Looking at the present bottom 5 teams (we sit 4th) & assuming LVGK goes BPA ALL of the AV's Yotes Stars & Wings could use Liljgren. With the top end loaded with C's our final draft position could avail us the chance to trade up. Not an exact science but if a team really likes Liljgren for a key piece then our top need at C could be.....

How much can we sweeten the deal to get 1-2OA if worth it?
- Nighthawk

another question is, if we happen to win the lottery and get 1 or 2OA do we dangle that as trade bait for a quality center etc?

another question is, if we happen to win the lottery and get 1 or 2OA do we dangle that as trade bait for a quality center etc?
- SMBDragon

I can't imagine they do that unless the Sedins retire at the end of the season and the C is young and better than Horvat by more than marginally.

I KNOW RIGHT! --- Good for him though! At best, Benning would have been 1.5 to 1.75, 1 year, no trade clauses.

Did you realize of all the trades up until then (and maybe afterwards but I am not sure) this trade was the only one to include a top prospect and not draft picks.

Lastly ----- Burrows will have his number retired? Thoughts? He did as much or more for the Franchise than Smyl.
- Beatle_john

he deserves a big thank you from the team and city for everything he did here.

and kill penalties and provide screens
- SMBDragon

Yeeee-up. Mess with their heads.

I can't imagine they do that unless the Sedins retire at the end of the season and the C is young and better than Horvat by more than marginally.
- boonerbuck

say duchene or a LW in landeskog

another question is, if we happen to win the lottery and get 1 or 2OA do we dangle that as trade bait for a quality centre etc?
- SMBDragon

Only ones that might be possible currently might be Duchene or JT.
For the money & ELC control idk if fastracking is prudent.

Only ones that might be possible currently might be Duchene or JT.
For the money & ELC control idk if fastracking is prudent.
- Nighthawk

the question was , if we win the lottery do you move it to acquire a player like that?

say duchene or a LW in landeskog
- SMBDragon

I want to see what happens at the draft before I jump the gun on those type of players. Drafting one of the top 3 C's and letting him develop while we wait for the Sedins to retire and moving forward from there fits this team's timeline better. Horvat will be the vet C when our drafted players start to mature if things work out the way I want. Short cuts like that are more for Toronto fans.

the question was , if we win the lottery do you move it to acquire a player like that?
- SMBDragon

I hearya but if Patrick say then thats cheap n too hard not to keep.
Rebuilding the right way could entice UFA's like a JT or Kane.
Q is what is the right way?
Asking price for Duchene is too much as much as i'd like to have him.
Take Patrick n sign Kane in 2018 might be practical.

I want to see what happens at the draft before I jump the gun on those type of players. Drafting one of the top 3 C's and letting him develop while we wait for the Sedins to retire and moving forward from there fits this team's timeline better. Horvat will be the vet C when our drafted players start to mature if things work out the way I want. Short cuts like that are more for Toronto fans.

- boonerbuck

Our farm team could be very entertaining in a year or 2.

Our farm team could be very entertaining in a year or 2.
- Nighthawk

Try this for a read on the Comets for next season. I don't like to promote CA articles, but they do a nice job on prospects.


http://canucksarmy.com/20...stock-of-the-utica-comets

I want to see what happens at the draft before I jump the gun on those type of players. Drafting one of the top 3 C's and letting him develop while we wait for the Sedins to retire and moving forward from there fits this team's timeline better. Horvat will be the vet C when our drafted players start to mature if things work out the way I want. Short cuts like that are more for Toronto fans.

- boonerbuck

I think you are right there. good answer

I hearya but if Patrick say then thats cheap n too hard not to keep.
Rebuilding the right way could entice UFA's like a JT or Kane.
Q is what is the right way?
Asking price for Duchene is too much as much as i'd like to have him.
Take Patrick n sign Kane in 2018 might be practical.
- Nighthawk

another good answer.

Well, the Leafs didn't appear anywhere in TSN's top 50 prospects. I appreciate your opinion on your own prospects but more knowledgeable people say other wise.

Kapanen did get honorable mention... would make top 60. Your cupboards are bare when compared to the rest of the NHL...
- boonerbuck

After all these years of watching this board moan and complain about TSN, please tell me you're not suddenly putting credence into a TSN prospect ranking by Button.

