Apparently he's pretty much a third line winger because of the WC's.
- AdamFrench

You know how there's always guys who look like they should get way more points than they do?

Duchene is one of those guys to me.

You know how there's always guys who look like they should get way more points than they do?

Duchene is one of those guys to me.
- PlatosRepucklic

Nate MacKinnon too...you know what? Most of the Avalanche top players

Nate MacKinnon too...you know what? Most of the Avalanche top players
- AdamFrench

No. 13 – Jake Virtanen, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Virtanen is a very tempting name at No. 6. He’s big, scored a boatload of goals with a very good WHL team, and above all, is local. He was selected first overall in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft out of the Abbotsford Hawks, and also holds dual Canadian-Finnish citizenship. Something about the playing style of Esa Tikkanen injected into an Abbotsford kid scares the hell out of me, to tell you the truth, and the last thing the Canucks would want is to pass on Virtanen and see him blossom into a Milan Lucic-type on another team.

However, as Rhys will be perfectly content to tell you, Virtanen was the third highest-scorer on his line, and got help thanks to a career season from overager Brady Brassart. Banking on Virtanen’s 45-goal campaign as being fully indicative of his talent isn’t a safe bet, and Virtanen will spend the summer recovering from shoulder surgery.


- AdamFrench

thats pretty accurate as we see how its turned out so far
13th is probably too high

Nate MacKinnon too...you know what? Most of the Avalanche top players
- AdamFrench

why you hafta be mean

I am reading that he has not done anything with the Leafs..so you probably want to pass on him to be honest
- senstroll

OK dude, if we are going to continue to play this game.

I'll go back to asking what has he done.

I have got one word answers so far like Keefe, Marlies ... Did he build the Marlies? Did he hire Keefe?

You might as well say, coffee, umbrellas, microphones.

If someone has an actual important move atributable to him, I would love to hear it. Otherwise I am just going to *assume* he is a valuable part of the management team and recognize that I have no idea how or who makes what decisions there.

Sorry, if that is unreasonable.

God bless you guys for drinking the Dubas kool-aid, but his body of work remains a giant "incomplete."

2015 draft. They took Marner. Are we really calling him a genius for this? It was Marner or Hanifin - and either would have been an excellent choice.

After that, Dubas and his fancy maths traded down (gifting Koneckny to the Flyers) in order to be able to get Dermott (jury still out) and Bracco (jury still out).

Everything else in the 2015 draft is still a giant crap shoot - as it still is with every other team.

As for 2016, well, after the first overall selection, for which nobody gets any credit, it was a very curious draft for the Leafs. Once again, the jury is still out on that one.

As for trades, well, there's really not a lot there that screams "genius."

People will point to the Phaneuf trade as a good one, but I honestly think we got taken by Ottawa on that one.

The Kessel deal amounts to Kessel and Kasper Bjorkqvist (yeah, me neither) for Andersen and Kapanen. Let's call that a win-win.

Every other trade has simply been garbage for garbage, with the recurring theme of Toronto taking on bad contacts.

You'll forgive me if I'm not crying at the thought of losing Dubas.

Incidentally, I found this site for tracking trades:

http://www.nhltradetracke...eam/Toronto_Maple_Leafs/1

No that was mostly their swedish scout. He really convinced the leafs management group that this guy had the most talent of the draft.
- Fakepartofme

I thought Shanahan was the guy who started the "draft for pure talent and try to hit home runs" mentality.

Who knows where he got that from, especially on specific guys. It sure looks like it worked though! Nylander is still likely to get stronger and probably a little bulkier. I think he might have surpassed Marner on the most promising list

Holy crap, Alford just makes his debut a couple of day ago...gets his first hit and now is on the disable list.
Everybody on the Jays has been injured this season. WTF.

So would I, but it is more of a continuity thing. The Leafs took a huge step forward this year and appear to be in a good position going forward with prospects, roster players and cap position.

I just really don't know what is attributable to Dubas and I don't think any of us do.
- Aetherial

I think he played a part in the 2015 draft in regards to trading down.
We still dont know how that works out yet.

I really dont need to have a big moment to attribute to him, many small moves that are smart are just as valuable.

God bless you guys for drinking the Dubas kool-aid, but his body of work remains a giant "incomplete."

2015 draft. They took Marner. Are we really calling him a genius for this? It was Marner or Hanifin - and either would have been an excellent choice.

After that, Dubas and his fancy maths traded down (gifting Koneckny to the Flyers) in order to be able to get Dermott (jury still out) and Bracco (jury still out).

Everything else in the 2015 draft is still a giant crap shoot - as it still is with every other team.

As for 2016, well, after the first overall selection, for which nobody gets any credit, it was a very curious draft for the Leafs. Once again, the jury is still out on that one.

As for trades, well, there's really not a lot there that screams "genius."

People will point to the Phaneuf trade as a good one, but I honestly think we got taken by Ottawa on that one.

The Kessel deal amounts to Kessel and Kasper Bjorkqvist (yeah, me neither) for Andersen and Kapanen. Let's call that a win-win.

Every other trade has simply been garbage for garbage, with the recurring theme of Toronto taking on bad contacts.

You'll forgive me if I'm not crying at the thought of losing Dubas.

Incidentally, I found this site for tracking trades:

http://www.nhltradetracke...eam/Toronto_Maple_Leafs/1
- Atomic Wedgie

exactly.

OK dude, if we are going to continue to play this game.

I'll go back to asking what has he done.

I have got one word answers so far like Keefe, Marlies ... Did he build the Marlies? Did he hire Keefe?

You might as well say, coffee, umbrellas, microphones.

