Oh my....
- WaterBoy

I asked a simple, reasonable, realistic question and you couldn't even answer it.
Instead you had to be childish. That's why some people on here can't be taken serious. It's hard to talk hockey on here with some of you. Not all, because a lot of you can actually have a conversation like a human being without childish trolling.

Bolland wants to play here

Step 1 -give him clarkson money
Step 2 - Win the cup

Bolland wants to play here

Step 1 -give him clarkson money
Step 2 - Win the cup
- senstroll

We kinda say this a lot but this will be an interesting off season, so many elements to it.

I asked a simple, reasonable, realistic question and you couldn't even answer it.
Instead you had to be childish. That's why some people on here can't be taken serious. It's hard to talk hockey on here with some of you. Not all, because a lot of you can actually have a conversation like a human being without childish trolling.
- MCharisma91

No you didn't.

And your type of reply is whats makes it really hard to ttalk hockey on HB.

No you didn't.

And your type of reply is whats makes it really hard to ttalk hockey on HB.
- WaterBoy

I didn't? All i asked was if the Leafs traded up for a top pick, which IS possible, (and Nonis confirmed the interest today), who should the Leafs draft. SB or Ekblad. I tried to spark a convo, etc to talk about hockey, mostly, the Leafs. You couldn't even do that.

I think the perception is that top-end players would want to play in Toronto, even in the league, because what hockey player growing up in Canada wouldn't want to be in part responsible for bringing the Stanley Cup back to Toronto, right?

But I think that the reality of the situation is that the fans and ESPECIALLY the media place such a level of scrutiny on the players that the pressure on them becomes something completely uncontrollable. It really does take on a life of its own.

I recall a few years ago, when Kadri didn't make the team out of camp (or something similar to this), that the Sun put a photo of him on the front page of the paper with a pacifier photoshopped into his mouth. This story then gets legs, takes off running, and bam, Kadri now has a reputation for being a baby. Whether it's real or not is irrelevant, perception truly is reality.

Until the media backs off a little bit, allows the guys to play hockey and stops reporting on what Bozak made Kessel for dinner last night, I don't expect marquis players to show up in Toronto during the primes of their careers. The complete lack of privacy, the media crucifixion over the slightest anomalies, it's a self fulfilling prophecy. And frankly, the fans deserve a lot better than that.

Just my 2 cents.

I didn't? All i asked was if the Leafs traded up for a top pick, which IS possible, (and Nonis confirmed the interest today), who should the Leafs draft. SB or Ekblad. I tried to spark a convo, etc to talk about hockey, mostly, the Leafs. You couldn't even do that.
- MCharisma91

Hard question, both players are a need but since we lack a top centre prospect, I would take Bennett.

Bolland wants to play here

Step 1 -give him clarkson money
Step 2 - Win the cup
- senstroll

Step 1: Get Burkie drunk
Step 2: Buy him a dance
Step 3: Trade him Clarkson

Hard question, both players are a need but since we lack a top centre prospect, I would take Bennett.
- LeafMan

You would take any centre.

You would take any centre.
- AdamFrench

Patrik Stefan

I think the perception is that top-end players would want to play in Toronto, even in the league, because what hockey player growing up in Canada wouldn't want to be in part responsible for bringing the Stanley Cup back to Toronto, right?

But I think that the reality of the situation is that the fans and ESPECIALLY the media place such a level of scrutiny on the players that the pressure on them becomes something completely uncontrollable. It really does take on a life of its own.

I recall a few years ago, when Kadri didn't make the team out of camp (or something similar to this), that the Sun put a photo of him on the front page of the paper with a pacifier photoshopped into his mouth. This story then gets legs, takes off running, and bam, Kadri now has a reputation for being a baby. Whether it's real or not is irrelevant, perception truly is reality.

Until the media backs off a little bit, allows the guys to play hockey and stops reporting on what Bozak made Kessel for dinner last night, I don't expect marquis players to show up in Toronto during the primes of their careers. The complete lack of privacy, the media crucifixion over the slightest anomalies, it's a self fulfilling prophecy. And frankly, the fans deserve a lot better than that.

Just my 2 cents.
- the_terror

Very good post.

I guess the rebuttal from some would be, players should be able to play in a city with media pressure, they are pros.

I didn't? All i asked was if the Leafs traded up for a top pick, which IS possible, (and Nonis confirmed the interest today), who should the Leafs draft. SB or Ekblad. I tried to spark a convo, etc to talk about hockey, mostly, the Leafs. You couldn't even do that.
- MCharisma91

Sam...if he's still there, wherever there is.

You would take any centre.
- AdamFrench

I'm a believer of filling an organizational need other then BPA.

If you have the need filled, then go after the BPA.

I didn't? All i asked was if the Leafs traded up for a top pick, which IS possible, (and Nonis confirmed the interest today), who should the Leafs draft. SB or Ekblad. I tried to spark a convo, etc to talk about hockey, mostly, the Leafs. You couldn't even do that.
- MCharisma91

The answer is clearly the big man on the back end.

Hard question, both players are a need but since we lack a top centre prospect, I would take Bennett.
- LeafMan

I think if both players are considered the same in terms of can't miss....you always take the forward.

I'm a believer of filling an organizational need other then BPA.
- LeafMan

Step 1: Get Burkie drunk
Step 2: Buy him a dance
Step 3: Trade him Clarkson
- mkolchenkov

Step 2 has to involve Dion twerking on Burkies lap, then it's all but done.

I'm a believer of filling an organizational need other then BPA.
- LeafMan

That depends on where the team is in terms of development.

I think the perception is that top-end players would want to play in Toronto, even in the league, because what hockey player growing up in Canada wouldn't want to be in part responsible for bringing the Stanley Cup back to Toronto, right?

But I think that the reality of the situation is that the fans and ESPECIALLY the media place such a level of scrutiny on the players that the pressure on them becomes something completely uncontrollable. It really does take on a life of its own.

I recall a few years ago, when Kadri didn't make the team out of camp (or something similar to this), that the Sun put a photo of him on the front page of the paper with a pacifier photoshopped into his mouth. This story then gets legs, takes off running, and bam, Kadri now has a reputation for being a baby. Whether it's real or not is irrelevant, perception truly is reality.

Until the media backs off a little bit, allows the guys to play hockey and stops reporting on what Bozak made Kessel for dinner last night, I don't expect marquis players to show up in Toronto during the primes of their careers. The complete lack of privacy, the media crucifixion over the slightest anomalies, it's a self fulfilling prophecy. And frankly, the fans deserve a lot better than that.

Just my 2 cents.
- the_terror

So.... Toronto is full of negativity and no support. We're too busy fighting against instead of uniting. Which is why leafs will not win until we change how we think here. (frank) the media too. They just want attention.

That depends on where the team is in terms of development.
- stormeyAlterEgo

Colorado last year?

I think if both players are considered the same in terms of can't miss....you always take the forward.
- stormeyAlterEgo

Ekblad in this case. Centrepiece franchise defenseman.

Colorado last year?
- AdamFrench

Considering the already had Duchense and Statsny.....I think they went with BPA...not organizational need.

Considering the already had Duchense and Statsny.....I think they went with BPA...not organizational need.
- stormeyAlterEgo

Yes.

Colin just got shut the (frank) down!

Ekblad in this case. Centrepiece franchise defenseman.
- CanadianBodmon

Or centerpiece franchise center.

Both players in there prime and the same age would you take and Eric Staal or a Pieterangelo?

I take Staal. Just my opinion.