Don't want to answer the question. Ok.
- RogerRoeper

Stupid question. If you honestly think the leafs are close to Tampa there really isn't any point explaining it as you won't understand

Stupid question. If you honestly think the leafs are close to Tampa there really isn't any point explaining it as you won't understand
- jordan456789

I do. They are very close. Anyone can see that. They got destroyed in the playoffs. Never won a game.

And how do they have better high-end talent? Please explain. After Stamkos there's such a massive drop-off.

TAMPA BAY 8th overall .616 P% (top third of the league)
toronto 22nd overall .512 P% (bottom third of the league)


Not even close.
- Doppleganger

Same amount of playoff wins though.

I do. They are very close. Anyone can see that. They got destroyed in the playoffs. Never won a game.

And how do they have better high-end talent? Please explain. After Stamkos there's such a massive drop-off.
- RogerRoeper

Oh Jeebus H. Twighst, take the (frank)ing blinders off Mr. Roeper. Tampa is a superior team to Toronto, PERIOD!!! Go in the Leafs blog ans ask who is better. Only you and the other two memebers of the homer squad would agree with you. You also realize, Tampa has, not one, but TWO, players nominated for the calder!

Same amount of playoff wins though.
- RogerRoeper

By that logic then the Sabres are close to TB too.

Oh Jeebus H. Twighst, take the (frank)ing blinders off Mr. Roeper. Tampa is a superior team to Toronto, PERIOD!!! Go in the Leafs blog ans ask who is better. Only you and the other two memebers of the homer squad would agree with you. You also realize, Tampa has, not one, but TWO, players nominated for the calder!
- habman75

And a Vezina Trophy nominee as well.

I do. They are very close. Anyone can see that. They got destroyed in the playoffs. Never won a game.

And how do they have better high-end talent? Please explain. After Stamkos there's such a massive drop-off.
- RogerRoeper

Stamkos the best goal scorer in the league. A vesina nominated goalie and two Calder nominations. By saying it is close are you comparing the leafs to Tampa or buffallo

After kessel there is a massive drop off

And a Vezina Trophy nominee as well.
- Doppleganger

Steven Stamkos only played in 37 games this season, so I wonder how the mighty maple leafs would have fared without Kessel for the same number of games? Perhaps they would've finished ahead of Boston?
- Doppleganger

Without question, a top 3 pick in the lottery.

Stamkos the best goal scorer in the league. A vesina nominated goalie and two Calder nominations. By saying it is close are you comparing the leafs to Tampa or buffallo

After kessel there is a massive drop off
- jordan456789

Yet JVR would be the 3rd best forward after Stamkos/Kessel.

Steven Stamkos only played in 37 games this season, so I wonder how the mighty maple leafs would have fared without Kessel for the same number of games? Perhaps they would've finished ahead of Boston?
- Doppleganger

Tampa looked worse once Stamkos came back overall. That isn't a knock on Stamkos, just what occurs sometime. Like how the Leafs played better without Sundin in the 02' playoffs.

By that logic then the Sabres are close to TB too.


- Doppleganger

Sabres weren't ahead of Tampa with 3 weeks left in the season.

Sabres weren't ahead of Tampa with 3 weeks left in the season.
- RogerRoeper

Neither were the oilers, flames, panthers, or islanders.....yet the leafs finished closer in the standings to those teams, then they did to the bolts.

The fact that you're delusional enough to think the leafs are remotely close to the bolts is hilarious

Sabres weren't ahead of Tampa with 3 weeks left in the season.
- RogerRoeper

Did they start determining playoff seeding with three weeks left in the season? If not who gives a rats a$$ who was ahead of who with three weeks left. Pretty dumb statement.

April 15 @ 10:39 AM ET

I dont get the sense all leaf fans are treating the shanahan signing like its going to save the franchise and we will be contending next season.

I am surprised thats not happening.. Fans have learned their lesson it seems.. that change doesn't automatically mean things are better.
- senstroll

Looks like you had a great grip on things last spring.

April 15 @ 10:39 AM ET




Looks like you had a great grip on things last spring.
- Doppleganger

I also said this at the time

some might be distracted by it. i am not
Shanahan has to fire Nonis, Poulin, Loiselle and Carlyle ..doesnt matter the order.

3 down, 1 to go

Since that discussion the leafs have made some very good moves..its slow for most fans liking..but they will get there

They are screwed without top goaltending. Their team is not good. And who says Carlyle will be back?