What is the Shanaplan though? Let's hear it. Don't omit the facts about the picks being traded. Don't contradict your Canucks position either. Go!

It's obviously about making the playoffs... so what, the rebuild was two seasons? OK.
- boonerbuck

The Shanaplan, in his own words, is to make the Leafs contenders year in year out.

He recognized the issues with the team when he took over and started to make changes.

He completely overhauled the scouting staff. Completely overhauled the management team. Bought in Mike Babcock. Picked up a lot of guys from the free agent pile and traded a few for picks. Traded down in the draft for more picks.

He says everything they do has to have a mind of the future while doing them.

I'm not sure why you believe a draft pick can never be involved in a trade?

Really now, name a team that's not LA/Pittsburg/Chicago that's won the Cup with a top 3 pick in the lineup. Answer? None, no team other than those 3 in the last 10 years has won a Cup with a top 3 (or multiple top 3 picks) in their lineup. Note that the teams that have had top 3 picks in the last 10 years all are still at or near the bottom of the league at this point with no hope in sight. It's not that easy to climb out of the bottom of the standings when you're so used to losing.
- DariusKnight

Boston

After all these years of watching this board moan and complain about TSN, please tell me you're not suddenly putting credence into a TSN prospect ranking by Button.
- walshyleafsfan

Just more than you. That's what I'm doing...

The Shanaplan, in his own words, is to make the Leafs contenders year in year out.

He recognized the issues with the team when he took over and started to make changes.

He completely overhauled the scouting staff. Completely overhauled the management team. Bought in Mike Babcock. Picked up a lot of guys from the free agent pile and traded a few for picks. Traded down in the draft for more picks.

He says everything they do has to have a mind of the future while doing them.

I'm not sure why you believe a draft pick can never be involved in a trade?
- walshyleafsfan

Sorry, you have that backwards. I'm calling Lefty a hypocrite for playing the "can't trade picks" here but applauding doing it in Leafs land.

Just more than you. That's what I'm doing...
- boonerbuck

I thought you guys absolutely despised TSN with their east coast bias and don't put any stock into their opinions?

Sorry, you have that backwards. I'm calling Lefty a hypocrite for playing the "can't trade picks" here but applauding doing it in Leafs land.
- boonerbuck

When you've drafted as often as the Leafs have these last two years, I think it makes sense to move a pick for a position of need. I don't see any win now moves. I see a trying not to lose a ton of games with Reimer/Bernier. Can't imagine the kids learn much by having those two consistently let in the first shot of the game.

The Leafs have drafted 20 times in the passed two years compared to Vancouver's 13. The Leafs also hold more draft picks this upcoming year (subject to what clb decides).


Drafting that often allows you to use other picks as currency and not miss a beat. [/img]

I thought you guys absolutely despised TSN with their east coast bias and don't put any stock into their opinions?
- walshyleafsfan

So, I'm supposed to think you are more informed than Craig Button?

So, I'm supposed to think you are more informed than Craig Button?

- boonerbuck

Nope. You're not supposed to put any credibility in either of us.

When you've drafted as often as the Leafs have these last two years, I think it makes sense to move a pick for a position of need. I don't see any win now moves. I see a trying not to lose a ton of games with Reimer/Bernier. Can't imagine the kids learn much by having those two consistently let in the first shot of the game.

The Leafs have drafted 20 times in the passed two years compared to Vancouver's 13. The Leafs also hold more draft picks this upcoming year (subject to what clb decides).


Drafting that often allows you to use other picks as currency and not miss a beat.
- walshyleafsfan[/img]

We'll see. People talk about mixed messages coming out of our management but Toronto is looking at much bigger moves that will involve picks and young players... if they succeed... then the no short cuts narrative that Leafs admirers sell around here can be thrown out the window.

Nope. You're not supposed to put any credibility in either of us.
- walshyleafsfan

I'll just double down on how little credibility you have to make up for it.

The signing is bizarre...$2.5 MM per until he is 38
- CanuckDon

Maybe hockey people recognize the value there. Not just his game. But intangibles. Like what he does for young guys like Bo.