ok thanks
- jimi james

Wish the CHL rules were less stringent. Really hurts tweeners.

god listening to you guys cry all year because the team is in the bottom third of the league is gonna be annoying

temper those expectations.... you'll only be disappointed if you dont
- Dozzer

If I hear one goddamned thing about Tavares....

Admittedly, I bought into Stamkos, and I think there was very good reason to think he would come here. The Leafs made their pitch and he chose to stay.

I'm not going down that road again, though

I guess Matthews wont be on the team either then.
- Tanooki

matthews is 6'-2" and weighs 215lbs

amazing how you always fail to address facts when they dont suit your argument

stop being impatient... they even said they have no timeline... it will happen when it happens... thats been their stance so thats the one i believe.
- Dozzer

With all the advantages (due to financial power) Leafs have vs other teams, do you really think Leafs should be 'permitted' to have as long a rebuild as some of the other low-budget teams in NHL?

Getting rid of contracts like Phaneuf, Clarkson, even Bernier (with the 2mln bonus payment) and others is a thing that only Leafs and a select few other teams can do due to their finances. In my opinion, through this, they can speed up a rebuild by 2-3 years.

In my view the Leafs have been rebuilding since 2008 season anyways - they haven't done quite well, but I think 8y patience is quite long enough.

Even with a very very long rebuild (let's say try and make playoffs in 2019-2020 season) you never have a guarantee to make it beyong quarterfinals; patience is ok, but an organisation like the Leafs should have in its DNA to battle for playoffs and cup every single season. Whether that's realistic or not is a second question, but in my view it's quite sad to 'accept' a bottom 10 place in standings for 3-5 years being the Leafs.. (even if we agree on expecting a bottom 10 place!).

I'm not that enthousiastic about Leafs' current rebuild either; nothing spectacular done in the last few years (easy to make the right picks in top10 anyways) and apart from the moves executed due to the mentioned strong financial position, nothing really superb done (missing out on Stamkos being biggest illustration of that).
So far, I would give Shanahan and Friends a 'C' for their rebuild, nothing more.

Its true man.. I dont ever recall thinking you were right about one of your predictions.. nothing personal, but you are definitely a part of grim leaf nation.. For some reason you refuse to acknowledge that we actually have a #1 goalies now and much improved D. A healthy JVR, Nylander, Matthews, Marner, and some grit with Martin.. This team is nothing like last years team. I understand the pessimism but i think you underestimate this team. Id put a friendly wager on them not being a bottom 10 team.
- Tanooki

I still say if Bozak was healthy we would have beaten Boston....

I still can't believe we traded David Clarkson....

matthews is 6'-2" and weighs 215lbs

amazing how you always fail to address facts when they dont suit your argument
- Dozzer

Your argument was that Lou said he'd prefer not to bring guys up too early. But its not too early for Marner. He spent an extra year in junior and was the best player in the league. Lou never said he doesnt want guys under 6ft, like youre suggesting.

Ill bet you Marner is on the team. Theres absolutely nothing that says Marner isn't ready.

Its true man.. I dont ever recall thinking you were right about one of your predictions.. nothing personal, but you are definitely a part of grim leaf nation.. For some reason you refuse to acknowledge that we actually have a #1 goalies now and much improved D. A healthy JVR, Nylander, Matthews, Marner, and some grit with Martin.. This team is nothing like last years team. I understand the pessimism but i think you underestimate this team. Id put a friendly wager on them not being a bottom 10 team.
- Tanooki

really.. the leafs need to move kessel and phaneuf this year ... everyone jumped all over me.. it happened and good

the leafs will move reimer this year... everyone jumped all over me

i could list more if you like?

With all the advantages (due to financial power) Leafs have vs other teams, do you really think Leafs should be 'permitted' to have as long a rebuild as some of the other low-budget teams in NHL?

Getting rid of contracts like Phaneuf, Clarkson, even Bernier (with the 2mln bonus payment) and others is a thing that only Leafs and a select few other teams can do due to their finances. In my opinion, through this, they can speed up a rebuild by 2-3 years.

In my view the Leafs have been rebuilding since 2008 season anyways - they haven't done quite well, but I think 8y patience is quite long enough.

Even with a very very long rebuild (let's say try and make playoffs in 2019-2020 season) you never have a guarantee to make it beyong quarterfinals; patience is ok, but an organisation like the Leafs should have in its DNA to battle for playoffs and cup every single season. Whether that's realistic or not is a second question, but in my view it's quite sad to 'accept' a bottom 10 place in standings for 3-5 years being the Leafs.. (even if we agree on expecting a bottom 10 place!).

I'm not that enthousiastic about Leafs' current rebuild either; nothing spectacular done in the last few years (easy to make the right picks in top10 anyways) and apart from the moves executed due to the mentioned strong financial position, nothing really superb done (missing out on Stamkos being biggest illustration of that).
So far, I would give Shanahan and Friends a 'C' for their rebuild, nothing more.
- MaximusAurelius

go home youre drunk

Your argument was that Lou said he'd prefer not to bring guys up too early. But its not too early for Marner. He spent an extra year in junior and was the best player in the league. Lou never said he doesnt want guys under 6ft, like youre suggesting.

