He's played more then 18 games in his life
- cor99

ooooh.. so that star power was recognized when he was 16?

the logic is still (frank)ed.

Galchenyuk played even less. But we all would have been happy with him.

The only problem with Rielly is that he is a defenseman, not a huge problem in my mind.
- Leafs43

Exactly, this doesnt hurt us, it means we will have a great defense in the future. Which makes me want to just sign Marty Biron for 2 years and develop Reimer and Scrivens along with that D.

The next 1 or 2 years will be focused on improving our forward corpes.

it is about needs when your entire franchise is completely logjammed at that position with talent already, and rumoured to be signing another blue chipper.

you cant just bank on the idea that trades will address value that was skipped on in the draft.
- joel878

This is the same as EDM taking Yakupov then. They only have a surplus of talent at one position, it's not a big problem. They can now trade those players for real pieces, Toronto may not be able to do that (just yet) but we can't tell, now can we?

Well the trolls are out in full force right now. The Leafs took the best player available, which is the right move at where we are at
- cor99

Anyone that does not agree with your opinion is a troll.

disagree.

no knocks on reilly, but he doesn't address any needs. the franchise has been suffering for high end offensive talent, and have been trying to compensate for it by creating a log jam of middle tier talent.

reilly makes certain defenseman expendable, none of whom can fetch the high end offensive talent that forsberg is.

i've got no room for that # of teams passed on forsberg BS. the same could be said about any nhler ever drafted outside of the 10 spot in the 50 years of the draft.
- joel878

Have you read any of the scouting reports. They all unanimously said that while he's likely to be a great two way forward, his offensive potential was far from top shelf.

it is about needs when your entire franchise is completely logjammed at that position with talent already, and rumoured to be signing another blue chipper.

you cant just bank on the idea that trades will address value that was skipped on in the draft.
- joel878

hmmm seems to have worked pretty well with Philly

again, not a big problem with reilly, just a problem with spending a rare 5th overall pick on another blueliner. it's a wasted pick.
- joel878

But its not. Not if Reilly turns into something special. And we wont know until you let him develop.

You take the BPA, its the oldest rule in the book.

ooooh.. so that star power was recognized when he was 16?

the logic is still (frank)ed.
- joel878

So Alex Galchenyuk played what? 5 games? So he is going to be a bust? Yet all of Leafs nation would have loved him......

This is the same as EDM taking Yakupov then. They only have a surplus of talent at one position, it's not a big problem. They can now trade those players for real pieces, Toronto may not be able to do that (just yet) but we can't tell, now can we?
- JamieS

it's the mishandling of the pick in general.

if asked to make the choice, 9 out of 10 pro scouts would have yakupov as a franchise player, and reilly as a stud defender. there's a big difference.

if the boner was there for reilly, he probably could have been had later. not with the 5th pick, when the leafs are hurting for high end offensive talent.. and there's a number to choose from.

it can be validated all day, at the end of it, it was just mishandled.

Anyone that does not agree with your opinion is a troll.
- DoctorNHL

Nope, I have had many debates with people on here, all the team.

You just will bash the Leafs for anything they do. Grigs and Forsberg went 13-15 for a reason..... So why should we take them at #5??

How do we have really bad development? We USED to, give Burke more than 3 frickin years, to you, develop players.

People are pissed for drafting a potentially better player than Gardiner, and would rather have just 1 of him rather than a questionable center? or winger? Faksa would have been good but he does not have Reilly's ceiling.
- Boosinicka

He has been there 4 years.. and Schenn, Kadri, Colbourne, haven't been developed well.. they haven't been insulated with veterans.. and have been thrown to the wolves most nights..

add Reimer & Gus to that list...

All these guys had Wilson mocking them in the media.. I am sure that helped them..

Nope, I have had many debates with people on here, all the team.

