Anyone other teams add a potential 1st line franchise center this off season? you guys love trash talking leafs so much it's honestly funny
- ClarksonDavid

Yes, quite a few teams added a potential number one center this year. Nice try though

It really is infuriating...we get three articles a day on the kid. He is just a kid for (frank) sakes! How about an article on Pulj or Juolevi? What a (frank)ing joke. Nothing would make me happier than Matthews busting out and ending up back in Europe
- CanuckDon

He's gonna be a good player, they made the right pick! You've gotta build thru the middle of the ice. I see him as an upgrade on Ryan Johansen, which is great because Johansen is a great young center.

Sssshhhh. Don't mention the Leafs, little Clarky feels left out if he's not here to trumpet them. The Leaf obsession with Canuck fans is kinda cute.
- Marwood

Poor little Clarky

He's gonna be a good player, they made the right pick! You've gotta build thru the middle of the ice. I see him as an upgrade on Ryan Johansen, which is great because Johansen is a great young center.
- LeftCoaster

I suspect he will be a great player...that's not the point It's annoying getting 10 articles a day slammed in my face. "He is mature beyond his years" "Marner hopes to play with him" "His shot impressed the other prospects" " he looks like a future leader"

It's simply amazing...Now that the Leafs decided to follow the Edmonton model it's the only way to rebuild. these same media hacks were criticizing the Oilers for years and now they praise the Leafs? What the (frank)? They are emulating the Oilers.
- CanuckDon

One of the major reasons I don't use Sportsnet AT ALL and rarely use the TSN website. They cater to their local population, which is fine, I can choose not to give them my business.

It's simply amazing...Now that the Leafs decided to follow the Edmonton model it's the only way to rebuild. these same media hacks were criticizing the Oilers for years and now they praise the Leafs? What the (frank)? They are emulating the Oilers.
- CanuckDon

Picking high and getting really good players is probably the wrong way to do it. I'll tell Pittsburgh Chicago Washington Tampa to not do it that way next time..

One of the major reasons I don't use Sportsnet AT ALL and rarely use the TSN website. They cater to their local population, which is fine, I can choose not to give them my business.
- LeftCoaster

It's just frustrating there isn't more coverage on the west coast...Oh well, that's what Hockey Buzz is for

Picking high and getting really good players is probably the wrong way to do it. I'll tell Pittsburgh Chicago Washington Tampa to not do it that way next time..
- ClarksonDavid

LA and Boston would disagree and Washington has done squat.

Picking high and getting really good players is probably the wrong way to do it. I'll tell Pittsburgh Chicago Washington Tampa to not do it that way next time..
- ClarksonDavid

Washington is very poor example...Matthews isn't Crosby. Chicago certainly benefits from a few stars like Kane and Toews but it's their solid drafting and development of their later picks that has created a dynasty. I don't think the Leafs analytics based strategy of picking overage players will have the same effect. For every Chicago there is an Edmonton and a Carolina. Which team do you think the Leafs are more likely following? Let me guess, you think its the Hawks don't you

Picking high and getting really good players is probably the wrong way to do it. I'll tell Pittsburgh Chicago Washington to not do it that way next time..
- ClarksonDavid

Your missing the point, Chicago didn't flatout void their lineup of any and all NHL talent, they just sucked for a couple of years. They finished 5th and 3rd last, just so happened they won the lottery when they finished 5th last.

Yes they were middling for years but they didn't try to get the first overall pick. Every successful team has high draft picks on it.

That's all it took for them to turn it around because they'd drafted really well previous to their low finishes.

To the best of my knowledge the Penguins are the only team in NHL history to try and lose, for Mario Lemieux, and they won because of it.

LA and Boston would disagree and Washington has done squat.
- allsports

Doughty Kopitar Brown Hamilton Seguin Kessel

What do you guys think Gaunces chances of playing in the nhl this year are?

Your missing the point, Chicago didn't flatout void their lineup of any and all NHL talent, they just sucked for a couple of years. They finished 5th and 3rd last, just so happened they won the lottery when they finished 5th last.

