Could be more than one team. Still have at least a year.
- BetterCallSaul

Does Vegas have a farm team, or do they need to buy or create one?

In that case, is the AHL affected too?

I think the whole "build from the goalie out" thing is kinda BS. If you get a good system going, just about any goalie can look good, and you can win with just about anyone in net.

Goaltending probably has a much greater impact on poopty teams than it does on good ones.
- Feeling Glucky?

'Build from the back end out' is one of those emotionally potent oversimplifications that sounds sound, but doesn't really mean anything in practice and no one actually practices it. Teams try to get the best players they can, and then get more good players. The top draft picks are always centres first, forwards, maybe some D. No crappy team with lotto picks ever says, well, we're drafting a goalie, cause you know, you have to build from the goalie out. It's really the opposite, teams build around centres, D and wingers.

'Build from the back end out' is one of those emotionally potent oversimplifications that sounds sound, but doesn't really mean anything in practice and no one actually practices it. Teams try to get the best players they can, and then get more good players. The top draft picks are always centres first, forwards, maybe some D. No crappy team with lotto picks ever says, well, we're drafting a goalie, cause you know, you have to build from the goalie out. It's really the opposite, teams build around centres, D and wingers.
- Zezel

Weird i could have sworn Pitts took Marc Andre Fleury 1st overall.

Weird i could have sworn Pitts took Marc Andre Fleury 1st overall.
- orienbrady22

Its pretty rare that goaltenders are taken that high. Price was another, but its pretty rare to see a goalie even in the top 10 or 12 picks.

Weird i could have sworn Pitts took Marc Andre Fleury 1st overall.
- orienbrady22

Because he was considered the best pick at the time.


Fleury is a pretty damned inconsistent goalie... not exactly the guy you want to build around.

Weird i could have sworn Pitts took Marc Andre Fleury 1st overall.
- orienbrady22

Oooh yeah, and there was DiPietro as well. I stand corrected.

Its pretty rare that goaltenders are taken that high. Price was another, but its pretty rare to see a goalie even in the top 10 or 12 picks.
- fifty__missions

Plenty of good goalies have been drafted early, but yes plenty of good goalies have also been drafted late.

Because he was considered the best pick at the time.


Fleury is a pretty damned inconsistent goalie... not exactly the guy you want to build around.
- Feeling Glucky?

Really? Id argue over his career hes been one of the most consistent goalies. Had one bad playoff series against Philly and people like to give him that label. That said i understand what the original poster was getting at, a good goalie isn't the end all be all with a team and a good team can make a goalie look better than he is...

Really? Id argue over his career hes been one of the most consistent goalies. Had one bad playoff series against Philly and people like to give him that label. That said i understand what the original poster was getting at, a good goalie isn't the end all be all with a team and a good team can make a goalie look better than he is...
- orienbrady22

I'm not disputing you need a good goalie, preferably a great goalie, just saying in reality teams are built around centres.

Really? Id argue over his career hes been one of the most consistent goalies. Had one bad playoff series against Philly and people like to give him that label. That said i understand what the original poster was getting at, a good goalie isn't the end all be all with a team and a good team can make a goalie look better than he is...
- orienbrady22

The stats certainly don't support what I said

But I always get the feeling he's mentally weak. Never know if he's going to steal a game or choke.


But that might just be more of a perception thing than the truth, as you said.

In my opinion, no way they trot out the shiny new toys this year, for Babcock Year 2, after finishing dead last, in the Centennial year, with the outdoor game, and they undercut the whole thing with just Mandela in net. Not saying they find the saviour in net this year, but I'll be very surprised if they don't add at least something, something more than just this.
- Zezel

I think Anderson will be a Leaf this fall. With Gibson being their guy. The leafs won't wait until he gets super cheap at the deadline. We know Carlyle liked Bozak. There is one piece. Also add in washingtons 2nd and with the goalie market being dried up is that enough?

'Build from the back end out' is one of those emotionally potent oversimplifications that sounds sound, but doesn't really mean anything in practice and no one actually practices it. Teams try to get the best players they can, and then get more good players. The top draft picks are always centres first, forwards, maybe some D. No crappy team with lotto picks ever says, well, we're drafting a goalie, cause you know, you have to build from the goalie out. It's really the opposite, teams build around centres, D and wingers.
- Zezel

I find goalies develop really well when they have someone to back up and learn behind and eventually push them out. The leafs need a goalie that can play at least the next 4 or 5 years until the goalie they draft takes over.

I'm not disputing you need a good goalie, preferably a great goalie, just saying in reality teams are built around centres.
- Zezel

Yea, if you build a good team, you can win with an Osgood or Niemi in net - not terrible goalies, but not world beaters either.

And on the flip side, you're not going to win the cup relying on even a guy like Price to pull you through.

I'm not disputing you need a good goalie, preferably a great goalie, just saying in reality teams are built around centres.
- Zezel

I'm hoping Subban. Might as well get a long term solution and buy an old (frank) to play 2 years or less (halak maybe?). Bernier could even bounce back, goalies are (frank)ed.

Yea, if you build a good team, you can win with an Osgood or Niemi in net - not terrible goalies, but not world beaters either.

And on the flip side, you're not going to win the cup relying on even a guy like Price to pull you through.
- Feeling Glucky?

I'm not worried about the goaltending thing. Lou, of all people, knows the importance of quality goaltending. He'll get the right guy eventually.

I'm hoping Subban. Might as well get a long term solution and buy an old (frank) to play 2 years or less (halak maybe?). Bernier could even bounce back, goalies are (frank)ed.
- Bigzby

I've been pumping that route too. Young guy with upside to split duties this year. Won't cost as much as Andersen and won't need a big fat contract for a few years.

Glucky, I got a PM from some dude saying he's your groomsman.

He says "(frank) you".

Glucky, I got a PM from some dude saying he's your groomsman.

He says "(frank) you".
- The Law

I cannot comment on this situation without fear of being scalped.

Yeah I'd bet they acquire something in net that can play this year, and also draft a goalie or two as well. They have nothing, they need to build that up on multiple levels.

Yea, if you build a good team, you can win with an Osgood or Niemi in net - not terrible goalies, but not world beaters either.

And on the flip side, you're not going to win the cup relying on even a guy like Price to pull you through.
- Feeling Glucky?

Yeah or you have a guy like Tim Thomas who just happens to pull one of the best playoff performances by a goalie out of his ass, late in his career. I wouldn't go all-in on a huge contract for a big star goalie, or at least not nearly as readily as I would on a franchise centre.

I cannot comment on this situation without fear of being scalped.
- Feeling Glucky?

Or god for bid, shave your brows.

Ryan Miller for a 5th and Bozak

Or god for bid, shave your brows.
- sloppyseconds2

There is currently a 1 inch gap. I do not dare go further.

Yeah or you have a guy like Tim Thomas who just happens to pull one of the best playoff performances by a goalie out of his ass, late in his career. I wouldn't go all-in on a huge contract for a big star goalie, or at least not nearly as readily as I would on a franchise centre.
- Zezel

Agreed. There might be a few guys who are consistently elite but for the most part the difference between the next 20 guys is minimal and interchangeable ever year.

If the Leafs keep the 30th and 31st, do they draft a tender? If so, who?