This....... 8-10 is my prediction even if Stammer comes. Going to be too young and if they choose not to play the young guns are vets are garbage. If Anderson has a great year maybe maybe just miss the playoffs.
- orienbrady22

thats how i see it as well

I read the bolded bit, and then grew impatient and stopped.
- Atomic Wedgie

man have you ever been chirpy with me lately

leafs get the 1st overall and now people are looking at cup runs

the lunacy that is leafs nation
- Dozzer

If we get Stamkos and another top-4 D, I think we can realistically look at breaking the record of the 1895-96 Montreal Victorias, who won the Stanley Cup in December.

I'd like to see the boys wrap it up by the end of November.

It would be so sweat to go into the Montreal Victorias blog and rub their fans' noses in it.

This....... 8-10 is my prediction even if Stammer comes. Going to be too young and if they choose not to play the young guns are vets are garbage. If Anderson has a great year maybe maybe just miss the playoffs.
- orienbrady22

I have no problem just missing the playoffs next season and missing out on a top 5 or 7 pick, as long as the kids keep improving and they start to build that winning culture.

If we get Stamkos and another top-4 D, I think we can realistically look at breaking the record of the 1895-96 Montreal Victorias, who won the Stanley Cup in December.

I'd like to see the boys wrap it up by the end of November.

It would be so sweat to go into the Montreal Victorias blog and rub their fans' noses in it.
- Atomic Wedgie

how could you not? those victorias fans are a cocky bunch

so you basically have decided to ignore everything the leafs brass have been saying about being patient... okay... got it.

"i prefer to bring young players up later than sooner"
~Lou... just last week
- Dozzer

Now you are being ridiculous. I love the current management - I am confident that the $20 million or so of Long term cap space they recently cleared (except $1.2 million from Kessel) will be put to good use. Do you think that $20 million savings is going to be used to pay the utility bills at Real Sports Bar - or will some of it be used for improving the team? Or lets be even more conservative than you - lets put down a 15 year plan to be competitive. Then why draft Matthews in the first place, he'll be ready for retirement before we are ready to make the playoffs.

man have you ever been chirpy with me lately
- Dozzer

I was playing on your suggestion that Leafs fans need to be patient.

Apparently the joke didn't work.

to a 4 year plan maybe
- Dozzer

Leafs are in rebuild since they drafted Luke Schenn 8 years ago; it's about time they start being a competitive team.

The only thing I said by the way is that every sports team needs to start the season with the aim to win the championship. Some teams have it tougher, others have it a bit easier.

But no team in NHL has more than 10% chance of winning the SC at start of the season anyways, so you can rebuild how long you want and do everything 'perfectly' without getting to the finals anyways. Patience is as less of a guarantee to win the SC than a cathalysed approach; Leafs should need less time for a rebuild anyways due to their financial superiority over at least 25 other teams in league. (not too many teams can acquire contracts like Horton, have staff expenditures etc. like Leafs).

holy hell... have your opinion... you are entitled to it... but dont be upset when next year they finish bottom 10 again. i expect that more than anything especially if they play a young group
- Dozzer

A 20th place finish would be an exception jump for this team.

I have no problem just missing the playoffs next season and missing out on a top 5 or 7 pick, as long as the kids keep improving and they start to build that winning culture.
- Phenom

exactly.... Could always get lucky in the lotto no matter where we finish if we miss the playoffs.

so?

of course he will try... he wanted to last season as well... he is a competitive guy... which means he will play whoever is best suited to help get he leafs there

young guys or older

until the young guys prove themselves i simply wont give them the free pass
- Dozzer

Same. Seen way too much of that over the years.

I'm with you. I hope he makes it, but if he doesn't, I still trust in Babcock. It sounds like Marner is going to do everything possible to make it, which means he may actually be September ready this time around unlike the past two seasons...what i mean by this is he actually has struggled the first month of both his OHL seasons. And come on strong in October
- mykokes

oopppsss no more skittles for that kid

how could you not? those victorias fans are a cocky bunch
- Dozzer

I can just picture those scallywags, driving around in their motorized carriages, going on about how their snuff boxes are more decorative than our snuff boxes, and how their homes in Montreal have two water closets.

I hate them so much.

I've only backread 5 pages, but holy hell it's like groundhog day in here........same poop over and over every day. We need some trades to talk about. Get off your asses GMs!
- Phenom

Bozak+Percy+31st for Shattenkirk
Wsh 2nd for Kreider .

Matthews doing batting practice with the bisons today.. hitting dingers

Now you are being ridiculous. I love the current management - I am confident that the $20 million or so of Long term cap space they recently cleared (except $1.2 million from Kessel) will be put to good use. Do you think that $20 million savings is going to be used to pay the utility bills at Real Sports Bar - or will some of it be used for improving the team? Or lets be even more conservative than you - lets put down a 15 year plan to be competitive. Then why draft Matthews in the first place, he'll be ready for retirement before we are ready to make the playoffs.
- winsix

where are you getting the 20 milly figure from? at this moment the leafs have just under 4 million in space .... plus the eventual horton contract they can put on LTIR at the beginning of the season.... other than that they have the 10% overage they can use in the offseason

Jvr’s replacement…but seems too cheap at just a 2nd.
- Tumbleweed

you still have to sign him too.

Bozak+Percy+31st for Shattenkirk
Wsh 2nd for Kreider .
- MCharisma91

I would like the Leafs to use the late 2nd or early 3rd to take the risk and draft Sean Day.

I was playing on your suggestion that Leafs fans need to be patient.

Apparently the joke didn't work.
- Atomic Wedgie

ahhh lol got ya... i havent had a beer yet today so i might be a bit off as of yet

Buffalo was one of the worst teams in the history of the NHL in 2015. I think a similar Jump in the standings is reasonable, maybe a little more for the Leafs..if they make some moves in FA

I can just picture those scallywags, driving around in their motorized carriages, going on about how their snuff boxes are more decorative than our snuff boxes, and how their homes in Montreal have two water closets.

I hate them so much.
- Atomic Wedgie

Nylander is going to win the Calder.
- ThePresident

nope he'll come in second to a different Leafs player.

I would like the Leafs to use the late 2nd or early 3rd to take the risk and draft Sean Day.
- BetterCallSaul

Same tbh. I'm still hoping for 1 of Hart/Gus/Fitzpat with the 31st, if we still have it come Saturday.

you still have to sign him too.
- zazzle

Honestly i could see JVR going for a high pick 11-17 and a solid prospect. Clears cap and Leafs can use pick to select a top D man.

Same. Seen way too much of that over the years.
- oldstyle

Understand the pessimism, but the management team including
Lou, Babcock, Lemaire, Dubas and Hunter etc. - do not resemble anything the Leafs have ever had. This is a solid group, just as Chicago has a solid group, this team will be very good, very soon and for a long time.