There is no chance we would lose enough games. We are out of the running for the number 1 pick.... although there still is a chance we could get it finishing where we are right now.
- Lee Denault

Holy crap...think of the fun with the rest of HB land if that happened.

Exactly, So, how many legit #1's are there ??
- bixll

That would depend what your definition of #1 is. The following players average >25mns/game for contending teams:

Doughty
Weber
Josi (not a #1, but fits the criteria)
Keith
Letang
Pietrangelo
Subban

Candidates that don't fit that criteria include:

Karlsson
Giordano
E. Johnson
Yandle
Ekman-Larsson
Kronwall
Suter
Muzzin
Girardi
McDonagh
Chara
Hedman
Seabrook

who's there #1?

I think Seabrook is the horse and Keith is their 100x better version of Gardiner.

Seabrook 2 years younger...same amount of games and points and is the defensive partner in that duo.

I'd have to disagree, unless I'm missing somebody on Chicago you think is their #1?
- Garnie

go ask the chicago fans if its keith or seabrook

il let them answer for me.

but thats ok if you think hes their #1 that makes no difference to me...leafs still have dion as their #1 and i dont even know who id say is there number 2.

franson? puke
polak? ugh..hes a second pairing guy at best if u ask me, but what do i know!

Sooooooo... banning tobogganing is a thing now?

There is no chance we would lose enough games. We are out of the running for the number 1 pick.... although there still is a chance we could get it finishing where we are right now.
- Lee Denault

if everyone theory is right and its the players not RC as the main problem... getting to 28-30th is not hard to do without kessel

Buffalo is the worst team by miles.. but the leafs can suck we saw under RC

peitro-shattenkirk-gunnarson
- Lee Denault

Pietrangelo, Shat, JBo

Sooooooo... banning tobogganing is a thing now?
- SofaKingBored

No!?

Liability excuse again?

Not totally blaming him, just seems you give him a free ride...it's the NHL you can't just be a goal scorer...Ovie is twice the player Kessel is and his team can't allow him to just play offence. ( Ovie does it, they don't make the playoffs ) The same goes for us, he's the highest paid on the team...he needs to play 200ft, like the rest of the elite talent in the NHL ( except maybe Ovie )
- Garnie

This ain't gonna happen. He doesn't want to play that game, and he doesn't want to be a leader. Problem is, in a cap system your 8 million $ guy HAS to do all those things. He can't be a bit player.

No!?

Liability excuse again?
- Woderwick

I guess it's just too damn dangerous...

That would depend what your definition of #1 is. The following players average >25mns/game for contending teams:

Doughty
Weber
Josi (not a #1, but fits the criteria)
Keith
Letang
Pietrangelo
Subban

Candidates that don't fit that criteria include:

Karlsson
Giordano
E. Johnson
Yandle
Ekman-Larsson
Kronwall
Burns
Muzzin
Girardi
McDonagh
Chara
Hedman
Seabrook
- 1979AD

Not my definition. And who is Burns ? Others on here are not a legit #1. Both Phenix guys. If Dion is not a #1, some of these certainly are not. Again, my point. They are very few and far between.

Sooooooo... banning tobogganing is a thing now?
- SofaKingBored

I heard this. Apparently the City of Hamilton banned it already!? This nanny state BS needs to stop.

I like Kessel and all, but he does have the odd fault. I know you think its the teams fault...JVR/Bozak/Kessel were the hottest line in hockey for a good stretch, the personnel hasn't changed...what has?
- Garnie

Funny they scored so many but were still a minus, none of the top teams top lines are a minus and some of them score half as much as the leafs top line does, that right there, tells you the big problem, and is a big reason the Leafs never have the puck, it's all rush scoring because they are a soft as poop line...

I heard this. Apparently the City of Hamilton banned it already!? This nanny state BS needs to stop.
- 1979AD

We'll be confined to our homes soon...

That would depend what your definition of #1 is. The following players average >25mns/game for contending teams:

Doughty
Weber
Josi (not a #1, but fits the criteria)
Keith
Letang
Pietrangelo
Subban

Candidates that don't fit that criteria include:

Karlsson
Giordano
E. Johnson
Yandle
Ekman-Larsson
Kronwall
Burns
Muzzin
Girardi
McDonagh
Chara
Hedman
Seabrook
- 1979AD

Im surprised Suter hasnt made the list.

Their analytics are, and always have been, atrocious.
- fifty__missions

Analytics don't score goals.

I agree with the split, they have been in a funk...but it's not as bad as everybody lets on...just some of the Bozak haters and the Kadri lovers let it take full control. I didn't see anybody talking about Bozak while the three were lighting it up.

GO LEAFS GO

I know I'm not allowed to link to competing websites, but there's a certain "marionette owned by a retirement savings organization" website that has an article which absolutely nails the Feschuk vs. Kessel confrontation.
- Atomic Wedgie

One of the "related articles" below it:

Who Had A Better Free Agency Day: Dave Nonis or a Potato?

We'll be confined to our homes soon...
- SofaKingBored

And not allowed to smoke... lol

Pietrangelo, Shat, JBo
- lumlums

that's a weird nickname for gunnarsson.

Not my definition. And who is Burns ? Other on here are not a legit #1. Both Phenix guys. If Dion is not a #1, some of these certainly are not. Again, my point. They are very few and far between.
- bixll

What is your criteria?

I think this list supports your point: there are very few true #1 defensemen. I agree Burns shouldn't have made that list, but OEL definitely belongs there.

Not totally blaming him, just seems you give him a free ride...it's the NHL you can't just be a goal scorer...Ovie is twice the player Kessel is and his team can't allow him to just play offence. ( Ovie does it, they don't make the playoffs ) The same goes for us, he's the highest paid on the team...he needs to play 200ft, like the rest of the elite talent in the NHL ( except maybe Ovie )
- Garnie

ppl on here love to look at stats and stats alone. If it were doable i'd trade kessel straight up for a ton of players. I'll list some below and i'll stick to forwards...

Getzlaf, Perry, Bergeron (im sure alot of ppl will disagree), Mackinnon, POSSIBLY Duchene, Toews, Johanssen, Jamie Benn, Kopitar, Tavares, Sid, Malkin, Giroux, Tarsenko ( plays a good 2 way game), Stamkos, Possibly Logan Couture. Not sure about Ovie.

I heard this. Apparently the City of Hamilton banned it already!? This nanny state BS needs to stop.
- 1979AD

This is a joke right?

I guess it's just too damn dangerous...
- SofaKingBored

Certain people looking to sue everyone is too dangerous I guess.

Gardiner has to be a One Direction fan
- PinkSock

Well if he likes Miley, its the logical next step...

We'll be confined to our homes soon...
- SofaKingBored

Mandatory padded rooms.

why is it Phil that needs to be moved? why not JVR? could get a really nice return for him or use him as the centerpiece for a bigger deal