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

I agree with that. We have some prospects in the back end, Percy, Granberg, Finn, and Rielly helps now and in the future. Ekblad may or may not be ready but like you said, we lack that top C prospect. Which is why I would draft a C. A lot of people saying Bennett. What about Reinhart? I assume SB over SR?

As for dmen.. We can easily trade for one, or sign one, that can help now, which is a big need also.

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.
- LeafMan

Agree completely. But there's pressure, and there's Toronto pressure. We have two national media outlets that are completely dedicated to sports, and both of them continually made the Leafs out to be Canada's Home Team.

I see the difference as one of personalities.

Pro basketball players and pro football players, for example, generally seem to have outgoing personalities. In my experience, and I have played with a few NHL players, even the very best hockey players are still generally quite humble. TSN and Rogers pump the NHL up the same way NBC and FOX pump the NFL, albeit on a much smaller scale because of our population. But hockey is king in Canada, and the Leafs are the crown jewel everywhere in Canada outside of Quebec. TSN and Rogers beat their drum more than anyone, and the output is rarely positive.

I mean, the Leafs haven't played a meaningful hockey game in months, and on a daily basis, one or both of these outlets are writing an article, or firing out grapeshot on Twitter, or wind up on the radio, or on the TV, talking about stripping the captaincy from Phaneuf, whether or not Gardiner and Kadri should go to Florida for the 1st overall in the draft, who is safe and who is on the trading block, etc.

It must be overwhelming to be trying to decompress and get ready to go back into the crucible when you don't get relief at any point. The Stanley Cup is likely to get handed out tonight, and people on both stations are still talking Leafs.

I get it, the fanbase is huge and it's a cash cow for both networks, but I doubt very much that players look forward to that scrutiny.

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

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

BPA works if you use that asset to fulfil that need through trade. But once that BPA is in camp and they get to know them it seems impossible for some of these teams to trade them away.

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

I live in Toronto and I am not a Leaf fan, but I think you have hit the nail right on the head! The total lack of privacy for the players In this city is ridiculous

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

Good post.

remember when NAsh refused to come to the Leafs... he's a home town guy but didn't want the scrutiny apparently.

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.
- LeafMan

Agreed.

Nash didn't want to play with the scrutiny, can you imagine him playing like he is with the Leafs?? He's be slaughtered.

Good post.

remember when NAsh refused to come to the Leafs... he's a home town guy but didn't want the scrutiny apparently.
- burn

Did Brad Richards not want to be a Leaf either? I don't remember if he wouldn't sign or Burke didn't want to dish out the years...maybe both.

Not signing him turned out to be a win

Did Brad Richards not want to be a Leaf either? I don't remember if he wouldn't sign or Burke didn't want to dish out the years...maybe both.

Not signing him turned out to be a win
- houseofcards74

I don't have the proof but it has been reported by NHL insiders that players use the Leafs to drive up their salary demand to the team they want to go to with no intention on signing with the Leafs, again just speculation from reading some quotes.

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.
- LeafMan

Still a personality thing; as a doctor, having worked in hospitals for over a decade, there are people that choose to be surgeons and those that choose to be pathologists. Some people thrive on pressure and scrutiny, while others like the lower pressure atmosphere with more leeway for mistakes and then thrive in it.

Toronto, like Montreal have a large fan base and a lot of players grow up fans of either franchise. Nevertheless, some may never want to be a part of that atmosphere as players; or they get drafted by some team and find out that they love playing in a place like LA or Philly etc. Also not to be dismissed is the chance to win a Cup may send them to other teams as they become free agents.

Serious question.
Say we have a pick that can get us Bennet or Ekblad at the draft.
Who SHOULD we draft?
- MCharisma91

For me Ekblad. Has all the tools and while Bennet is a very good player, he is a little small to be that franchise type centerman (i know it's not true in every case).

can't go wrong with either but i go for the best player not positional need when it comes to drafting.

Did Brad Richards not want to be a Leaf either? I don't remember if he wouldn't sign or Burke didn't want to dish out the years...maybe both.

Not signing him turned out to be a win
- houseofcards74

I think the Leafs offered more money overall but Rags offered more money up front.

I don't have the proof but it has been reported by NHL insiders that players use the Leafs to drive up their salary demand to the team they want to go to with no intention on signing with the Leafs, again just speculation from reading some quotes.
- LeafMan

wouldn't surprise me one bit.... who was Clarkson gearing towards when he used the Leafs to up his salary??

wouldn't surprise me one bit.... who was Clarkson gearing towards when he used the Leafs to up his salary??
- burn

I know it happens all the time, it is a negotiating ploy by the agent but it seems the players the Leafs really want (or a big need), never sign here with exception of a couple. That is the way it is.

