The ONLY positive that would come from THIS Leafs team making the playoffs would be to gain experience...

That, and a few heavy bar nights out on the piss.

No body is interested in backing into the playoffs and more than likely getting slaughtered by the Rangers or Bruins. Even the Leafs got by the first round by some miracle, they won't escape the 2nd.

It sucks, but it's better for the team in the long term. For far too long Leafs Management and Leafs fans have been impatient and it has cost us dearly over the years. Look at all the top teams in today's NHL and think about how they got there... PATIENCE! NOT ONE of the contending teams out there built their team via trades. All the contenders also hold another characteristic in common, GOALTENDING!... Toronto doesn't have any that can be relied on.

While Burke will more than likely take a lot of heat for missing Carter for a 2nd time, it just might have been a great move. It APPEARS that Burke is demostrating some patience here and I support him 100%. I just hope that with all of these other trades going on around him that he doesn't hit the panic button and do something stupid.
- As_I_See_It

amen.

the playoff stance is all good if the team can make positives of it, and be competitive going in. leading a lamb to slaughter doesn't help a young team.

i've watched this team for a lot of years. the brian leetch, ron francis, owen nolan type trades.. the waiver moves. the FA signings.. it's been done. the last 20 years the franchise has lacked on thing. patience..

it's a good time to work with what we have. if some trades bring in some good young players we can legitimately count as members of the core? sweet. if they're just looking at panic moves to get this team to the playoffs.. big (frank) up.

Y'know... when we lost tonight, I was pissed off. I realized there wasn't Goddamned thing I can do about it. I griped to Nessa for a few minutes and then played video games. I'm over the loss... you, however, step back from that ledge my friend. *get's sued from 3rd Eye Blind*
- T.Fleury

sure..

aside from the idea i've had the same stance roughly since the lockout.. you've nailed it. *get's educated before throwing stones*

The ONLY positive that would come from THIS Leafs team making the playoffs would be to gain experience...

That, and a few heavy bar nights out on the piss.
- As_I_See_It

Exactly. I also want to see Burke stay as he has but improved the team, but, making it will keep RW. Not making it might see Burke fired. Double-edged sword... (frank)!!!!

There is a culture of losing around TML - they need to shake that - and making the playoffs is first step - so if they finish 9th instead of 8th they get a better draft spot by 1 or 2 picks - negligible - this is BBs 4th year - he needs to make the playoffs -

As a total aside I believe that he and RW have handled Kadri's development poorly

All this blame I hear around Allaire is a bit out there - he was was the same goalie coach last year -
- MTL1

the allaire stuff is a wash, he works with what he has. two goalies with battered confidence, in my opinion, due to improper use by the coach. the slumps started when one goalie rode the pine for 2 weeks, just to bail the other out. won't go there... but BB is the one who endorsed riding 2 goalies this season with a combined probably 100 career starts. just saying.

the kadri thing is touch and go with me. i think he should've been developed slowly, but his use in the nhl in the meantime has been mismanaged. logan couture says it's allright though..

the playoff stance i get.. but i think it's dependent on the situation. i understand that it's not a matter of choice, you don't choose whether to miss or not. you're bang on the losing culture stance, but it could have it's negatives. my entire theory on it is based on how BB handles the deadline, and how wilson handles things going forward. a poor mentality going in, and a slaughter in the playoffs could set the team back years.. but it could absolutely go the other way. all foresight though...

Exactly. I also want to see Burke stay as he has but improved the team, but, making it will keep RW. Not making it might see Burke fired. Double-edged sword... (frank)!!!!
- T.Fleury

I'm all for a complete nosedive now. A top 10 pick isn't out of the question, they are only 7 pts out of the bottom 5. Cripes, I didn't realize they were in the 11th spot already. Sell what you can Mr. Burke, (frank) this year. Make a play in the summer for a real goalie...perhaps if Parise (why not? every year it's somebody) is on the market make a pitch.

I'm all for a complete nosedive now. A top 10 pick isn't out of the question, they are only 7 pts out of the bottom 5. Cripes, I didn't realize they were in the 11th spot already. Sell what you can Mr. Burke, (frank) this year. Make a play in the summer for a real goalie...perhaps if Parise (why not? every year it's somebody) is on the market make a pitch.
- weirdoh

1 pt out of 8th with 21 games to go - hang in there

1 pt out of 8th with 21 games to go - hang in there
- MTL1

you know what? I see their point now and also hope they wait another 7 years to make the playoffs until that one year they are guaranteed to win the Cup.

I'm all for a complete nosedive now. A top 10 pick isn't out of the question, they are only 7 pts out of the bottom 5. Cripes, I didn't realize they were in the 11th spot already. Sell what you can Mr. Burke, (frank) this year. Make a play in the summer for a real goalie...perhaps if Parise (why not? every year it's somebody) is on the market make a pitch.
- weirdoh

Someone mentioned earlier about an offer sheet for Price... wouldn't WE be loved on the deathstar?

Exactly. I also want to see Burke stay as he has but improved the team, but, making it will keep RW. Not making it might see Burke fired. Double-edged sword... (frank)!!!!
- T.Fleury

Burke and his management team will be given a lot more rope than Wilson. The Coach is ALWAYS the first to go.

