Well, chemistry was the wrong word, but I think the team is on a certain track and I wouldnt want to blow it up right now. They play for each other and overall I'm fairly happy with where the team is going. This is not a Columbus situation, if they do aquire players, I'd want them to fit into the plan and not move backwards just to try to squeak into the playoffs. They're in a funk right now, but to judge the entire team and season based on a bad stretch would be ridiculous. Just as ridiculous as people judging them for having a stretch of good games at the end of last year.
- 13sundin13

certainly, no need to blow it up, we've seen these guys play hard this year, they gave us hope. it's just a little frustrating. Tweak a few things, finish the season with a winning record and hopefully make the playoffs.

I actually like that one.
- weirdoh

yeah it was good.

Based on talks with scouts re: 2012 draft class, won't be surprised if 1st round picks used as trade currency in coming weeks.#draftnotdeep

- Bobby Mac


Damien Cox ‏ @DamoSpin Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Silver lining for Leaf fans? Well, right now they own the 12th pick for the draft lottery in what is viewed as an excellent draft year.


So what is it?

certainly, no need to blow it up, we've seen these guys play hard this year, they gave us hope. it's just a little frustrating. Tweak a few things, finish the season with a winning record and hopefully make the playoffs.
- brooaar

Yeah, very frustrating. That road trip to the west is never a good thing, totally came at the worst time of the season.

Based on talks with scouts re: 2012 draft class, won't be surprised if 1st round picks used as trade currency in coming weeks.#draftnotdeep

- Bobby Mac


Damien Cox ‏ @DamoSpin Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Silver lining for Leaf fans? Well, right now they own the 12th pick for the draft lottery in what is viewed as an excellent draft year.


So what is it?
- weirdoh

Id go with Bobby - Cox not so much

ALL IN FAVOR OF OFF SHEETING PRICE THIS SUMMER, SAY "I"

"I"

Ahhhh? And you forgot:
J Staal - Penguins will re-sign or get something for him. They aren't dumb.
Getzlaf - Anaheim re-signs. I mean every team with a duo of stars always manages to sign both, and at a slightly reduced cost. PITTS, WASH, PHI (before with Richards, Carter). It'll get done.
Edler - Meh, we don't need defense. Our D-core is very young.
Horton - MAYBE
Zajac - No way NJD lets him go. They are weak at centre. Elias to retire soon. Will re-sign.
Quick - definitely re-signed...
Lupul - This is a risk of LOSS
Roy - i hate this (frank)er, but he's good. Buff. will resign. Won't make Briere, Drury mistake. Owner has deep pockets
Lehtonen - Not a fan. Average goalie
Weiss - Really isn't much better than Bozak. Maybe he goes to free agency. 2nd line centre at best. Not what I think of when I think good 1st line centre
Clowe - Perhaps...
Burrows - plays with Sedins, VAN WILL resign
Howard - Detroit defense makes him look good. He's above average. Will get huge bucks, and Most likely Leafs won't get him
Enstrom - WPG would be retarded not to re-sign

ALL of which are under 30!

2014's UFA list looks pretty solid too.

Between these two years a few teams around the NHL will undergo QUICK rebuilds.
- As_I_See_It

So 3 players may be available. NONE of which really standout or would help us too much.

Based on talks with scouts re: 2012 draft class, won't be surprised if 1st round picks used as trade currency in coming weeks.#draftnotdeep

- Bobby Mac


Damien Cox ‏ @DamoSpin Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Silver lining for Leaf fans? Well, right now they own the 12th pick for the draft lottery in what is viewed as an excellent draft year.


So what is it?
- weirdoh

Its not even bad yet.

Worst case; we trade our 1st
We FAIL HARD.
We lose another high draft pick.

When can I get a team in Markham?

ALL IN FAVOR OF OFF SHEETING PRICE THIS SUMMER, SAY "I"

"I"
- As_I_See_It

I

Its not even bad yet.

Worst case; we trade our 1st
We FAIL HARD.
We lose another high draft pick.


- twiztedmike

I wish I could say that would be the last straw for me, but unfortunately I'm a whore and will keep coming back..but (frank) me it wouldn't sit well.

Burke needs to do something before the ship sinks. He's absolutely nuts if he thinks he has built a winning foundation because he lacks a true #1 goalie and true #1 center. Could have had Carter for Gardiner + 1st + and i would have done it in a heartbeat. Gardiner is a stud but you wont have many chances to acquire a true goal scoring #1 center...certainly wont get one through free agency so it has to be through trade. With all the young and upcoming D prospects we have we can afford to part ways with Gardiner and Schenn if it means bringing what we ACTUALLY need to this team. Burke BETTER go after the combo of Brown/Bernier. If he does nothing, he should be fired, don't even care. New coach + New GM = chance at winning if Burke thinks he doesn't need to make any trades. Burkie needs to swallow his stupid pride and get rid of his ego and make deals that will improve this team. I am not knocking Jake Gardiner as i think he is an absolute stud...but we have Holzer, Blacker, Mikus, Percy all coming up soon...as well as Aulie waiting to play. You need to give up to get...and Burke really needs to man the (frank) up.

/rant
- Leafs8132

How do you know what the asking price was. Maybe he was never in the game.