It will be no surprise to see Tampa out of the playoffs next season.
- RogerRoeper

Do you still think tampa is not better off than the leafs

BB,s fingerprints are all over this team ,cant say iam surprised of how it all turned out.Guy is the most overrated gm in the league

Yet he got fired. Must be tough for him to watch right now.

The Leafs have one of the youngest teams, and are playing solid and are firmly in a playoff spot.

With ALL the crap he got for the Kessel trade, people ignored his terrific trades like getting Lupul.Gardiner for beauchemin, or FRanson for nothing, or JVR for Schenn.

His drafting of Kadri looks brilliant. The team has a very good future with a blue chipper in Rielly still not on the team.

Nonis did do some solid things that helped, like sending Conolly down and opening up a spot for Kadri. But Burke did indeed do a "Non-traditional" rebuild that's looking good right now.
- RogerRoeper

So this time, it'll be a scorched earth traditional re-build, or at least that's what they're saying.


To date there is no tangible move made by the leafs to indicate that this is what is actually going to transpire.

Until there is an actual trade of a player, a core player with term left on his contract, or something similar, then and only then, will I believe they are stripping the leafs done to the wood, and re-building through the Draft and development route.


For the sake of the true leaf fans, I hope this happens.

So this time, it'll be a scorched earth traditional re-build, or at least that's what they're saying.


To date there is no tangible move made by the leafs to indicate that this is what is actually going to transpire.

Until there is an actual trade of a player, a core player with term left on his contract, or something similar, then and only then, will I believe they are stripping the leafs done to the wood, and re-building through the Draft and development route.


For the sake of the true leaf fans, I hope this happens.
- Doppleganger

I would say the Franson/Santorelli trades does prove it.

BB,s fingerprints are all over this team ,cant say iam surprised of how it all turned out.Guy is the most overrated gm in the league
- top shelf 15

Well he's not a GM. And the cup win in 07' in Anaheim he got virtually no credit for.

I would say the Franson/Santorelli trades does prove it.
- RogerRoeper

Any team with impending UFAs are going to try to trade them away for something at this time of the season, it does not indicate that they're going the scorched earth re-build through the draft approach.

So trading Franson & Santorelli is not proof of a "traditional re-build", as everyone has been expecting the leafs to trade them before the scorched earth announcement.

When they trade a high paid core player with term left on their contract, then we can decide if they are being true to their word, and not until.

Any team with impending UFAs are going to try to trade them away for something at this time of the season, it does not indicate that they're going the scorched earth re-build through the draft approach.

So trading Franson & Santorelli is not proof of a "traditional re-build", as everyone has been expecting the leafs to trade them before the scorched earth announcement.

When they trade a high paid core player with term left on their contract, then we can decide if they are being true to their word, and not until.
- Doppleganger

I think that is a fair assessment. But, I do believe this is the real deal and the Leafs are into a full throated rebuild. Even if they wanted too, the Leafs cannot reverse what now appears to have taken on its own momentum.

I think that is a fair assessment. But, I do believe this is the real deal and the Leafs are into a full throated rebuild. Even if they wanted too, the Leafs cannot reverse what now appears to have taken on its own momentum.
- spatso

When they trade Phaneauf or Kessel or JVR or any big name with contract years left, for prospects or picks, then we can assume they are embarking on a full tear down re-build.

Some leaf fans here already think by getting a couple of impending UFAs of the books is a true sign of a complete scorched earth rebuild............it's too easy to fool some people I guess.

I suppose if the Senators trade Condra (UFA July 1st) that it means they're blowing things up again eh?

When they trade Phaneauf or Kessel or JVR or any big name with contract years left, for prospects or picks, then we can assume they are embarking on a full tear down re-build.

Some leaf fans here already think by getting a couple of impending UFAs of the books is a true sign of a complete scorched earth rebuild............it's too easy to fool some people I guess.

I suppose if the Senators trade Condra (UFA July 1st) that it means they're blowing things up again eh?
- Doppleganger

Rebuilds, in my opinion, are most readily defined by the standings, draft position, signings and trading decisions. If a team is making decisions that are consistent with decreasing regular season performance and trying to improve draft outcomes, they are in a rebuild phase. But, just because you have put yourself in rebuild mode it does not mean it will work.

I am not convinced the Leafs have figured out what they are about and what they need to do in order to have a successful rebuild. Yet, the first stages of this Leaf rebuild appears to me to be going pretty good.