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?
- ClarksonDavid

Sbisa is worse than Luke Schenn .......................

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.
- LeftCoaster

Don't forget Buffalo....the worst teams over and over again are the ones that continually try and "tank" their way out of their problems.

Sbisa is worse than Luke Schenn .......................
- LeftCoaster

incorrect

Hey the Ducks have reunited Kesler and Raymond , they just need now to aquire Sameulsson or Grabner. They even have Bieksa on D.
- VANTEL

lol yes they just need Malholtra Higgins Ehrhoff Rome Salo and a few other to make that cup run.

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...
- LeftCoaster

Kings and Hawks proved a top 2 pick is necessary

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...
- LeftCoaster

Leafs have picked around the same areas as Chicago did for years so... right around top 10 and higher for years... not sure how you can say they prove the way Canucks are doing it is right when they aren't comparable at all. Canucks are going to be picking top 10 for quite a few years to come anyway so..

Sbisa is worse than Luke Schenn .......................
- LeftCoaster

Oh I know.. just saying how that was said on here your coach also said he will be playing top 4 for you guys this year so that's good.....

Kings and Hawks proved a top 2 pick is necessary
- walshyleafsfan

I think more importantly is the sum of all your picks. The Islanders haven't won a thing with Tavares, the Panthers haven't won a thing with multiple top two picks, the Leafs and Canucks haven't won a thing with top two picks....I can name a dozen other teams too!

Yes it's important, but not more important than just flatout drafting well throughout the draft. Top to bottom.

Leafs have picked around the same areas as Chicago did for years so... right around top 10 and higher for years... not sure how you can say they prove the way Canucks are doing it is right when they aren't comparable at all. Canucks are going to be picking top 10 for quite a few years to come anyway so..
- ClarksonDavid

I'm not saying there's a right way or a wrong way, I'm saying the Toronto media proclaiming there's only one way, a complete teardown, is wrong.

There's more than one route to building a successful franchise. To claim, as the article that started all this nonsense did, that the Toronto route is the only route is ridiculous, especially as it hasn't actually led anywhere yet. Lets wait and see how it translates on the ice before declaring success or failure, shall we?

I think more importantly is the sum of all your picks. The Islanders haven't won a thing with Tavares, the Panthers haven't won a thing with multiple top two picks, the Leafs and Canucks haven't won a thing with top two picks....I can name a dozen other teams too!

Yes it's important, but not more important than just flatout drafting well throughout the draft. Top to bottom.
- LeftCoaster

For sure. Need them superstars though. And the only way to get them 99% of the time is with high picks.

I just don't see the comparison to the Oilers. Their management didn't seem bothered about finding talent anywhere other than the 1st overall. Leafs management have been much more active in trying to improve through other means. Trading surplus D like Harrington for a forward like Rychel. Bringing over Soshnikov and Zaitsev from Russia. Finding guys like Timashov, Nielsen and Dzierkals in the latter rounds. Leafs 2nd round picks of Bracco, Dermott, Korchkov and Grundstrom look like they should do better than the Oilers 2nd round picks.

Oilers had no direction or a plan seemingly in place. I think we can all agree the Leafs brass have a very clear, defined plan

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

That doesn't make them the 9th most improved team. Adding Loui will get the canucks (likely) more goals than adding Matthews will get the Leafs. And realistically, WPG adding Laine improved them far more than Matthews improved the Leafs. Laine is a better player and only went second because he is a winger and Leafs need a Center.

There's more than one route to building a successful franchise. To claim, as the article that started all this nonsense did, that the Toronto route is the only route is ridiculous, especially as it hasn't actually led anywhere yet. Lets wait and see how it translates on the ice before declaring success or failure, shall we?
- CubanBuffet

If the Leafs win a cup within 5 years (15 year rebuild) then the media is right and it's the only way to rebuild

That does make them the 9th most improved team. Adding Loui will get the canucks (likely) more goals than adding Matthews will get the Leafs. And realistically, WPG adding Laine improved them far more than Matthews improved the Leafs. Laine is a better player and only went second because he is a winger and Leafs need a Center.
- Retinalz

Canucks add a first line winger and a potential # 1 D while the Leafs add a potential #1 center.

Leafs rank 9 - Canucks 20th

For sure. Need them superstars though. And the only way to get them 99% of the time is with high picks.

I just don't see the comparison to the Oilers. Their management didn't seem bothered about finding talent anywhere other than the 1st overall. Leafs management have been much more active in trying to improve through other means. Trading surplus D like Harrington for a forward like Rychel. Bringing over Soshnikov and Zaitsev from Russia. Finding guys like Timashov, Nielsen and Dzierkals in the latter rounds. Leafs 2nd round picks of Bracco, Dermott, Korchkov and Grundstrom look like they should do better than the Oilers 2nd round picks.

Oilers had no direction or a plan seemingly in place. I think we can all agree the Leafs brass have a very clear, defined plan
- walshyleafsfan

Agree completely! The Oilers downfall was not surrounding the kids with insulating guys to protect them, not physically, but with guys who can take the load off their shoulders production and minutes wise.

Canucks add a first line winger and a potential # 1 D while the Leafs add a potential #1 center.

Leafs rank 9 - Canucks 20th
- CanuckDon

Who dat?

Stetcher?

That does make them the 9th most improved team. Adding Loui will get the canucks (likely) more goals than adding Matthews will get the Leafs. And realistically, WPG adding Laine improved them far more than Matthews improved the Leafs. Laine is a better player and only went second because he is a winger and Leafs need a Center.
- Retinalz

great. I bet you've watched both them a total at the very most 10 times. 5 games or so each.. so I'm sure you know what you're talking about..

Who dat?

Stetcher?
- walshyleafsfan

I watched Stetcher and Juolevi at the development camp yesterday, both really good young players. Stetcher is an incredible skater....wow!

I watched Stetcher and Juolevi at the development camp yesterday, both really good young players. Stetcher is an incredible skater....wow!
- LeftCoaster

In a couple years we may have the solid young D core we've all been craving!
Juolevi - Gudbranson
Hutton - Tryamkin
Stetcher - Subban

I watched Stetcher and Juolevi at the development camp yesterday, both really good young players. Stetcher is an incredible skater....wow!
- LeftCoaster

Seen Juolevi quite a bit when watching Marner. Looks like a good one for sure.

Don't know stetcher at all

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.
- LeftCoaster

LA draft position 13-11-11-11-4-2-5.... 7 years of being bad. Maybe not tanking but they were bad for years. Still drafted well though.

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

Hey Lefty,
Good to see the guys who are supposed to look good look good, who else has stuck out, how about our local boy Jakob Stukel?

Hey Lefty,
Good to see the guys who are supposed to look good look good, who else has stuck out, how about our local boy Jakob Stukel?
- allsports

Truthfully I didn't watch the forwards enough to give you an educated opinion.

I'm not saying there's a right way or a wrong way, I'm saying the Toronto media proclaiming there's only one way, a complete teardown, is wrong.
- LeftCoaster

I agree and find all the talk about following a particular model of rebuilding stupid. (Of course, saying that the Leafs are following the Edmonton model because we were luckier than you in the lottery is equally stupid.)

Any assessment about a tear down as the way to go obviously depends on the state of the team. I certainly think that starting with a teardown made sense when Shanny arrived. It might have made sense for the Canucks except that for a bunch of reasons moving your two biggest assets was never really a factor. Your team will improve this year and may even make the playoffs - I don't really have a sense of that. What seems harder to see is how this core develops into a contending team.

Who dat?

Stetcher?
- walshyleafsfan

Larson, Juolevi and Stetcher. They all have higher ceilings than Matthews