because i'm from Toronto and this is the team i cheer for. I was never jaded until this summer. Last year i was a positive fan. I became jaded after all the change promised resulted in assistant coaches being switched.

Let's focus on the NHL then. Are we the worst team standings wise? No. I called them to be a bottom 5 team...everyone laughed and said playoffs for sure. That will be determined.

However, we could be the worst (or amongst the worst) when you consider lack of prospects, unmoveable long term terrible deals, and a bad makeup of a team. Laugh at Edmonton all you want, they have options. We really don't at this time. Who's taking our junk?
- clark_griswold

No, everyone said fight to make playoffs for sure. Overwhelming consensus was somewhere between 7-10, which is looking to be exactly correct.

Bottom 5 is still a laughable suggestion.

the Oilers aren't the Oilers because they tanked. they're the Oilers because they've been incompetent for nearly 10 years.
- DoubleDown

Yup, scouting has been horrid, no one over the last ten years from the 2nd round or later, even the Laughs have a couple... That also speaks to a weak development system as well...

I've got my jersey all ready wadded up to throw at the t.v.!
- Cfser

Should we bring back and market the blue and white foam bricks again before it's too late?

because i'm from Toronto and this is the team i cheer for. I was never jaded until this summer. Last year i was a positive fan. I became jaded after all the change promised resulted in assistant coaches being switched.

Let's focus on the NHL then. Are we the worst team standings wise? No. I called them to be a bottom 5 team...everyone laughed and said playoffs for sure. That will be determined.

However, we could be the worst (or amongst the worst) when you consider lack of prospects, unmoveable long term terrible deals, and a bad makeup of a team. Laugh at Edmonton all you want, they have options. We really don't at this time. Who's taking our junk?
- clark_griswold

Well Phaneuf and Clarkson would be hard to move....let's not dump the rest of the team in there. Even Dion could possibly be moved in the right situation (although it likely wouldn't be a pretty return).

I don't think anyone on here is suggesting the Leafs are now geared up to take a run...

because i'm from Toronto and this is the team i cheer for. I was never jaded until this summer. Last year i was a positive fan. I became jaded after all the change promised resulted in assistant coaches being switched.

Let's focus on the NHL then. Are we the worst team standings wise? No. I called them to be a bottom 5 team...everyone laughed and said playoffs for sure. That will be determined.

However, we could be the worst (or amongst the worst) when you consider lack of prospects, unmoveable long term terrible deals, and a bad makeup of a team. Laugh at Edmonton all you want, they have options. We really don't at this time. Who's taking our junk?
- clark_griswold

Good lord, you must be young.

This is heaven compared to the Ballard years.

that guy would play with more heart for the Leafs than any other team
- the_eye

well duh!

Well Phaneuf and Clarkson would be hard to move....let's not dump the rest of the team in there. Even Dion could possibly be moved in the right situation (although it likely wouldn't be a pretty return).

I don't think anyone on here is suggesting the Leafs are now geared up to take a run...
- stormey

Clarkson could not be moved, unless you were willing to eat salary AND take back a really, really bad contract.

Phaneuf could be moved easily.

Good lord, you must be young.

This is heaven compared to the Ballard years.
- Atomic Wedgie

those were good times...

well duh!
- senstroll

So would all of us.

Good lord, you must be young.

This is heaven compared to the Ballard years.
- Atomic Wedgie

i became a fan in 87 we'll say when i was old enough to understand hockey....i've seen many peaks and valleys.

at least with Harold you knew he was senile

WE COULD'VE HAD RASK
- MCharisma91

HE WOULDN"T SIGN

No doubt.

We traded Rask for a one hit wonder. Probably the worst trade in recent memory.
- MCharisma91

At the time it was Rask or Pogge....and Pogge had just come off an amazing performance at the World Jr's

No, everyone said fight to make playoffs for sure. Overwhelming consensus was somewhere between 7-10, which is looking to be exactly correct.

Bottom 5 is still a laughable suggestion.
- Badge

Unless they gut the roster.

Seriously, they are 8 points above 26th, with a half a season to play.

I, for one, am not laughing.

So would all of us.
- Woderwick

Its all about the heart, NO KESSEL!!

Well Phaneuf and Clarkson would be hard to move....let's not dump the rest of the team in there. Even Dion could possibly be moved in the right situation (although it likely wouldn't be a pretty return).

