A good post, I agree with all your points.

The only hiccup I see is the pressing need part. The Canucks arent (or at the very least shouldnt be) a desperate organization: they arent contending, nor have they sucked nor drafted top 5 for many years. There really shouldnt be any pressing needs but thats really perception based. A lot dont think there is a 1C in the lineup or prospect pool, how quickly do you need to fill that void and have that player NHL ready to make a legit run in the future? D and G take longer to develop, so I like the Juolevi pick, but thats where I begin to wonder about the Edler/Tanev's and what role they would be in when the team's youth is really ready to take over in the post-Sedin era
- WhiteLie

I wasn't saying trade Tanev because I don't think Van is in a place of pressing need for anyone. Edmonton needed a D, Nashville needed a true 1C. Van I think has a good rounded out team right now. Van is also like you said not in a place to compete, so they can afford to wait.

Sedin Era ends in 2 years. 2 more drafts. See how the seasons go.

I LeafsBuzz!!
- Marwood

I love a good beer buzz in the morning….but I'm off the stuff

Leafs have had some hits like Rask, Steen, Stralman, Komarov. It's the development that's been poope.

Hopefully that improves. Got some interesting ones in Timashov, Brown, Neilsen,Johnson, Korshkov, Dermott etc.

Would be nice if they develop the kids properly for a change
- walshyleafsfan

You are going back 10+ years for most those guys though, which I guess it could be argued is how long the leafs have been rebuilding.

I agree though that some of the later round picks are looking better but same as oilers when you finish that low for so long you need to make good on more than just your top 10 pick.

I disagree. We're not at the point where UFA's are a good idea. Very happy they stayed away from Backes, Okposo, Lucic, Russell etc.

The difference (i believe) between the Oilers and the Leafs is there's no comparison between the management groups (during Oilers 1st overall picks). None whatsoever.

Another key thing to remember is as of right now, only the 5th pick has played in the NHL (Nylander had a cup of coffee last year). At this point into the Oiler's (for the comparison) rebuild they'd played about 820 man games (*Approx) in the NHL.

The guy's the Leafs have have played 22 games (other than Rielly).

Nothing about the way the Leafs have been attacking this rebuild is like the way the Oilers did it.
- walshyleafsfan

I would say other then the one year of making the playoffs, Toronto has been rebuilding for 5 years now. I doubt Toronto will be too competitive this year. So year 7 you might start to win some games? How is that not like the oilers?

Leafs have had some hits like Rask, Steen, Stralman, Komarov. It's the development that's been poope.

Hopefully that improves. Got some interesting ones in Timashov, Brown, Neilsen,Johnson, Korshkov, Dermott etc.

Would be nice if they develop the kids properly for a change
- walshyleafsfan

Hopefully leafs evaluation of goalies is better.

Well I kinda disagree, because, the previous Leaf management is exactly what the Oilers went thru. Burke and Nonis screwed things up for the Leafs just as much as Lowe and McTavish did for the Oilers.

During the Burke/Nonis era's the team finished 7th, 7th, 2nd, 9th last and 5th last in consecutive years, regardless of what they did with those picks they created a losing team and environment there, same as the Oilers…just to a slightly lesser degree.

Secondly, it doesn't matter, to me, how many games the kids have played, again, you're still creating a losing team. If the Oilers would've insulated those kids, who were probably good enough to play in the league, with older more experience players. They might not be going thru what they're going thru.

Same for the Leafs, Matthews should be playing reduced third line minutes behind Kadri and Bozak to get his feet wet. Not be coined as the "saviour" and pushed to play 20+ minutes a night.

Thus my free agent comment.
- LeftCoaster

Leafs have plenty of veterans. Polak, Greening, Hunwick, Bozak, Michalek, Laich, JVR, Komarov (to an extent), Martin, Lupul. Adding more wouldn't be following the plan.

The kids will be sheltered this year. Matthews won't take the hard match ups (that'd be left to Kadri and Bozak) and by all accounts Nylander will be in that line as well. Marner may or may not make the team, but if he does I'd imagine sheltered minutes, PP time and probably loaned to team Canada.

This is a new management, and just like JB, shouldn't be held accountable for what Burke/Nonis did or didn't do.

A lot of the players under Burke have now gone. No more Kessel, Phaneuf, Orr, McLaurin, Fraser, Kulemin, Clarkson, Gleason, McClement, Raymond, Santorelli, Borland, Ranger, Gunnar, Grabbo have all been moved out.

None of these kids who haven't played should feel a losing environment, it had nothing to do with them. The only two (maybe three) that matter going forward who have been used to it for a prolonged amount of time is Rielly, Kadri and Gardiner.

As long as management keep working with the young kids and keep them insulated I see no issue for the time being.

Talking about FA, I wouldn't mind flashing some cash next season as the Leafs have about 20 million coming off the books at the end of this year

You are going back 10+ years for most those guys though, which I guess it could be argued is how long the leafs have been rebuilding.

I agree though that some of the later round picks are looking better but same as oilers when you finish that low for so long you need to make good on more than just your top 10 pick.
- belcherbd

Agreed. Hopefully in a couple of years we'll start to reap the rewards from Hunter's 1st two drafts.

Leafs have plenty of veterans. Polak, Greening, Hunwick, Bozak, Michalek, Laich, JVR, Komarov (to an extent), Martin, Lupul. Adding more wouldn't be following the plan.

The kids will be sheltered this year. Matthews won't take the hard match ups (that'd be left to Kadri and Bozak) and by all accounts Nylander will be in that line as well. Marner may or may not make the team, but if he does I'd imagine sheltered minutes, PP time and probably loaned to team Canada.

This is a new management, and just like JB, shouldn't be held accountable for what Burke/Nonis did or didn't do.

