You answer my question and then scold me for asking it? I think it has merit and shouldn’t be classified as trolling. Everyone’s so busy high-fiving each other and waving the leaf flag they might not be able to see the whole picture. I’m here to bring views back into perspective.

Accept it as a courtesy.
- bloatedmosquito

You're very transparent.

Why doesn't Shanahan just call the GM search a day, and just become GM himself? I mean he basically makes all the decisions anyway. Anybody that comes in GM anyway is just going to be a puppet in between Shanahan and Babcock, just cut out the middle man.
- ThePresident

Nah we need the middle man's rolodex

Why doesn't Shanahan just call the GM search a day, and just become GM himself? I mean he basically makes all the decisions anyway. Anybody that comes in GM anyway is just going to be a puppet in between Shanahan and Babcock, just cut out the middle man.
- ThePresident

perfect job for Pierre

(frank)in' guy
- dt99999

The league will make it happen because JERSEY SALES

Nah we need the middle man's rolodex
- TheThrill

I'm sure Shanahan has many connections.

you're making scotch sound gay. stop it.
- DoubleDown

The league will make it happen because JERSEY SALES
- BINGO!

although he'll have to change his number to 97 so they can reuse existing stock

I actually don't know what the breakout of private season's tickets vs. corporate season tickets

Wedgie, any idea?
- Aetherial

No idea, and I doubt anyone does.

Judging strictly by anecdotes, a lot of guys have the tix in their names, but then write it off as business expenses for the companies they own.

So I doubt even MLSEL would know.

the Maple Leafs are trying to get back in playoffs starting 2017-2018 season.
that's a MAX two year rebuild (not counting last year).
plan will be to get 1st/2nd round picks this draft and next draft (Lupul, Phaneuf, maybe one of the goalies, some other non-role players).
sign some good UFAs to not become a second Buffalo/Edmonton .
More than two rebuild seasons are unacceptable, especially after these 10y of suffering.
Leafs should be able to do a quicker rebuild than most of the other teams in the league because of the financial means (example: Clarkson).
I can't believe some of the guys around here that say they are willing to accept 5 tank seasons
- MaximusAurelius

I actually find myself agreeing here. I also consider this past season to be tank season #1. I see one more bottom 5 finish next year and then 10-20 the year after, and by that point I see at least some level of competitiveness.

That's just my feelings on the matter

Wait. So we are gonna be real bad this year. I get that. So we jettison the big 4 and our core becomes Kadri, JVR, Rielly, Gardiner and Bernier. Plus whatever we recoup in the trades, some Marlies, depth guys like Leo, Polak, Robidas, etc. And whatever FA depth or "show me" signings take place. Fine, I get it.

Next year we will likely add at least Nylander, hopefully Brown and Leipsic as well plus whatever off-season moves happen (Stammer!!), but then apparently we will still be bad. I guess I can accept this too

The year after THAT, we will be adding the off-season moves plus whoever we draft high this year (Strome/Marner/Hanifin) and maybe even whoever we get with the Nashville pick, but we are still going to be bad? Seems less likely.

Eventually adding these good players is going to result in us not being that bad anymore. I don't get the logic behind 5-7 years before we see any improvement. I think within 3 we are at least at Calgary/Ottawa/Winnipeg levels (ie. where they are this year).
- TheThrill

that's where you trip up. you're assuming all of the Leafs prospects are going to be good NHLers. it's not going to be the case. of the guys you mentioned, some might flame out, some might not meet expectations...

building a hockey team is really tough. it's not like planting a garden where you just wait for it to grow.

It's not like they're just throwing money at UFAs and hope they play well together. Babcock turned down a near identical offer from Buffalo, a team considered to be ahead of the Leafs in the rebuild, because after talking with Hunter he decided he liked the Leafs direction more.

That's where this moves gives the Leafs legitimacy. One of the top coaches in the league is endorsing the direction they're moving in.
- Feeling Glucky?

Ummmm, I would accept that if the contract was more in line with other coach’s salary around the league. Is he endorsing the big pay cheques or is he endorsing the team?

If you don't come out ahead in any competition against Buffalo then you've hit rock bottom.

Why doesn't Shanahan just call the GM search a day, and just become GM himself? I mean he basically makes all the decisions anyway. Anybody that comes in to GM anyway is just going to be a puppet in between Shanahan and Babcock, just cut out the middle man.
- ThePresident

And have a senior executive team of only 12 or 14 guys?

You can't run an NHL team with that few guys around the table!

Sheesh!

Ummmm, I would accept that if the contract was more in line with other coach’s salary around the league. Is he endorsing the big pay cheques or is he endorsing the team?

If you don't come out ahead in any competition against Buffalo then you've hit rock bottom.
- bloatedmosquito

Would you be this trolling courteous if Buffalo had hired Babcock?

and the Ducks 2007 team
- clark_griswold

He didn't just win gold with Team Canada.

He won the Olympic tournament without ever being behind at any point in any of seven games.

