I thats why I seriously look at moving him before you get nothing for him.
- mauryballstein

Good point.
I wonder if there will be more movement this year of players that are outside of the magnificent 7 status.

As long as you got the #1 pick what is there to justify?

The team intentionally tanked and walked away with the prize despite the leagues best intentions to prevent INTENTIONAL TANKING.
- rugdnit

We had more points than last season? The Leafs actually IMPROVED this year. Last year we were mostly healthy and this year we had key injuries and still the team was better.

Should we not have taken advantage of the CBA and traded Clarkson (which only got us cap space, which we did not and likely will not need?)

Should we have not traded Kessel, routinely criticized for being lazy, one-dimensional, overpaid, no leadership qualities etc.

Should we have kept Phaneuf Who was routinely voted the most overrated player in the league?

Should JVR have played in a cast?

The real problem here is that people loved to laugh at how incompetent the organization was and how bad the team was. Both things were true. So when the Leafs finally took the steps to correct those problems, now we are purposely tanking?

Seriously, if you know of a move that wasn't justified, I would like to hear it.

As long as you got the #1 pick what is there to justify?

The team intentionally tanked and walked away with the prize despite the leagues best intentions to prevent INTENTIONAL TANKING.
- rugdnit

I am sure if Aquillini wasn't meddling we would have tanked too. Calgary Ari Edmonton all put out horsesh1t lineups. Our owner was too greedy to get on board

That was the "fix" that the League failed to make.

The problem was never with the last place team getting the first pick. The problem was that one team got a bunch of first over-alls.

The simple solution is to only allow a first overall say once in 5 years, or some other restriction like that. I am still not sure why the league didn't do that.
- Aetherial

the Devil's advocate response would be something like, the worst teams deserve the most help. If you consistently suck, you need more quality picks to help improve.

Also, it would be sh!tty to get the 1st overall in a down year (say Yak) and then be shut out of acquiring the 1st for 5 years or so.

Good point.
I wonder if there will be more movement this year of players that are outside of the magnificent 7 status.
- dbot

You would think so. Thats also why I dont want to sign any UFAs this summer that arent on 1 year deals kind of like what toronto did this past year. Save the money for the following year plus you have miller, higgins and burrows off the books. Hopefully stamkos resigns in tampa which i dont think is likely and we can land hedman

With hansen he will more than likely get picked up in the expansion draft so I thats why I seriously look at moving him before you get nothing for him.
- mauryballstein

you may be right.

I am sure if Aquillini wasn't meddling we would have tanked too. Calgary Ari Edmonton all put out horsesh1t lineups. Our owner was too greedy to get on board
- VANTEL

I think the whole league is going to start doing similar thing the Leafs did.

It has a lot to do with the Cap and the CBA.

It is pretty much impossible to build a contender now because you can't get young, high-end players any more unless you draft them, and that means finishing near the bottom of the league.

It sure seems like the league has maybe 20 teams battling for playoff spots and 10 teams just trying to shed dead-weight contracts.

I am sure if Aquillini wasn't meddling we would have tanked too. Calgary Ari Edmonton all put out horsesh1t lineups. Our owner was too greedy to get on board
- VANTEL

I think so too

I think the whole league is going to start doing similar thing the Leafs did.

It has a lot to do with the Cap and the CBA.

It is pretty much impossible to build a contender now because you can't get young, high-end players any more unless you draft them, and that means finishing near the bottom of the league.

It sure seems like the league has maybe 20 teams battling for playoff spots and 10 teams just trying to shed dead-weight contracts.
- Aetherial

Thats also why both teams if they play their cards right should be able to land some quality players for next to nothing. The Ducks have 8 solid dmen and cant keep them all with expansion looming.

the Devil's advocate response would be something like, the worst teams deserve the most help. If you consistently suck, you need more quality picks to help improve.

Also, it would be sh!tty to get the 1st overall in a down year (say Yak) and then be shut out of acquiring the 1st for 5 years or so.
- dbot

yeah, it would.

On the other hand, I am sorry I have to use the Leafs as an example... even without the 1st coming this summer, we have a couple good prospects in Nylander and Marner maybe(?), a minor league team that is young and contending for the AHL title and a handful of guys doing very well in junior. You guys were doing similar things with Vertanen and Horvat, and that goalie? Demko?

I think honestly most of it comes down to luck.

I think the whole league is going to start doing similar thing the Leafs did.

It has a lot to do with the Cap and the CBA.

It is pretty much impossible to build a contender now because you can't get young, high-end players any more unless you draft them, and that means finishing near the bottom of the league.