Ill bet you Marner is on the team. Theres absolutely nothing that says Marner isn't ready.
- Tanooki

i never sad that ever. (the 6' thing) stop putting words in my mouth.

my point is marner may not be able to absorb body contact like matthews do to his size... put him on the nhl roster (and i am not saying it wont happen, just that its not a sure thing) and someone like weber runs him over and hurts him setting his development back all because the leafs decided to play a 163lb kid in a men's league?

he only makes the leafs if he makes the leafs... you dont get a pass because you dominate your development league

really.. the leafs need to move kessel and phaneuf this year ... everyone jumped all over me.. it happened and good

the leafs will move reimer this year... everyone jumped all over me

i could list more if you like?
- Dozzer

Those are all obvious examples.

i never sad that ever. (the 6' thing) stop putting words in my mouth.

my point is marner may not be able to absorb body contact like matthews do to his size... put him on the nhl roster (and i am not saying it wont happen, just that its not a sure thing) and someone like weber runs him over and hurts him setting his development back all because the leafs decided to play a 163lb kid in a men's league?

he only makes the leafs if he makes the leafs... you dont get a pass because you dominate your development league
- Dozzer

I don't understand why people think a 19 year old 160 lb kid is a sure thing to make an NHL roster, just because he has the raw skillset

i never sad that ever. (the 6' thing) stop putting words in my mouth.

my point is marner may not be able to absorb body contact like matthews do to his size... put him on the nhl roster (and i am not saying it wont happen, just that its not a sure thing) and someone like weber runs him over and hurts him setting his development back all because the leafs decided to play a 163lb kid in a men's league?

he only makes the leafs if he makes the leafs... you dont get a pass because you dominate your development league
- Dozzer

YOU PUT THOSE WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH!!

You constantly talk about Marners size.. every single day.

Theres are other smaller players who do fine. your point is completely moot.

I don't understand why people think a 19 year old 160 lb kid is a sure thing to make an NHL roster, just because he has the raw skillset
- Nastradamus

Yeah lets just shave off a few pounds to suit our arguements

i never sad that ever. (the 6' thing) stop putting words in my mouth.

my point is marner may not be able to absorb body contact like matthews do to his size... put him on the nhl roster (and i am not saying it wont happen, just that its not a sure thing) and someone like weber runs him over and hurts him setting his development back all because the leafs decided to play a 163lb kid in a men's league?

he only makes the leafs if he makes the leafs... you dont get a pass because you dominate your development league
- Dozzer

Marner will probably stay at 163-173lbs his whole career.
If you think that is a problem for him playing in NHL, waiting another year or 2 won't make a difference.

really.. the leafs need to move kessel and phaneuf this year ... everyone jumped all over me.. it happened and good

the leafs will move reimer this year... everyone jumped all over me

i could list more if you like?
- Dozzer

Pretty sure you were one of the few that didn't think Stamkos was signing with the Leafs also.

I don't understand why people think a 19 year old 160 lb kid is a sure thing to make an NHL roster, just because he has the raw skillset
- Nastradamus

bc 90% of the other players are worserer

Pretty sure you were one of the few that didn't think Stamkos was signing with the Leafs also.
- stormey

The Facts

Those are all obvious examples.
- Tanooki

what a shock... dismiss any points that dont back up your opinion

and stop annoying me aardvark... or i'll end your fancy lil alt.

go home youre drunk
- Tanooki

are you the same guy (different username) that was trolling the boards 'from church'?

Pretty sure you were one of the few that didn't think Stamkos was signing with the Leafs also.
- stormey

yeah i know... but i am always wrong

i also said marner would have a rough go at camp last year... got chewed out for that too

Lou won't let players under 6 feet tall play for the Leafs
- Dozzer

Marner will probably stay at 163-173lbs his whole career.
If you think that is a problem for him playing in NHL, waiting another year or 2 won't make a difference.
- MaximusAurelius

its not size its strength...for the most part a 19 year old is not as solid as a grown man... period.

Pretty sure you were one of the few that didn't think Stamkos was signing with the Leafs also.
- stormey

I would like to hear systemtool's opinion about him

what a shock... dismiss any points that dont back up your opinion

and stop annoying me aardvark... or i'll end your fancy lil alt.
- Dozzer

So i disagree with you and you threaten to ban me?


never expected that from you.. but whatever.

no he's really not, no indication yet that this team will be any better necessarily than the team from last year. Yes we have Matthews, and yes Nylander will likely be on the squad full time (along with maybe Marner) but it is very important to temper expectations. Marner and Matthews are not necessarily ready to shoulder unrealistic expectations. A bottom ten finish would not be a failure, if we end up 20th-21st in the league that should be looked up as progress, as there will naturally be growing pains. These kids aren't walking onto the team as cup quality caliber automatically
- Nastradamus

exactly... no one should be getting ahead of themselves... getting ahead will only lead to a one season over-achievement such as Colorado and Calgary had in recent years.. which is ultimately detrimental OR it leads to unrealistic expectations that the noobs in the media pick up on and start blabbling on about for months - also not helpful.

personally, I think the best part of being a Leaf fan at this point in time is "yes they missed the playoffs again" but didn't have any intention of roster band-aids like in previous years.

there will be turn over and it will be in the form of eventual top 6 forwards and for better goaltending... not the usual old guys coming in for retirement contract.

the mood around the team is upbeat and optimistic - they should be fun to watch and we can rest assured that another 1/3 of the roster will be turned over again at year's end.

if they over achieve - great - if they show positive development but still finished bottom 5 that's fine too!