You just will bash the Leafs for anything they do. Grigs and Forsberg went 13-15 for a reason..... So why should we take them at #5??
- cor99

because apparently, alot of other teams in the front end of the draft felt their teams future on the blueline was weak? it has nothing to do with them being, what, busts?

some people will just fall in love with everything the leafs do. it's a two way street.

it's the mishandling of the pick in general.

if asked to make the choice, 9 out of 10 pro scouts would have yakupov as a franchise player, and reilly as a stud defender. there's a big difference.

if the boner was there for reilly, he probably could have been had later. not with the 5th pick, when the leafs are hurting for high end offensive talent.. and there's a number to choose from.

it can be validated all day, at the end of it, it was just mishandled.
- joel878

Reilly was the BPA, thats why they picked him. This was a D draft, not overally strong on forwards after Yaks and Galy.

It was Yaks, Galy or BPA and thats what they did

Surprised at the choice but honestly you can never have enough quality D

Nope, I have had many debates with people on here, all the team.

You just will bash the Leafs for anything they do. Grigs and Forsberg went 13-15 for a reason..... So why should we take them at #5??
- cor99

I have been a Leaf fan since 1975... I have a right to disagree with the direction of the team.

Do you have debates "all the team?"

I still can't believe Burke said he had him @ #1.

He should be fired just for saying that!!!
- jimmc7722

It's not that crazy. Had he played an entire season he very well may have been. I don't agree myself, but the way Burke was talking was to take this kid 1st choice, but if Galchenyuk was available than he would draft on a bases of need for the centerman.

But its not. Not if Reilly turns into something special. And we wont know until you let him develop.

You take the BPA, its the oldest rule in the book.
- Leafs43

so if the best available player for the next 6 years is a blueliner... you keep taking blueliners?

it's nothing close to a rule. 23 blueliners cant win a championship.

because apparently, alot of other teams in the front end of the draft felt their teams future on the blueline was weak? it has nothing to do with them being, what, busts?

some people will just fall in love with everything the leafs do. it's a two way street.
- joel878

Cool, i dont love everything Burke has done. But i like this pick, and you seem to have rathered a player that was picked at like 14th overall.

If Grigs/Forsberg went 6 and 7, then okay, what the (frank), but they didnt, so clearly it isnt just Burke and Dave Morrison that didnt like Forsberg and Grigs

Reilly was the BPA, thats why they picked him. This was a D draft, not overally strong on forwards after Yaks and Galy.

It was Yaks, Galy or BPA and thats what they did
- cor99

accoring to who?

wasn't the same group who had grigorenko the consesus 2nd overall, since the beginning of the season, was it?

team needs high end offensive talent, you draft high end offensive talent.

because apparently, alot of other teams in the front end of the draft felt their teams future on the blueline was weak? it has nothing to do with them being, what, busts?

some people will just fall in love with everything the leafs do. it's a two way street.
- joel878

more like a 2 way crescent. just keeps going in circles.

Surprised at the choice but honestly you can never have enough quality D
- VANTEL

Some Leafs fans don't seem to understand that. I know Reilly hasn't been talked about in any mock draft to the Leafs but A LOT had Reilly going 4th to the Islanders.

I have been a Leaf fan since 1975... I have a right to disagree with the direction of the team.

Do you have debates "all the team?"
- DoctorNHL

You know what I meant.

Your not bashing the direction of the team, your bashing this pick, when he was the Best Player Available.

Its a key rule to drafting, take the Best Player Available, and if you fill a need at the same time, then bonus

Just to say Rielly is instantly the best defenseman prospect the Leafs have had in years.







IF ONLY HE WAS BORN A WHITE WOMAN!

so if the best available player for the next 6 years is a blueliner... you keep taking blueliners?

it's nothing close to a rule. 23 blueliners cant win a championship.
- joel878

That's very narrow minded. You understand the buy and demand of trading right? by acquiring Aulie we got a guy like Ashton.

Cool, i dont love everything Burke has done. But i like this pick, and you seem to have rathered a player that was picked at like 14th overall.

If Grigs/Forsberg went 6 and 7, then okay, what the (frank), but they didnt, so clearly it isnt just Burke and Dave Morrison that didnt like Forsberg and Grigs
- cor99

it really has nothing to do with being picked 14th. eberle was what 28th? lidstrom.. 53rd?

it's about drafting high end talent when it's available. you take one of the 3-4 most sparkling forwards in a draft year, odds are in your favour that they're going to pan out.

but hey, keep validating it because 8 other teams decided they wanted defenseman. FYI, forsberg was 11th. the 3rd forward selected.