This draft-and-develop philosophy they are adopting has somehow been translated to most fans as "Tanking" when really, good drafting means all throughout the lineup, as well as acquiring extra picks through shrewd trading to increase the odds of finding NHL talent.

I am like you, and think they will be middle of the pack. I doubt they make playoffs, but can't see them finishing bottom 5 again. Maybe even outside the bottom 10, depending how much they buy in to what Babcock is selling
- TheThrill

i'll take bets with all of you

last year i went on a limb with the bottom 5 call...come on though, this year???? it's all but a certainty. in fact, the odds of them finishing outside the bottom 5 would be where the big money is.

.500 is horrible. the top line will be gone next year, and the guys you mentioned in Brown, Leipsic, Leivo will not come in and be instant stars. We are lucky to have 2 of the 3 even be full time NHLers over their career. Rielly and Gards are definately 1 year older...and so are other teams good young players.

it's common sense to know they will be horrible, if that's not enough, listen to shanny and babs 'hint' at the troubles coming our way.

i commend your optimism and hope for the best too...i just don't want to see you get your heartbroken. hasn't the last 10 years been bad enough?
- clark_griswold

.500 isn't 4th last.. Which means they'll be better.

Also people are ignoring that we now how who is widely considered the best coach on the planet. It'll make a huge difference. I never said that the farm guys will be stars, just more mature and can help full the void more effectively when called upon. Last season was a train wreck with controversy galore. That will be minimized with Babs behind the bench. Also I expect some free agents to be signed to help out.

I don't think they'll finish worse than 7th.. So yeah, they'll be better IMO.

4th line goon.

F-5 to John Scott.
- MCharisma91

babcock is coming in and throwing kessel and phaneuf head first into suplex city

i'll take bets with all of you

last year i went on a limb with the bottom 5 call...come on though, this year???? it's all but a certainty. in fact, the odds of them finishing outside the bottom 5 would be where the big money is.
- clark_griswold

I quickly skipped past your post, assuming you said something about a bottom 5 finish that you Nostradamus'd us with last summer and we have been lambasted with every (frank)ing day since.

I don't think they will. maybe they will, maybe they won't. I don't really care. I call a 10-20 finish. No, I don't bet, nor do I want to.

I'm out for the day, Cheers!

They were .500 when they fired Randy..

Brought in an idiot coach to tank. So adding Babcock immediately makes them better than when Carlyle was coaching. Also you can't expect the top line to perform as poorly as they did last year. The farm is also looking better with Leivo, Brown, Liepsic all being a year older. Rielly and Gard are maturing.

Also no Clarkson
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Over 500.

But that was because Carlyle was playing purely to their strengths, without doing anything to cover for their weaknesses, hence the losing streak that got him fired in the end.

Babcock is going to make them focus a lot more on defense. It won't be an immediate adjustment, and they'll probably struggle quite a bit with it. And that's assuming they don't trade Kessel and Phaneuf.

ok Puke Schenn. 4th Liner... I still hope he can be at least a 3rd liner.
- MCharisma91

Do you ever stop to wonder why people keep asking how old you are?

This draft-and-develop philosophy they are adopting has somehow been translated to most fans as "Tanking" when really, good drafting means all throughout the draft, every round, as well as acquiring extra picks through shrewd trading to increase the odds of finding NHL talent.

I am like you, and think they will be middle of the pack. I doubt they make playoffs, but can't see them finishing bottom 5 again. Maybe even outside the bottom 10, depending how much they buy in to what Babcock is selling
- TheThrill

Agreed..

(frank)ing negative people in here are addicted to suffering. They want the leafs to suck because they've grown accustomed to it..

.500 isn't 4th last.. Which means they'll be better.

Also people are ignoring that we now how who is widely considered the best coach on the planet. It'll make a huge difference. I never said that the farm guys will be stars, just more mature and can help full the void more effectively when called upon. Last season was a train wreck with controversy galore. That will be minimized with Babs behind the bench. Also I expect some free agents to be signed to help out.