Yes they were middling for years but they didn't try to get the first overall pick. Every successful team has high draft picks on it.

That's all it took for them to turn it around because they'd drafted really well previous to their low finishes.

To the best of my knowledge the Penguins are the only team in NHL history to try and lose, for Mario Lemieux, and they won because of it.
- LeftCoaster

Chicago was bad for alot of years and alot of their picks sucked. It took that team awhile to get good just so happened they got really good right after they picked really high and got some franchise players.. they also had some nice picks in other rounds but that team doesn't win without Kane at 1 and Toews at 3. I think you can probably win without picking high every year but it's funny the only team anyone compares what the leafs are doing is to the Oilers who were way worse and management has been completely terrible aside from picking high hasn't done anything else.

Doughty Kopitar Brown Hamilton Seguin Kessel
- NorthNuck

Doughty - 2nd overall
Kopitar - 10th overall
Brown 13th overall

Hamilton - 9th overall (from trading Kessel not being bad)
Seguin - 2nd overall (from trading Kessel not from being bad)
Kessel - 5th overall

The Kings won because they just drafted well without tanking! They had the assets to trade for Carter and Richards because they drafted well.

The Bruins won because they drafted Bergeron, in the 2nd round, they drafted Krejci, Lucic, Marchand, etc. and they signed Chara as a ufa...that's why they won. Not because they tanked.

What do you guys think Gaunces chances of playing in the nhl this year are?
- NorthNuck

Pretty slim as it stands now. 1 goal in 20 games isn't enough production for a 4th liner. I suspect he will see some minutes when injuries occur.

Doughty - 2nd overall
Kopitar - 10th overall
Brown 13th overall

Hamilton - 9th overall (from trading Kessel not being bad)
Seguin - 2nd overall (from trading Kessel not from being bad)
Kessel - 5th overall

The Kings won because the just drafted well without tanking! They had the assets to trade for Carter and Richards because they drafted well.

The Bruins won because they drafted Bergeron, in the 2nd round, they drafted Krejci, Lucic, Marchand, etc. and they signed Chara as a ufa...that's why they won. Not because they tanked.
- LeftCoaster

Not disagreeing with you, just saying without Doughty the Kings don't win either of their cups and he was 2nd overall.

Chicago was bad for alot of years and alot of their picks sucked. It took that team awhile to get good just so happened they got really good right after they picked really high and got some franchise players.. they also had some nice picks in other rounds but that team doesn't win without Kane at 1 and Toews at 3. I think you can probably win without picking high every year but it's funny the only team anyone compares what the leafs are doing is to the Oilers who were way worse and management has been completely terrible aside from picking high hasn't done anything else.
- ClarksonDavid

Yes the Hawks were a poor teams for years but the point is they didn't "try" to lose. Prior to Toews and Kane, all the way back to 1990, they had ONE other top three pick, Cam Barker.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005218.html

Being good in the NHL is all about drafting well, one of the reasons the Nucks and Leafs have never won a Cup in the modern day NHL, post expansion.

Yes the Hawks were a poor teams for years but the point is they didn't "try" to lose. Prior to Toews and Kane, all the way back to 1990, they had ONE other top three pick, Cam Barker.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005218.html

Being good in the NHL is all about drafting well, one of the reasons the Nucks and Leafs have never won a Cup in the modern day NHL, post expansion.
- LeftCoaster

Not disagreeing with you, just saying without Doughty the Kings don't win either of their cups and he was 2nd overall.
- NorthNuck

Yup I agree, when you finish poorly, draft well. Again, the point is, you don't have to "try" and lose to be successful.

The Leafs and Oilers tried to be bad, that was their goal IMO. Ultimately it gets them high picks, as they've drafted high a lot already, but it makes for a pathetic product.

In the past nine drafts, eight years, the Leafs have picked, 1st, 4th, 8th, 21st, 5th, 22nd, 7th & 5th overall. They should've picked 2nd and 9th overall too but Burked (frank)ed them over. I maintain they should be a lot better than they currently are.

