I do see part of this guys concern, that the Leafs won't be bad enough to draft in the top 3 for a few years either because Bcock wants to hold on to one or a couple of these stiffs that should be traded or he'll just get players that are place holders to play above their heads when really it doesn't matter in the long run........... It's a valid concern for a fan.
- Mr_Smokey

Look. Where you draft matters sure. But what's the point if you bring those players into a losing invornment, being coached by a coach hired to lose. Development is as important as anything, which is something we have lacked for a long time. This move helps huge with that. We're already drafting high and have been for some years now. No need to freak out at all, IMO.

Lies bro lies. Just come out and admit you're him.
- systemtool

i wish i could for you...but apparently you are the only one who thinks that. i can't comment since i didn't read his stuff..i do remember his avatar as i used to read before i was a poster; but can't remember anything in particular

The Leafs will win a Cup in all your lifetimes now.
- BingoLady

At 26, most players, including goaltenders, are entering their prime and are/should be part of your core of young veterans.

There are few exceptions but most players will not improve much more after this.
- Scabeh

Not true with goalies and d-men.

So we bought Babcock. Idc how we did it. Good on the Leafs. Still make the trades though for gods sake.
- iTOLDu

- Aetherial

Well you're old so...

i wish i could for you...but apparently you are the only one who thinks that. i can't comment since i didn't read his stuff..i do remember his avatar as i used to read before i was a poster; but can't remember anything in particular
- clark_griswold

I'm convinced!

Yeah, to the teams that can find them. But have the Leafs been one of those teams that can find them? Do they have people on staff who have proven they can find them? I don't see any on the way, do you?
- JohnFergusonJr

You also brought up Stamkos but he isn't doing poop right now, and the no names undrafted guys are, but they were developed properly, as was Lidstrom and the Detroiit guys, they were not 18 year olds, so the club should be more worried about how they develop IMO...

Yeah, to the teams that can find them. But have the Leafs been one of those teams that can find them? Do they have people on staff who have proven they can find them? I don't see any on the way, do you?
- JohnFergusonJr

Brown's looking pretty damn good. Johnson too. Both were fairly late picks

Bibeau looks like he could be a good goalie, Sparks too. Both late picks.

They were also drafted within the last 3 years, which isn't at all enough time to fully evaluate, but just enough to show that your notion of having no draft capabilities and therefore needing to tank is 100% asinine.

Still wrong, dude.

Leafs fans are known to be patient and take it easy on the coach
- Symba007

Carey Price is a Rookie?

Crosby? Toews? Kane? Stamkos?

All rookies?
- Pecafan Fan

There's room between rookie and seasoned vet, mr. false dichotomy, and it doesn't have to do only with age.

Call me a blue Kool-aid chugger, but I still think Kadri can be a player.

He pisses me off for 99% of the game, and then I see him do one little thing and I think that he could be an elite.

Of course, I said the same thing about Alyn McCauley...
- Atomic Wedgie

well the 2002 playoffs were good...

Leafs hired Babcock! Did you hear?!? WOOOOO HOOOOO...

Yeah, to the teams that can find them. But have the Leafs been one of those teams that can find them? Do they have people on staff who have proven they can find them? I don't see any on the way, do you?
- JohnFergusonJr

I think that whatever Shanahan thought of Kessel and Phaneuf yesterday is still what holds.

I haven't peeked inside the Shanabinder, but I'm guessing hiring Babcock doesn't alter it.

So when does MLSE raise the price on ticket and concessions at the ACC?

I think that whatever Shanahan thought of Kessel and Phaneuf yesterday is still what holds.

I haven't peeked inside the Shanabinder, but I'm guessing hiring Babcock doesn't alter it.
- Atomic Wedgie

Why can't you guys just understand Babs was brought in to ruin the Leafs?...

So when does MLSE raise the price on ticket and concessions at the ACC?
- zazzle

Bab dogs?...

Leafs hired Babcock! Did you hear?!? WOOOOO HOOOOO...


- Deeps27

Heart wrenching cinema

It's simple really. Do you really think Babcock wants to coach a bottom five team for the next two or three years by getting rid of all the talent he has on the team? Or do you think he's going to keep most of the core guys because he believes his coaching abilities can improve their play?

I'd love to see Kessel and Phaneuf and the rest of the guys get moved but I see the odds of that happening going down.
- JohnFergusonJr

safe to say he knows a winning pedigree and doesn't see it in 3 and 81. that's why i loved the shanny hire - a player who knows how to win and recognizes losers.

he will take the draft/develop theory that worked in detroit all day over a rush job that has franked the leafs for decades. $6 mil will keep him happy.

well the 2002 playoffs were good...
- clark_griswold

Did you see they're rebooting the vacation movies? Rustys taking his kids to wally world, gonna be fun times

big (frank)ing deal. We have Rielly, Nylander, this year's 4th overall pick.

How (frank)ing many top 5 picks are necessary before you start to build depth in later rounds?

The whole tank = success argument is just (frank)ed
- TheThrill

The Leafs have a promising but still developing D entering his 3rd year, 1 top prospect and another soon to be top prospect...... That's it bud.....

Why can't you guys just understand Babs was brought in to ruin the Leafs?...
- aminnes

How dare they bring in a coach who likes winning!

Brown's looking pretty damn good. Johnson too. Both were fairly late picks

Bibeau looks like he could be a good goalie, Sparks too. Both late picks.

They were also drafted within the last 3 years, which isn't at all enough time to fully evaluate, but just enough to show that your notion of having no draft capabilities and therefore needing to tank is 100% asinine.

Still wrong, dude.
- TheThrill

He may be wrong about draft picks, but he still has direct intimate knowledge of Mike Babcock's deepest thoughts, feelings, and concerns. In short, the things that make Mike Babcock, Mike Babcock, and we can never take that away from him.

So when does MLSE raise the price on ticket and concessions at the ACC?
- zazzle

Who cares. Going to games is for the birds. I pass, even on free tickets. (frank) that noise. I hope they do raise it so they can keep spending.

There's room between rookie and seasoned vet, mr. false dichotomy.
- Feeling Glucky?

http://www.quanthockey.com/TS/TS_AverageAge.php

In 2014-2015, the average age was around 27. Pretty safe to say that at 26, you're no longer a rookie.