I don't think they'll finish worse than 7th.. So yeah, they'll be better IMO.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

i wish you all the best. if you want to somehow bet, name it and i'm in. first of all the team will be barely recognizable come OCt. That's in fact your best bet however. as if they do bring back the same team, why expect anything different than the last 7 years?

I have nothing but respect for your optimism BTW.

I quickly skipped past your post, assuming you said something about a bottom 5 finish that you Nostradamus'd us with last summer and we have been lambasted with every (frank)ing day since.

I don't think they will. maybe they will, maybe they won't. I don't really care. I call a 10-20 finish. No, I don't bet, nor do I want to.

I'm out for the day, Cheers!
- TheThrill

sorry if i got called every name in the book and....was right. point is it has to be bottom 3 this year to count

.500 isn't 4th last.. Which means they'll be better.

Also people are ignoring that we now how who is widely considered the best coach on the planet. It'll make a huge difference. I never said that the farm guys will be stars, just more mature and can help full the void more effectively when called upon. Last season was a train wreck with controversy galore. That will be minimized with Babs behind the bench. Also I expect some free agents to be signed to help out.

I don't think they'll finish worse than 7th.. So yeah, they'll be better IMO.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I admire your optimism, if not your realism.
They have some good pieces but after watching the 4 semi finalists for the Cup the gap just seems so large and they have such a long way to go to be at that level it's a big reality check.

Do you ever stop to wonder why people keep asking how old you are?
- Schenn-Sational!

i assumed 1991?

Do you ever stop to wonder why people keep asking how old you are?
- Schenn-Sational!

do you ever stop to wonder why you always get banned and why people wonder why you're so annoying?

i assumed 1991?
- clark_griswold

24

Over 500.

But that was because Carlyle was playing purely to their strengths, without doing anything to cover for their weaknesses, hence the losing streak that got him fired in the end.

Babcock is going to make them focus a lot more on defense. It won't be an immediate adjustment, and they'll probably struggle quite a bit with it. And that's assuming they don't trade Kessel and Phaneuf.
- Schenn-Sational!

Maybe.. But I don't think it'll be as painful as some are saying. An if they do trade Kessel and Phaneuf it'll be to improve the team.

babcock is coming in and throwing kessel and phaneuf head first into suplex city


- clark_griswold

Heyman should be our assistant coach. He'll teach the Refs a lesson

So Bylsma in Buffalo and Deboer in SJ, eh.

do you ever stop to wonder why you always get banned and why people wonder why you're so annoying?
- MCharisma91

I don't actually get banned that often.


And no, I've got a pretty good idea.

i wish you all the best. if you want to somehow bet, name it and i'm in. first of all the team will be barely recognizable come OCt. That's in fact your best bet however. as if they do bring back the same team, why expect anything different than the last 7 years?

I have nothing but respect for your optimism BTW.
- clark_griswold

Thanks.

The biggest reason I think they'll be better is because of Babcock. He'll keep them focused on hockey and not all the other garbage that come with playing in Toronto.

So Bylsma in Buffalo and Deboer in SJ, eh.
- 1979AD

*shrugs*

Maybe.. But I don't think it'll be as painful as some are saying. An if they do trade Kessel and Phaneuf it'll be to improve the team.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

What trades do you see that'll improve the team nextv season?

We lose our top offensive piece and number 1 dman.

Unless we send more pieces with them, we're not going to get better players, and depth players without those guys drawing the tough shifts aren't going to do too well.

Thanks.

The biggest reason I think they'll be better is because of Babcock. He'll keep them focused on hockey and not all the other garbage that come with playing in Toronto.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

what about a city that worships players who simply made the conference finals over 20 years ago?

admit it - it's also the best place to win. city is passionate and it goes both ways.

A coach can only do so much. the wings barely made the playoffs, babcock isn't a God

*shrugs*
- BINGO!

yeah, pretty much.

i assumed 1991?
- clark_griswold

I'd wager somewhere in the early 2000s

I'd wager somewhere in the early 2000s
- Schenn-Sational!

give it a rest dude. Seriously.

give it a rest dude. Seriously.
- MCharisma91

Maybe think about how you respond to people going forward?