Lol I dont think anyone has ever said they want to be a leaf... Infact i would go as far as to say many players or "Home town guys" actually prefer to play away from TO. the team had a great run in the early 2000's when they had a pretty solid team. Got stoped by a crazy good cam Ward in the conference final. That year they sold the farm to bring in some serious pieces to contend for the cup. After that season the hard cap was implemented which really hurt, as draft choces became extremely valuable. Took many years to re-coop from those deals. Id rather root for a team that isn't afraid to spend the doe when they think they contend instead of being a Nashville. anyways just my thoughs

Colin just got shut the (frank) down!
- AdamFrench

It appears he did.

I know it happens all the time, it is a negotiating ploy by the agent but it seems the players the Leafs really want, never sign here with exception of a couple. That is the way it is.
- LeafMan

I think it has to do with the scrutiny and lack of success over the recent years. No one wants to spend their formidable years with a loser, especially if you have the choice.


It's not a money issue

It's not city thing



I think the other issues would always go away in any city if the team is winning. Players don't want to go to Edmonton (because so many better options in terms of living) but if they were sure fire contender and offering comparable contract i think they would overlook other issues.

Winning and money are the keys to getting players to want to play somewhere. All the other noise would die down if those 2 things were met. Players uses excuses (the extra scrutiny, the city sucks, ect) to justify why they didn't sign there.

I think it's safe to say that your title is correct, but I would say it this way. The city of Toronto is the centre of the hockey universe but the team in the town is the ugly baby of that universe.

1. More players in the league come from GTA than anywhere else
2. These days (thanks to poor performance), there are more non-Leafs fans in GTA than Leafs' fans it seems like
3. Only in the centre of the universe can the arguably most underperforming franchise be the most valuable.

As for players wanting to play here? Not true... only players who end up here say that. Who would want to earn 10% less due to currency and another 10% less due to income taxes and have an additional 13% in taxes (HST) on everything they purchase and that's before the crazy cost of living in Toronto compared to 26 other cities in the NHL.

It appears he did.
- Colin_Dambrauskas

I think it's safe to say that your title is correct, but I would say it this way. The city of Toronto is the centre of the hockey universe but the team in the town is the ugly baby of that universe.

1. More players in the league come from GTA than anywhere else
2. These days (thanks to poor performance), there are more non-Leafs fans in GTA than Leafs' fans it seems like
3. Only in the centre of the universe can the arguably most underperforming franchise be the most valuable.

As for players wanting to play here? Not true... only players who end up here say that. Who would want to earn 10% less due to currency and another 10% less due to income taxes and have an additional 13% in taxes (HST) on everything they purchase and that's before the crazy cost of living in Toronto compared to 26 other cities in the NHL.
- wdancdn

All contracts are in US dollars so if the Canadian dollar is lower they gain on the exchange rate.

I think it's safe to say that your title is correct, but I would say it this way. The city of Toronto is the centre of the hockey universe but the team in the town is the ugly baby of that universe.

1. More players in the league come from GTA than anywhere else
2. These days (thanks to poor performance), there are more non-Leafs fans in GTA than Leafs' fans it seems like
3. Only in the centre of the universe can the arguably most underperforming franchise be the most valuable.

As for players wanting to play here? Not true... only players who end up here say that. Who would want to earn 10% less due to currency and another 10% less due to income taxes and have an additional 13% in taxes (HST) on everything they purchase and that's before the crazy cost of living in Toronto compared to 26 other cities in the NHL.
- wdancdn

all players paid in US funds, no matter where they play. This isn't an issue. Tax is an issue.

I think it's safe to say that your title is correct, but I would say it this way. The city of Toronto is the centre of the hockey universe but the team in the town is the ugly baby of that universe.

1. More players in the league come from GTA than anywhere else
2. These days (thanks to poor performance), there are more non-Leafs fans in GTA than Leafs' fans it seems like
3. Only in the centre of the universe can the arguably most underperforming franchise be the most valuable.

As for players wanting to play here? Not true... only players who end up here say that. Who would want to earn 10% less due to currency and another 10% less due to income taxes and have an additional 13% in taxes (HST) on everything they purchase and that's before the crazy cost of living in Toronto compared to 26 other cities in the NHL.
- wdancdn

Don't underestimate the perks available to players who come to Toronto and similar markets.

I personally feel the cliche that Toronto is the center of the hockey universe has more about to do with media and marketing opportunities due to it's market size.

LA has low taxes? Compared to where? Pretty much Canada and NY only.

all players paid in US funds, no matter where they play. This isn't an issue. Tax is an issue.
- burn

If it's really about getting the top $ out of your salary, why don't more players play in Florida or Nashville where there aren't income taxes and the cost of living is low.

If it's really about getting the top $ out of your salary, why don't more players play in Florida or Nashville where there aren't income taxes and the cost of living is low.
- SolidGoldBricks

Winning??


Winning and money are the top priorities.