A lot of the players under Burke have now gone. No more Kessel, Phaneuf, Orr, McLaurin, Fraser, Kulemin, Clarkson, Gleason, McClement, Raymond, Santorelli, Borland, Ranger, Gunnar, Grabbo have all been moved out.

None of these kids who haven't played should feel a losing environment, it had nothing to do with them. The only two (maybe three) that matter going forward who have been used to it for a prolonged amount of time is Rielly, Kadri and Gardiner.

As long as management keep working with the young kids and keep them insulated I see no issue for the time being.

Talking about FA, I wouldn't mind flashing some cash next season as the Leafs have about 20 million coming off the books at the end of this year
- walshyleafsfan

I LeafBuzz.

I LeafBuzz.
- Marwood

To be fair, it passes the time. You guy's aren't that active on here early in the morning, so why not? You don't have to get involved. Gives Carol a few more dollars as well.

Well I've got a charter at noon so I've gotta go get ready, need some crab bait, see ya boys and girls….lots of Orca's out there right now. Wow they were breaching a couple days ago and put on a good show for some Alberta boys.

Well I've got a charter at noon so I've gotta go get ready, need some crab bait, see ya boys and girls….lots of Orca's out there right now. Wow they were breaching a couple days ago and put on a good show for some Alberta boys.
- LeftCoaster

Go get 'em tiger

Leafs have plenty of veterans. Polak, Greening, Hunwick, Bozak, Michalek, Laich, JVR, Komarov (to an extent), Martin, Lupul. Adding more wouldn't be following the plan.

The kids will be sheltered this year. Matthews won't take the hard match ups (that'd be left to Kadri and Bozak) and by all accounts Nylander will be in that line as well. Marner may or may not make the team, but if he does I'd imagine sheltered minutes, PP time and probably loaned to team Canada.

This is a new management, and just like JB, shouldn't be held accountable for what Burke/Nonis did or didn't do.

A lot of the players under Burke have now gone. No more Kessel, Phaneuf, Orr, McLaurin, Fraser, Kulemin, Clarkson, Gleason, McClement, Raymond, Santorelli, Borland, Ranger, Gunnar, Grabbo have all been moved out.

None of these kids who haven't played should feel a losing environment, it had nothing to do with them. The only two (maybe three) that matter going forward who have been used to it for a prolonged amount of time is Rielly, Kadri and Gardiner.

As long as management keep working with the young kids and keep them insulated I see no issue for the time being.

Talking about FA, I wouldn't mind flashing some cash next season as the Leafs have about 20 million coming off the books at the end of this year
- walshyleafsfan

Greening, Michalek, Laich were all cup dumps by other teams.

To be fair, it passes the time. You guy's aren't that active on here early in the morning, so why not? You don't have to get involved. Gives Carol a few more dollars as well.
- walshyleafsfan

You realize that there is a 3 hour time difference?

To be fair, it passes the time. You guy's aren't that active on here early in the morning, so why not? You don't have to get involved. Gives Carol a few more dollars as well.
- walshyleafsfan

Because, I for one, don't give a flying f*ck about the Leafs.

I LeafBuzz.
- Marwood

At least it's different than the same old retreads....

Want to talk about Hartnell some more? Kane? How Tanev is simultaneously overrated and underrated ?

Greening, Michalek, Laich were all cup dumps by other teams.
- manvanfan

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they're good, but they are vets. Vets who are good play for teams like Chicago for under 2 mil per year.

Because, I for one, don't give a flying f*ck about the Leafs.
- Marwood

And that's fine.

So you guys wouldn't trade Tanev straight up for Sam Reinhart? He's a 20 year old kid that scored 42 points last season. He could end up being a legit 1C still, yet he's behind 2 guys on the depth chart right now.


I'd make that trade in a hurry.
- golfingsince

And Horvat scored 40 this year and people say he tops out as 2C

At least it's different than the same old retreads....

Want to talk about Hartnell some more? Kane? How Tanev is simultaneously overrated and underrated ?
- belcherbd

Anything other than the f*cking Leafs. The national media and every Canadian sports network has them covered 24/7.

And Horvat scored 40 this year and people say he tops out as 2C
- NorthNuck

I'd say Horvat projects to be a much better all round player than Reinhart

Anything other than the f*cking Leafs. The national media and every Canadian sports network has them covered 24/7.
- Marwood

Which team takes a flier on Higgins this year if any?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they're good, but they are vets. Vets who are good play for teams like Chicago for under 2 mil per year.
- walshyleafsfan

Even Vets need to be able to contribute still! I just think the leafs like the oilers are trying to lose for too long. Draft picks take years and years to develop. Players usually don't become stars till 22-24ish. When your drafting players at 18. 4-6 years of waiting for the first ones to arrive.

Imagine if your top 6 next year had Kadri, Matthews, Marner, Kessel, Opkoso, Nylander.

Which team takes a flier on Higgins this year if any?
- belcherbd

Kris Versteeg just signed in Bern Switzerland. That's a guy who has constantly put up around 35-40 points. Higgins doesn't stand a chance.

Kris Versteeg just signed in Bern Switzerland. That's a guy who has constantly put up around 35-40 points. Higgins doesn't stand a chance.
- manvanfan

I'm surprised Versteeg didn't wait longer for a contract.

You do realize that Higgins consistently puts up 35-40 points as well right?

Kris Versteeg just signed in Bern Switzerland. That's a guy who has constantly put up around 35-40 points. Higgins doesn't stand a chance.
- manvanfan

I think he is done, but if he accepted a big pay cut he might find a taker. No roster spot guarantees - could end up in the ahl... maybe that is part of the appeal of the Swiss league for Versteeg, you have made most of your money and just want to go play and enjoy the experience.

Versteeg>Higgins