Yes, but there are similar characteristics to all of the recent cup winners. One of which is having young players that you drafted and developed as the core of the team. Veterans and a few free agents fill out the team, but there has to be a core. Toronto doesn't have a core of young players that they have drafted. They are all over paid free agents or traded players that haven't grown up together, promoted through the AHL, and learned how to play with each other.
- dgutzman

You don't have to draft a young core - obtaining them through trades works just as well...

I agree with this. However, to a large degree the Leafs have built from within. If they do trade for Nash, they are doomed to long term mediocrity or worse. If that is Burke's intention, Nonis should take over now siting GM insanity because this will be his worse move to date. I'm not saying Nash does not have value, just that it is the most ridiculous time to do it.
- HeavyT

Built from within? Are you serious. Who on your team did your draft? You may have 7 or 8 guys who you drafted. Contrast that to Nashville who has 19 of their 27 roster players who were drafted by Nashville. Of the 20 players that dressed last night, 14 were drafted by Nashville. Only Gaustad, Fisher, the 2 Kostityns, Yip, and Bouillon weren't

Anyone know a good site that's streaming the marlie game?

Practical in theory....but not in practice. Can't work here....too high profile and not enough patience. Having said that, I like NSH to go to the Finals this year. It's their time.
- Phenom

It won't work there because you have bad ownership and management. You should made decisions based on how to grown the team, not based on how you think the fans expect the team to play each year.

Practical in theory....but not in practice. Can't work here....too high profile and not enough patience. Having said that, I like NSH to go to the Finals this year. It's their time.
- Phenom

But I have to ask why won't it work it Toronto? I think the Toronto media and bandwagon fans have made it so. Toronto has gone the longest without a playoff appearance now because of this so called impatience. The team has regressed largely do to injury albeit. The injuries did show how fragile the Maple Leaf house of cards is. I think 2-3 years of patience and building through the draft is the way to go.

It won't work there because you have bad ownership and management. You should made decisions based on how to grown the team, not based on how you think the fans expect the team to play each year.
- dgutzman

Again, well said!!

You don't have to draft a young core - obtaining them through trades works just as well...
- A_Tree

If you say so, but name a team in the last few years that has not relied on a core of you players that was drafted by the team.

Boston?
Chicago?
Detroit?
Pittsburgh?

Yes, I guess you could do it the HABS and Leafs way and try to make every year a cup year through trades. But I don't see that getting either team anywhere.

If this whole rumour thing is true, Toronto is including their 1st rounder in the Nash deal.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

That draft pick better not be going anywhere.

Built from within? Are you serious. Who on your team did your draft? You may have 7 or 8 guys who you drafted. Contrast that to Nashville who has 19 of their 27 roster players who were drafted by Nashville. Of the 20 players that dressed last night, 14 were drafted by Nashville. Only Gaustad, Fisher, the 2 Kostityns, Yip, and Bouillon weren't
- dgutzman

I do agree Nashville has the better plan. I was simplying saying that the Leafs have drafted some role players (which, you need). They need to draft some higher end talent. They should have done that with the picks they traded for Kessel. That was a gamble and to an extent, Burke lost. Oh and by the way, when you say "who on your team did you draft?" are you referring to the Leafs or the Sabre. Because the Sabres are my team. I agree with you.

Built from within? Are you serious. Who on your team did your draft? You may have 7 or 8 guys who you drafted. Contrast that to Nashville who has 19 of their 27 roster players who were drafted by Nashville. Of the 20 players that dressed last night, 14 were drafted by Nashville. Only Gaustad, Fisher, the 2 Kostityns, Yip, and Bouillon weren't
- dgutzman

It's also about making smart team decisions. Nashville/David Poile have done excellent with what they have been given. And Barry Trotz is a great coach who doesn't get the respect he deserves imo. The only move I've questioned, besides trading Franson was the acquisition of Gaustad. He's a useful player, but to give up a 1st rounder for someone who only played 10 minutes last night?

if the leafs get:

suter
luongo
nash
parise
weber
and grigorenko or galchenyuk in the draft.

they could just trade away the rest of their team and play just those guys and prob win more than they did this season.
- boltsfan48

Morons. Too many people are squawking about the leafs having a terrible season. That could't be more wrong. The leafs had a terrible collapse - that's certain. However, they showed some moments of true brilliance - and then faltered soon to implode completely. It was curious considering the tear they were on. Anyhow, the leafs have something in quite a few of our current players, and then some competing for the Calder Cup this year.

I do agree Nashville has the better plan. I was simplying saying that the Leafs have drafted some role players (which, you need). They need to draft some higher end talent. They should have done that with the picks they traded for Kessel. That was a gamble and to an extent, Burke lost. Oh and by the way, when you say "who on your team did you draft?" are you referring to the Leafs or the Sabre. Because the Sabres are my team. I agree with you.
- HeavyT

I agree

- homiedclown

Remember when that dude threatened to sue anyone who posted his picture.....lol good times......

But I have to ask why won't it work it Toronto? I think the Toronto media and bandwagon fans have made it so. Toronto has gone the longest without a playoff appearance now because of this so called impatience. The team has regressed largely do to injury albeit. The injuries did show how fragile the Maple Leaf house of cards is. I think 2-3 years of patience and building through the draft is the way to go.
- HeavyT

Hindsight is 20/20. If they had known then what has become of the team now, they would have done that years ago.....but they, like most of the fans, seem to think they're always only one or two moves away from being a contender. That, which may or may not be true, causes them to make the wrong ones, setting them back a move or two in the short AND long run.