If someone has an actual important move atributable to him, I would love to hear it. Otherwise I am just going to *assume* he is a valuable part of the management team and recognize that I have no idea how or who makes what decisions there.

Sorry, if that is unreasonable.
- Aetherial

The coffee has clearly been better at Marlies games.

God bless you guys for drinking the Dubas kool-aid, but his body of work remains a giant "incomplete."

2015 draft. They took Marner. Are we really calling him a genius for this? It was Marner or Hanifin - and either would have been an excellent choice.

After that, Dubas and his fancy maths traded down (gifting Koneckny to the Flyers) in order to be able to get Dermott (jury still out) and Bracco (jury still out).

Everything else in the 2015 draft is still a giant crap shoot - as it still is with every other team.

As for 2016, well, after the first overall selection, for which nobody gets any credit, it was a very curious draft for the Leafs. Once again, the jury is still out on that one.

As for trades, well, there's really not a lot there that screams "genius."

People will point to the Phaneuf trade as a good one, but I honestly think we got taken by Ottawa on that one.

The Kessel deal amounts to Kessel and Kasper Bjorkqvist (yeah, me neither) for Andersen and Kapanen. Let's call that a win-win.

Every other trade has simply been garbage for garbage, with the recurring theme of Toronto taking on bad contacts.

You'll forgive me if I'm not crying at the thought of losing Dubas.

Incidentally, I found this site for tracking trades:

http://www.nhltradetracke...eam/Toronto_Maple_Leafs/1
- Atomic Wedgie

I really didn't like that Korshkov (sp?) pick, nor do I buy into the idea that 3 4th's are worth a second or whatever other Yost math was going on.

Pretty sure Lou did the Phaneuf trade. Didn't Murray and Lamoriello both talk about being comfortable dealing with each other?

I just take it on faith that he has some value to that management group.

I thought Shanahan was the guy who started the "draft for pure talent and try to hit home runs" mentality.

Who knows where he got that from, especially on specific guys. It sure looks like it worked though! Nylander is still likely to get stronger and probably a little bulkier. I think he might have surpassed Marner on the most promising list
- Aetherial

Poulin mentioned it was their swedish scout that really pumped his tires.

I disagree. I thought he was outstanding this year and in the playoffs. Maybe you think he regresses?

If he stayed in Anaheim I think they are still playing right now. Gibson didn't impress me at all and we know all about Bernier
- PlatosRepucklic

He was mediocre for the first and 4th games, Leafs could have won that series.

I think he played a part in the 2015 draft in regards to trading down.
We still dont know how that works out yet.

I really dont need to have a big moment to attribute to him, many small moves that are smart are just as valuable.
- senstroll

The thing is, I don't know what small moves he is responsible for? I also don't like the trading down idea and honestly, so far it looks bad. It remains to be seen how Bracco and Dermott fare compared to Konecky?

Poulin mentioned it was their swedish scout that really pumped his tires.
- Fakepartofme

Then THAT is the guy we need to keep ... hopefully he was the one who liked the Swedish dmen we had to sign!

Ya he did steal a game. gimme a break!
He had a bad goal here and there like EVERY GOALIE DOES.

Didnt bernier sh!t.
- Fakepartofme

He Berniered the overtime goal in the 1st game.

I'd imagine that after the season he had, that deal would no longer be on the table. Nylander should be untouchable unless the return is crazy insane good.
- PlatosRepucklic

It wasn't true though.. Bob Mackenzie came out and said that rumour was all media driven, there was no truth to it.. Said that everyone he spoke to with the Leafs said Marner/Matthews/Nylander are the three players they are going to build the team around

I think he played a part in the 2015 draft in regards to trading down.
We still dont know how that works out yet.

I really dont need to have a big moment to attribute to him, many small moves that are smart are just as valuable.
- senstroll

But what small moves did he specifically do outside of having influence on picking up Dermott and bracco?

He Berniered the overtime goal in the 1st game.
- the_eye

meh.
Show me a goalie that hasnt allowed a questionable goal in the playoffs?

new blog

im back baby

It wasn't true though.. Bob Mackenzie came out and said that rumour was all media driven, there was no truth to it.. Said that everyone he spoke to with the Leafs said Marner/Matthews/Nylander are the three players they are going to build the team around
- PatC80

this looks to be true, I see it on the TSN radio site. I guess Bobby mac was on after I listened to Naylor and Landsberg.....at the time they seemed convinced it was accurate info.

My bad peeps.

The thing is, I don't know what small moves he is responsible for? I also don't like the trading down idea and honestly, so far it looks bad. It remains to be seen how Bracco and Dermott fare compared to Konecky?
- Aetherial

Konecny had 28 points, I am really not that high on him. So did Hyman (granted older and Matthews) but he is probably a mid level prospect like Kapanen, we didnt pass on a gem

i like the development of Dermott so far, he could turn into one of those reliable but not flashy D every team needs.

We dont know yet if it was a good trade(s)

I really didn't like that Korshkov (sp?) pick, nor do I buy into the idea that 3 4th's are worth a second or whatever other Yost math was going on.

Pretty sure Lou did the Phaneuf trade. Didn't Murray and Lamoriello both talk about being comfortable dealing with each other?

I just take it on faith that he has some value to that management group.
- Aetherial

I'm the first guy to point out that we have no idea what actually goes on in the boardroom.

But I'd be willing to bet a beer or two that once Lou arrived, Dubas' role was much more clearly defined as assistant to the general manager, as opposed to assistant general manager.

And seriously, don't provide me with this link:

https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/team/management

I stand by my comments.