Wilson getting canned further supports why I think the Leafs should tank. The sooner Wilson is gone, the better.

Someone mentioned earlier about an offer sheet for Price... wouldn't WE be loved on the deathstar?
- T.Fleury

Burkie would never do an offer sheet or he might have to eat his own words

1 pt out of 8th with 21 games to go - hang in there
- MTL1

I don't even want to make the playoffs. I realize the Leafs are still close and it would be nice to see a series. But let's be realistic here, they don't have the horses to do anything. It can only get better after another year of picks right?

STOP CHANGING THE GOALIE EVERY OTHER (frank)ING GAME.

THATS WHY ITS NOT WORKING.

IN WHAT JOB DOES (frank)ING AROUND WITH poop EVERY OTHER DAY WORK? NO. IT DOESNT. NO ONE WORKS EVERY OTHER DAY IN ANY OTHER JOB. BECAUSE ITS STUPID.

STOP CHANGING THE (frank)ING LINES TOO.

SAME THING. DO COPS CHANGE PARTNERS EVERY (frank)ING DAY? NO. YOU WOULDNT HAVE STARSKY AND HUTCH. YOU WOULD NOT HAVE WILL SMITH AND MARTIN LAWRENCE. (frank) NO.

DO PEOPLE CHANGE WIVES EVERYDAY? NO. IT JUST DOESNT WORK.

STOP CHANGING THE GOALIE EVERY OTHER (frank)ING GAME.

THATS WHY ITS NOT WORKING.

IN WHAT JOB DOES (frank)ING AROUND WITH poop EVERY OTHER DAY WORK? NO. IT DOESNT. NO ONE WORKS EVERY OTHER DAY IN ANY OTHER JOB. BECAUSE ITS STUPID.
- twiztedmike

omg they totally should have put gustavsson in tonight

omg they totally should have put gustavsson in tonight
- basementfloor

I should have elaborated. Fixed above.

I don't even want to make the playoffs. I realize the Leafs are still close and it would be nice to see a series. But let's be realistic here, they don't have the horses to do anything. It can only get better after another year of picks right?
- weirdoh

Not sure how a mid 1st round pick is gonna make a difference if you finish 8th or 9th in the East? So you pick 14th instead of 15th?

1st pick at that spot probably will not be jumping into the lineup next year and be an impact player

Flyers were 7th Seed and the Habs were the 8th seed 2 playoffs ago - they were the Eastern finalists - just get in - anything can happen

Burkie would never do an offer sheet or he might have to eat his own words
- Kuleminator

Exactly. As much as I respect the guy for his pride, word, truth, and loyalty... it shouldn't come in the way of business. His Irish roots are destroying this team.

I should have elaborated. Fixed above.
- twiztedmike

Has anyone seen the I-N-S-A-N-E 2013 UFA LIST and noted that the Leafs $35.7M in cap space?

Go to www.capgeek.com and check it out.

Perhaps Burkie has got a little somethin' somethin' up his sleeve?

Exactly. As much as I respect the guy for his pride, word, truth, and loyalty... it shouldn't come in the way of business. His Irish roots are destroying this team.
- T.Fleury

yes because so many gms make offer sheets and it works out so often.

Has anyone seen the I-N-S-A-N-E 2013 UFA LIST and noted that the Leafs $35.7M in cap space?

Go to www.capgeek.com and check it out.

Perhaps Burkie has got a little somethin' somethin' up his sleeve?
- As_I_See_It

Its not that great - and the better ones will be signed long before they get to UFA day on July 1

Its not that great - and the better ones will be signed long before they get to UFA day on July 1
- MTL1

Not if Burkie reveals his lil' somethin' somethin'

Has anyone seen the I-N-S-A-N-E 2013 UFA LIST and noted that the Leafs $35.7M in cap space?

Go to www.capgeek.com and check it out.

Perhaps Burkie has got a little somethin' somethin' up his sleeve?
- As_I_See_It

CROSBY
IGINLA
PERRY
FISHER
HARTNELL

I bet you they all re-sign. They all always do...

cant make the playoffs without a #1C or a stabling force in goal
so no
- wingz4life

You really don't think we can compete against at least a couple teams ahead of us in 5-8th?

Explain to me why Winnipeg and Ottawa have such dominant rosters that we shouldn't expect to play better than them.

Ottawa was expected to challenge for a lottery spot, not a playoff spot. The fact that they are where they are is a testament to the influence of good coaching.

Give this team a good coach and there's no reason we shouldn't be holding down a spot in 6th-8th. Like I said, we have even caught a few breaks this year with teams like Montreal, Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Buffalo falling out of the hunt.

4 of our biggest rivals for the playoffs flat out imploded this year. That's not even counting the meltdown the Washington Capitals experienced. That's 5 playoff/borderline teams last year that fell right out.

But, no, you're right, I suppose we can't compete with the powerhouse Winnipeg Jets and Florida Panthers.

CROSBY
IGINLA
PERRY
FISHER
HARTNELL

I bet you they all re-sign. They all always do...
- twiztedmike

they all share a dream... the dream of one day donning the blue and white.....