Nice change of pace today at #CanucksCamp with a mid-session scrimmage. Can definitely see why Troy Stecher was so highly touted. 👌

Yes the Hawks were a poor teams for years but the point is they didn't "try" to lose. Prior to Toews and Kane, all the way back to 1990, they had ONE other top three pick, Cam Barker.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005218.html

Being good in the NHL is all about drafting well, one of the reasons the Nucks and Leafs have never won a Cup in the modern day NHL, post expansion.
- LeftCoaster

Very impressive drafting. Some players have gone on to do well for their current teams.

Yes the Hawks were a poor teams for years but the point is they didn't "try" to lose. Prior to Toews and Kane, all the way back to 1990, they had ONE other top three pick, Cam Barker.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...aft/teams/dr00005218.html

Being good in the NHL is all about drafting well, one of the reasons the Nucks and Leafs have never won a Cup in the modern day NHL, post expansion.
- LeftCoaster

So leafs tried to lose last year and Nucks and their 2 more wins tried their very best or maybe they're both just really poopty teams and one of them decided to move assets and bring up prospects? I just don't get how the leafs are trying to lose but the Nucks we're brutal last year but they're not at all.. leafs are nothing like Oilers. They went out got the coach they wanted, how long did it take the Oilers to go for a goalie anyway? Leafs are trying to get better in other ways then just being the worst team in the league. Just cause they didn't didn't trade for Gubranson and sign Ericsson to silly contract doesn't mean they're not.

So leafs tried to lose last year and Nucks and their 2 more wins tried their very best or maybe they're both just really poopty teams and one of them decided to move assets and bring up prospects? I just don't get how the leafs are trying to lose but the Nucks we're brutal last year but they're not at all.. leafs are nothing like Oilers. They went out got the coach they wanted, how long did it take the Oilers to go for a goalie anyway? Leafs are trying to get better in other ways then just being the worst team in the league. Just cause they didn't didn't trade for Gubranson and sign Ericsson to silly contract doesn't mean they're not.
- ClarksonDavid

Our team was bound for the playoffs mid-season. If it weren't for all the injuries, we certainly make the playoffs. Elder, Sutter, Hamhuis, etc all long term injuries. We didn't sell the franchise when we realized we weren't making it.

So leafs tried to lose last year and Nucks and their 2 more wins tried their very best or maybe they're both just really poopty teams and one of them decided to move assets and bring up prospects? I just don't get how the leafs are trying to lose but the Nucks we're brutal last year but they're not at all.. leafs are nothing like Oilers. They went out got the coach they wanted, how long did it take the Oilers to go for a goalie anyway? Leafs are trying to get better in other ways then just being the worst team in the league. Just cause they didn't didn't trade for Gubranson and sign Ericsson to silly contract doesn't mean they're not.
- ClarksonDavid

It's just two different methods of trying to "build". The conversation started with the Eastern media proclaiming that the teams who made the most improvement this summer, thus far, are teams like the Leafs because they drafted high.

They stated the Canucks are basically clueless because they're not doing a total teardown, which is idiotic! The Canucks can be just as successful as the Leafs with their current method of building IMO. It's been proven by teams like the Hawks and Kings that you don't need ten years of drafting top five to win it all.

That's my point...

The Canucks are trying to be competitive, the Leafs are not, but they're both building, just two different ways.

Our team was bound for the playoffs mid-season. If it weren't for all the injuries, we certainly make the playoffs. Elder, Sutter, Hamhuis, etc all long term injuries. We didn't sell the franchise when we realized we weren't making it.
- Bakwas

Oh no injuries and you make it, okay That's the best excuse. Maybe the team just isn't very good? Edler is a good player, Sutter is mediocre.. I read today on this very thread Sbisa was better then Hamhuis so that's not much of a loss. It's not like the Leafs were fully healthy all season. Lots of your fans were mad you didn't move guys at the deadline but because they weren't moved you're going to use that as a reason to feel better about how bad your team was also last year?