"that's because that team was so great"

So the 1998 team wasn't great? The 2002 team that tied the Czechs and lost to Sweden wasn't great? The 2006 team that finished 7th wasn't great? They were all (frank)ing great, but they didn't have Babcock.

that's where you trip up. you're assuming all of the Leafs prospects are going to be good NHLers. it's not going to be the case. of the guys you mentioned, some might flame out, some might not meet expectations...

building a hockey team is really tough. it's not like planting a garden where you just wait for it to grow.
- DoubleDown

Not all, but Nylander and the high pick this year seem pretty can't miss.

Some may not pan out, you are 100% correct, but for each one of those is a Mark Stone or Johnny Hockey who come out of nowhere and prove to be pretty good players.

I just think 3 years from now we are, at worst, on par with where Florida is right now which, IMO, is right on the cusp of being right up there

Wait. So we are gonna be real bad this year. I get that. So we jettison the big 4 and our core becomes Kadri, JVR, Rielly, Gardiner and Bernier. Plus whatever we recoup in the trades, some Marlies, depth guys like Leo, Polak, Robidas, etc. And whatever FA depth or "show me" signings take place. Fine, I get it.

Next year we will likely add at least Nylander, hopefully Brown and Leipsic as well plus whatever off-season moves happen (Stammer!!), but then apparently we will still be bad. I guess I can accept this too

The year after THAT, we will be adding the off-season moves plus whoever we draft high this year (Strome/Marner/Hanifin) and maybe even whoever we get with the Nashville pick, but we are still going to be bad? Seems less likely.

Eventually adding these good players is going to result in us not being that bad anymore. I don't get the logic behind 5-7 years before we see any improvement. I think within 3 we are at least at Calgary/Ottawa/Winnipeg levels (ie. where they are this year).
- TheThrill

it's just that the draft picks take a long time to pan out. usually 3 years minimum to make it. it's not easy to build a team. ...hence babcock and shanny stressing that with fans.

Wait. So we are gonna be real bad this year. I get that. So we jettison the big 4 and our core becomes Kadri, JVR, Rielly, Gardiner and Bernier. Plus whatever we recoup in the trades, some Marlies, depth guys like Leo, Polak, Robidas, etc. And whatever FA depth or "show me" signings take place. Fine, I get it.

Next year we will likely add at least Nylander, hopefully Brown and Leipsic as well plus whatever off-season moves happen (Stammer!!), but then apparently we will still be bad. I guess I can accept this too

The year after THAT, we will be adding the off-season moves plus whoever we draft high this year (Strome/Marner/Hanifin) and maybe even whoever we get with the Nashville pick, but we are still going to be bad? Seems less likely.

Eventually adding these good players is going to result in us not being that bad anymore. I don't get the logic behind 5-7 years before we see any improvement. I think within 3 we are at least at Calgary/Ottawa/Winnipeg levels (ie. where they are this year).
- TheThrill

I doubt Stamkos leaves TB if he doesn't win the cup with them this year.

However if he does (this year), there's a chance he will probably test free agency and anything can happen there.

So what I'm saying is Leafs fan should be cheering for the Bolts.

It is already largely out of reach for most fans. There is a huge portion of the fan base that *could* afford it, but chooses to spend their money on something else instead.

I don't see an impact to 99% of the fan base at all. Even if there is, it is supply and demand, like everything else and the people *impacted* probably won't notice.
- Aetherial

Awwww man, you mean I'm going to have to do more road trips to Buffalo with the homies instead of seeing games with the stuffy corporate crowd at the ACC?

You're very transparent.
- 1979AD

Like a ghost?



For clarity, I'm patrick in this scenario. You all can be demi.

perfect job for Pierre
- dt99999

Being between 2 dudes? Yup.

it's just that the draft picks take a long time to pan out. usually 3 years minimum to make it. it's not easy to build a team. ...hence babcock and shanny stressing that with fans.
- clark_griswold

For sure, I know pain's comin' as Babs so eloquently put it.

I just don't think it will be as long as folks are making it out to be.

Would you be this trolling courteous if Buffalo had hired Babcock?
- Atomic Wedgie

weird how strike throughs require a different set of brackets, eh?

He didn't just win gold with Team Canada.

He won the Olympic tournament without ever being behind at any point in any of seven games.

"that's because that team was so great"

So the 1998 team wasn't great? The 2002 team that tied the Czechs and lost to Sweden wasn't great? The 2006 team that finished 7th wasn't great? They were all (frank)ing great, but they didn't have Babcock.
- 1979AD

Here's the takeaway that I like from 2014:

Apparently senior management came up with the gameplan from day 1: we are going to win each game 2-0.

Babcock implemented the plan, and the entire team shut up and did it.

Being between 2 dudes? Yup.
- 1979AD

Like a ghost?



For clarity, I'm patrick in this scenario. You all can be demi.
- bloatedmosquito

So you're about to die?

Sweet.








(You know I love you, Bloatsie, right?)