I don't think anyone on here is suggesting the Leafs are now geared up to take a run...
- stormey

Kessel will be tough to move in that getting value will be hard. Also, it's teams that can fit him and contending that are an issue. I'd say Nsh and Ana are about it.
Robidas, Lupul, Clarkson, Dion with his terrible deal and no trade, Gardiner, bozak. I don't see any teams taking them at the deadline..and i hardly see any teams taking them without us eating salary

Fantasy hockey....someone has offered me Kadri for Bozak. Points only. With having Horachek as the new coach and how he out Kadri on the top line do I accept? Or will Bozak be back with Kessel in no time.

At the time it was Rask or Pogge....and Pogge had just come off an amazing performance at the World Jr's
- Fakepartofme

And more importantly, Pogge was signed, Rask wasn't.

Rask wasn't going to sign to be behind Pogge, and if you didn't sign Rask within 2 years, he went back into the draft and the Leafs would receive no compensation.

Don't fault the Leafs for trading Rask - it had to be done.

Fault them for taking Raycroft in return.

Unless they gut the roster.

Seriously, they are 8 points above 26th, with a half a season to play.

I, for one, am not laughing.
- Atomic Wedgie

that's what ppl fail to realize.....we are not far back from bottom 5. Ok bottom 5 yes but i see alot of teams below who i feel will turn it around...and turmoil ahead for a team that usually crumbles under turmoil in Toronto. I maintain bottom 5, with a cap at bottom 8 which was last year.


I see Philly, CBJ, Colorado, Possibly NJ just because they actually have a system...OTT i see as a long shot but happened last year...Minny, Dallas, Boston all catching us. Of the teams above us i see Cgy falling back. It's not looking good for us especially if we sell off. Bottom 5 is far from laughable considering we had no business winning alot of the games we did...

Unless they gut the roster.

Seriously, they are 8 points above 26th, with a half a season to play.

I, for one, am not laughing.
- Atomic Wedgie

Woah - McDavid, Eichel, Hanafin, Crouse really could be possibilities.

Problem is the core, it's that there isn't much of/enough of a core to be effective.

Removing something that you are lacking in doesn't make you have more of it. You see?
- burn

The problem is that Kessel and Phaneuf are our go to guys.

That's the problem.

If Kessel and phaneuf were number two guys on the team.....it wouldnt be as bad.

Everyone compares Kessel to kane or vice versa....Kane handles the spotlight much better, but he's also second to Toews.....and has a good supporting cast such as Hossa and Sharp for when he isnt on his game.

A big part of the problem is guys like Simmons have never laced a skate...
- aminnes

Irrelevant.

Its all about the heart, NO KESSEL!!
- senstroll

I thought it was all about that bass.

Kessel will be tough to move in that getting value will be hard. Also, it's teams that can fit him and contending that are an issue. I'd say Nsh and Ana are about it.
Robidas, Lupul, Clarkson, Dion with his terrible deal and no trade, Gardiner, bozak. I don't see any teams taking them at the deadline..and i hardly see any teams taking them without us eating salary
- clark_griswold

Seriously, Clark, this is just a brain-dead stupid comment.

I get that you are anti-Leafs at the moment, but Kessel was the top scorer in the 2014 Olympics and named to the 1st all-star team of the tourney.

He's consistently amongst the top scorers in the NHL.

You completely lose all credibility when you make a statement like this.

Get up from the computer, go take a little walk around, and then come back.

Kessel would be hard to move?

Jeeezus.

Kessel will be tough to move in that getting value will be hard. Also, it's teams that can fit him and contending that are an issue. I'd say Nsh and Ana are about it.
Robidas, Lupul, Clarkson, Dion with his terrible deal and no trade, Gardiner, bozak. I don't see any teams taking them at the deadline..and i hardly see any teams taking them without us eating salary
- clark_griswold

You're kidding about Kessel I hope. Top 10 scorers in the league are gold considering 25 teams are looking for offense.

Robida and Lupul....yeah...but you wouldn't get much for them even if they were making under a mill.

Gardiner you would have no problem moving considering the amount of teams looking for D-men...especially ones that can skate. I expect him to be much better now without RC looking over his shoulder all the time.

Bozak could be moved very easily...but if he's a second line center why would you move him?

Fantasy hockey....someone has offered me Kadri for Bozak. Points only. With having Horachek as the new coach and how he out Kadri on the top line do I accept? Or will Bozak be back with Kessel in no time.
- Santo_44

Do it!!!