We are not a Jeff Carter away from a cup! We may not even be a Jeff Carter away from the playoffs, but a cup is all that matters. I like that Burke doesn't cave to the media and the fan base. He is a business man and a negotiator. I think he may have had last kick at the can and couldn't do it. The team wants to stay together and he owes it to them. Reimer is still our goalie of the future, but is still not right after the concussion. Playing back in his net and retreating is a sure sign of it.

Sometimes the best trade you make is the one you don't.

Most of those guys are already early to mid 30s and when the time comes for July 2013 they will be even older - cant sign them to 5/6 year contracts

Jordan Staal and Edler are the 2 young guys off of that list that you can sign for 5/6 years and expect their output to last the length of the contract - but they will be signed way before they get to July 1 2013
- MTL1

Hartnell, Perry, and Getzlaf are a couple younger, huge impact players. (Crosby's alos on the list, just for anyone interested in the crazy "What if?" scenarios)

Ryan Whitney and Ryane Clowe will get big money around that time. If Horton can stay healthy, he'll be coveted, as well.

Other notables (who will no older than their early 30's): Quick, Brouwer, Howard, Clarkson, White, Weiss, Filppula, Vlasic, Lehtonen, Enstrom, Zajac, Bouchard, Burrows, Lupul.

Add in Staal and Edler, like you mentioned, and even a few older guys who will still be effective later into their 30's: Iginla, Timmonen, Elias, Backstrom (goalie), and Vishnovsky.

That's a stellar list even if only 20-30% of them make it to free agency.

Based on talks with scouts re: 2012 draft class, won't be surprised if 1st round picks used as trade currency in coming weeks.#draftnotdeep

- Bobby Mac


Damien Cox ‏ @DamoSpin Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Silver lining for Leaf fans? Well, right now they own the 12th pick for the draft lottery in what is viewed as an excellent draft year.


So what is it?
- weirdoh

Strong when we trade our pick. Weak when we have it.

The Leafs decide the fate of this year's draft class.

grabo is as good as gone. wont be suprised if leafs get dustin brown, perfer nash tho. something needs to happen.
- leafsdc

I think Nash wants to come to Toronto. I heard something said tonight by the panel, that Nash just didn't want to go to LA. I'm sure Howson is looking at other trades to teams off Nash's list, but he still determines where he goes.

Maybe he like Thornton enough to agree to SanJose. Maybe there is just one more team out of the bidding.

I'm not a firm believer in going after Nash, but I think Burke might be.

How do you know what the asking price was. Maybe he was never in the game.

We are not a Jeff Carter away from a cup! We may not even be a Jeff Carter away from the playoffs, but a cup is all that matters. I like that Burke doesn't cave to the media and the fan base. He is a business man and a negotiator. I think he may have had last kick at the can and couldn't do it. The team wants to stay together and he owes it to them. Reimer is still our goalie of the future, but is still not right after the concussion. Playing back in his net and retreating is a sure sign of it.

Sometimes the best trade you make is the one you don't.
- stevecarpetman

I hope so.

Just stop. He's not going to give a potential top 10 pick for a 36 year old goalie.
- weirdoh

That goalie has a 940 save percentage

Ok so this all boiled down to Luke Schenn vs. Jack Johnson.

Obviously D.L. felt the need to toss in a first that BB wasn't willing to as I'm sure Kesselgate was still on his mind.

That said, it's time to move on, as while goaltending was the theme the other night, it was clearly the lack of a big, physical presence at centre to make the difference. While I doubt this is possible: Perhaps the acquisition of Jeff Carter makes Kopitar available for Kadri, Komi, a first and a 2nd.

Either way, we need a big centre. It's absolutely nauseating seeing other teams throw big guys over the boards who can make an instant impact.

In lighter news, Craig Andersson, the biggest reason why Ottawa's done so well this year, has cut himself while preparing a meal. If they miss the playoffs, it will make this summer a lot easier

That goalie has a 940 save percentage
- stevecarpetman

A potential 6-10 pick for a 36 year old goalie that may or may not help the Leafs make the playoffs, and when there might help them go on a cinderella run like the Habs did or whomever. Well worth the risk where do I sign?

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

Good point!

Good point!
- stevecarpetman

I agree, the fact is that BB has had several opportunities to make a desperation move and hasn't, because he is a saavy vet who knows these things, and despite his irish disposition, he has learned patience in this business.

That above all else I do respect, as I'm sure the chance to trade Gardiner or Colborne has presented itself on many occasions.

Now his stubborn Irish pride will be tested this summer when he is forced to can the boss behind the bench

I'm out . Night

You guys think the Leafs should trade their 1st for Nabokov?

I'm out . Night
- T.Fleury

Good.

I agree, the fact is that BB has had several opportunities to make a desperation move and hasn't, because he is a saavy vet who knows these things, and despite his irish disposition, he has learned patience in this business.

That above all else I do respect, as I'm sure the chance to trade Gardiner or Colborne has presented itself on many occasions.

Now his stubborn Irish pride will be tested this summer when he is forced to can the boss behind the bench
- AngryWhiteMale

How come it's alright to comment on his "irish pride" or "irish stubbornness" but can't mention anything about jewish traits or black traits?