It sure seems like the league has maybe 20 teams battling for playoff spots and 10 teams just trying to shed dead-weight contracts.
- Aetherial

I tip my hat to your new management group. Two years ago you guys sucked for the last decade. Since Shanny he has come in got rid of horrible contracts, cleaned house on GMs and coaches, picked up decent draft picks. Now has the number one pick ( first time in decades). There have been nice free agent signings , I don't like the Vessey crap.

You have a clean slate with lots money and draft picks.

Job well done.

Thats also why both teams if they play their cards right should be able to land some quality players for next to nothing. The Ducks have 8 solid dmen and cant keep them all with expansion looming.
- mauryballstein

Exactly!

Cap flexibility is everything. That is how the cap was supposed to work. Good teams could not afford everybody so the talent spreads out.

Unfortunately, so far, it seems that the top teams can afford a core of 5 or 6 players and then just rotate in guys and the only players they lose are older, and expensive

We had more points than last season? The Leafs actually IMPROVED this year. Last year we were mostly healthy and this year we had key injuries and still the team was better.

Should we not have taken advantage of the CBA and traded Clarkson (which only got us cap space, which we did not and likely will not need?)

Should we have not traded Kessel, routinely criticized for being lazy, one-dimensional, overpaid, no leadership qualities etc.

Should we have kept Phaneuf Who was routinely voted the most overrated player in the league?

Should JVR have played in a cast?

The real problem here is that people loved to laugh at how incompetent the organization was and how bad the team was. Both things were true. So when the Leafs finally took the steps to correct those problems, now we are purposely tanking?

Seriously, if you know of a move that wasn't justified, I would like to hear it.
- Aetherial

Jesus relax... So sensitive. It's not a shot at the Leafs. It's a shot at the NHL.

Damien Cox from sportsnet has Logan Stanley going to Colorado at 10, Bean to Ottawa at 12 and Sergachev at 14 to the Bruins

I am sure if Aquillini wasn't meddling we would have tanked too. Calgary Ari Edmonton all put out horsesh1t lineups. Our owner was too greedy to get on board
- VANTEL

I'm not begrudging teams taking advantage of the rules... I just laugh at the NHL.

For all the rules they create there is always unintended consequences.

I tip my hat to your new management group. Two years ago you guys sucked for the last decade. Since Shanny he has come in got rid of horrible contracts, cleaned house on GMs and coaches, picked up decent draft picks. Now has the number one pick ( first time in decades). There have been nice free agent signings , I don't like the Vessey crap.

You have a clean slate with lots money and draft picks.

Job well done.
- VANTEL

I have to agree on Vessey.

He hasn't signed here though and I don't get what all the hype is anyway?

Really though, I can't blame the kid. He is doing what he should do for his career.

Nashville is getting screwed.

That loophole needs to be closed and they need to change that dumbass rule that doesn't allow some junior eligible players to play in the AHL. Mitch Marner has absolutely zero left to learn in the OHL and yet, he seems way to young and small to be in the NHL. The AHL would be perfect.

He's listed as LW. Can play center and plays centre is a pretty big difference when you're looking for a #1 Center.

We need LW as well, but if we are picking between lw and d , shouldn't we go with high end dman?
- Scooby_Doo

He played every forward position but it's odd that he's listed as a LW cause that's the position he played the least this year. He played C the most, prefers RW, and can play LW. His spike in production came when he transitioned to play C on a regular basis.

Any idea if the 2017 draft will be good and have a couple of franchise players? Hopefully we can at least win that one
- mauryballstein

Nolan Patrick

I'm not begrudging teams taking advantage of the rules... I just laugh at the NHL.

For all the rules they create there is always unintended consequences.
- rugdnit

yeah

They really need to put more thought into the next CBA. Some of the rules are pretty poorly thought out.


Here's an idea. Take away the cap on entry-level contracts. You wouldn't have to change the draft lottery as much if teams could not afford that 1st overall price tag over and over.

I'm not begrudging teams taking advantage of the rules... I just laugh at the NHL.

For all the rules they create there is always unintended consequences.
- rugdnit

The team that pissed me off was the Oilers . For a team that had so many top end picks for 7 years to finish tied for last is a joke.

I have to agree on Vessey.

He hasn't signed here though and I don't get what all the hype is anyway?

Really though, I can't blame the kid. He is doing what he should do for his career.

Nashville is getting screwed.

That loophole needs to be closed and they need to change that dumbass rule that doesn't allow some junior eligible players to play in the AHL. Mitch Marner has absolutely zero left to learn in the OHL and yet, he seems way to young and small to be in the NHL. The AHL would be perfect.
- Aetherial

Exactly it needs to close that loophole