Morons. Too many people are squawking about the leafs having a terrible season. That could't be more wrong. The leafs had a terrible collapse - that's certain. However, they showed some moments of true brilliance - and then faltered soon to implode completely. It was curious considering the tear they were on. Anyhow, the leafs have something in quite a few of our current roster, and then some competing for the Calder Cup this year.
- A_Tree

The season was not that spectacular, it was a spectacular disappointment. There is not enough raw talent in this team for them to be competitive in a playoff setting.

Remember when that dude threatened to sue anyone who posted his picture.....lol good times......
- cracka

Oh god

TOo bad the Leafs have nothing of worth to trade for Nash. Howson will be able to get a far better offer than what the Leafs can provide

Also, should the Leafs sell the farm for Nash when it wont address their biggest need (top line centre)

As long as Bozak, Grabo, and Connolly are your 1-2-3 punch down the middle you'll be a non-[playoff team

If you say so, but name a team in the last few years that has not relied on a core of you players that was drafted by the team.

Boston?
Chicago?
Detroit?
Pittsburgh?

Yes, I guess you could do it the HABS and Leafs way and try to make every year a cup year through trades. But I don't see that getting either team anywhere.
- dgutzman

You're being mislead, which is typical. Clearly your media-savvy is not up to snuff, but businesses will promise anything to make money. So while you may think that every year we were looking to "compete for the cup", really they were just competing for wins... a small misnomer.

TOo bad the Leafs have nothing of worth to trade for Nash. Howson will be able to get a far better offer than what the Leafs can provide

Also, should the Leafs sell the farm for Nash when it wont address their biggest need (top line centre)

As long as Bozak, Grabo, and Connolly are your 1-2-3 punch down the middle you'll be a non-
- skelly96[playoff team

Wait you said we have nothing of worth to trade for Nash, then in the same breath suggested we could trade the farm for him.

What exactly are you trying to say there bud?

The season was not that spectacular, it was a spectacular disappointment. There is not enough raw talent in this team for them to be competitive in a playoff setting.
- Nastradamus

It was a spectacular disappointment - but it was disappointing because expectations rose dramatically throughout 2/3rds of the season. Than fell... plummeted, and smashed to oblivion. With that said, we all thought the leafs would be horrid through last summer.

I do agree Nashville has the better plan. I was simplying saying that the Leafs have drafted some role players (which, you need). They need to draft some higher end talent. They should have done that with the picks they traded for Kessel. That was a gamble and to an extent, Burke lost. Oh and by the way, when you say "who on your team did you draft?" are you referring to the Leafs or the Sabre. Because the Sabres are my team. I agree with you.
- HeavyT

Yes, in that I agree..But it really involves 2 rounds of building..You build your core, supplement it with some veterans (Kessel and Phanouf in this case), and then You dump the players who aren't going to be part of the core and your top end talent to really bring in the young talent..Nashville has been building since it's first year..Legwand, Erat, Tootoo..Then we had the big year and brought in Klein, Weber and Suter. We had the Paul Kariya, Dumont, and Arnott years, but they weren't going to lead us to the cup. We had to wait for the 2nd round of talent to come in...Rinne, Hornqvist, Spaling, Bourque, Smith, Josi, and Ellis. Only once we had 10-12 guys who were going to be the young core did we start bringing in veterans that could help use win, Fisher, Gaustad, Gill, etc. And we still have depth at Goalie in the AHL, a ton of forward talent in the NHL, and 2 or 3 D men that are a year or 2 away from possibly being NHL talent.

The only thing that kept Nashville from being competitive 4 years ago was our ownership change..Had we not had to let Scott Hartnall and Kimmo go, we would have been were we are now. Again, 2 guys who were part of the core.

It's also about making smart team decisions. Nashville/David Poile have done excellent with what they have been given. And Barry Trotz is a great coach who doesn't get the respect he deserves imo. The only move I've questioned, besides trading Franson was the acquisition of Gaustad. He's a useful player, but to give up a 1st rounder for someone who only played 10 minutes last night?
- Phenom

When you have a shot at the CUP, you have to go for it..Poile thought this was our year..And he might be right. But Gaustad has been key to us in the face-off circle. No way we beat detroit, A puck control team, without Goose getting over 55% of the face-offs, and over 60 in the defensive end.

Hindsight is 20/20. If they had known then what has become of the team now, they would have done that years ago.....but they, like most of the fans, seem to think they're always only one or two moves away from being a contender. That, which may or may not be true, causes them to make the wrong ones, setting them back a move or two in the short AND long run.
- Phenom

How do you say that hind sight 20/20 when most of the successful teams are doing. I think most of the "casual" Leaf fans (of which there are a lot) would be happy with just sneaking into the 8th spot and then "see what happens".

That draft pick better not be going anywhere except Montreal for kaberle and Gomez.
- Nastradamus

Agreed

Let's talk about relevant teams this time of year. Leafs aren't in the payoffs, these are the playoffs.

BUT since you brought it up.

I hope they do go after Nash and some other UFA and continue this joke of a rebuild under their joke of a gm. "draft shmaft" for Burkie and his 5 year plan.