Yes we do. Most of the serious Leaf fans abandoned this site years ago. It has been left to the kool aid drinkers to pump the Leaf story as told by MLSE. You would think that they would give some credit for your loyalty but they just keep playing you as a sucker biting on their hook.
- spatso

No. I don't care about the Sens. Like I said, it's fun when we're ousting them from the playoffs, to taunt them. But we don't care.

It's just little man syndrome out of Sens fans.

There are few (Spezza, Karlsson, Michalek) on the roster right now, but lots of talent upcoming. I know it will take time and im fine with waiting. I think in 5 years when the glut of their current prosects are 23-26 they will be in contention for the cup.
- sens rock

A 40 point winger with no physical impact is not an impact player.

And, so what does that really mean. Nashville wanted to do a salary dump and the Leafs took on their excess baggage. A dump is a dump is a dump.
- spatso

And took a decent asset as incentive to take on that baggage. The best part is, that "baggage" is potentially starting to turn into a decent asset too.

A 40 point winger with no physical impact is not an impact player.
- prock

im not getting into the michalek thing again.

by that logic the leafs have no impact players either, and none in the pipeline.

I think if you check, not even the worst managed NHL teams spent anywhere near 5 years that far in the basement. I also think you have a very loose definition of "elite", if you're considering the Sens "an elite team for a very long time". They really didn't accomplish all that much. I think you could pretty easily name 8 to 10 teams over that period that did more.... 1/3 of the NHL. I'd say you most definitely have to be better than more than just a 1/3 of the NHL to be considered elite. Given there are 30 teams, I'd say it's a stretch to call any more than 5 teams "elite". And without a fraction of a second of doubt, that is not the Sens over that time period.

And Leaf fans don't give a shyt about the Sens. Sens fans are probably chomping at the bit to see if they can get some retribution for getting ousted from the playoffs 4 consecutive times, all of the series played between the two teams in history, but don't think Leaf fans care as much as you Sens fans. It's fun laughing at you, but nothing more.
- prock

Well if it makes you feel any better I was at the Corel Center cheering when Sundin started the role. You make a bad assumption when you try to characterize me as a huge Senators fan. You can go back as far as you want on this site and you will see that I have been solid in my support of the Leafs. I seldom criticize the players. My complaint is with MLSE, Burke and the overall strategy they have employed. Don't know how far you can get back but I think you will find that my support has been pretty steady. Also, you know that I have been very open in my admiration of the way that the Sens go about their business. I do like their front office.

im not getting into the michalek thing again.

by that logic the leafs have no impact players either, and none in the pipeline.
- sens rock

Ummm, no. 4 players scored more than Michalek last year. 5 of them scored at a better rate. All of those players have more to offer than Michalek.

Well if it makes you feel any better I was at the Corel Center cheering when Sundin started the role. You make a bad assumption when you try to characterize me as a huge Senators fan. You can go back as far as you want on this site and you will see that I have been solid in my support of the Leafs. I seldom criticize the players. My complaint is with MLSE, Burke and the overall strategy they have employed. Don't know how far you can get back but I think you will find that my support has been pretty steady. Also, you know that I have been very open in my admiration of the way that the Sens go about their business. I do like their front office.
- spatso

I've already told you, I don't really care about what Sens fans have to think.

I can't believe how stupid some people can be. How can people not piece together that they're going to have trouble, in part because of a massive Shea Weber salary.
- prock

A dump is a dump is a dump. When you need to do a dump you have to find a team that is willing to take what you want to get rid of. If any other team had taken those players Leaf fans would be saying exactly the same thing. But, some of you drink your kool aid and say the Leafs did a deal that everyone else would have wanted to do. Wrong!

A dump is a dump is a dump. When you need to do a dump you have to find a team that is willing to take what you want to get rid of. If any other team had taken those players Leaf fans would be saying exactly the same thing. But, some of you drink your kool aid and say the Leafs did a deal that everyone else would have wanted to do. Wrong!
- spatso

Look, it's your Sens fan little man syndrome jealousy coming out here. Go in Eklund's blog or something, and ask fans of other teams if they would have liked to have done that deal. I think you'll pretty quickly find that it's just the syndrome in you.

"Share" is a bit of a strong word to use. Hell, we could turn Sportsdesk off after the first 5 minutes of every telecast, and would probably make it through the entire year without seeing one Sens highlight, if it weren't for the 6 times they play each other.
- prock

Now your just sounding bitter.

Ummm, no. 4 players scored more than Michalek last year. 5 of them scored at a better rate. All of those players have more to offer than Michalek.
- prock

But, no NHL impact players on roster. It'll take longer than you think.
- prock

If the sens have none then neither do the leafs.

Now your just sounding bitter.
- spatso

Bitter about what? That's the truth. You seem to think that they're on the same channels, so Leaf fans are paying attention to what's going on in Ottawa.

The average viewer in Toronto turns the TV off after the Leaf highlights, which ALWAYS come first. The more serious fans watch the whole telecast, but while I can't speak for all, I can't remember the last time the Sens has come up in conversation. No more than any other NHL team, that much I can assure you.

Yes we do. Most of the serious Leaf fans abandoned this site years ago. It has been left to the kool aid drinkers to pump the Leaf story as told by MLSE. You would think that they would give some credit for your loyalty but they just keep playing you as a sucker biting on their hook.
- spatso

Yet every game at the ACC continues to sell-out and ratings are through the roof.

If the sens have none then neither do the leafs.
- sens rock

Whatever helps you sleep at night. Michalek is NOT an impact player. No more than say, Bozak.

And, so what does that really mean. Nashville wanted to do a salary dump and the Leafs took on their excess baggage. A dump is a dump is a dump.
- spatso

Leafs took money off their hands. That's what the deal was.

I want you to keep something in mind:

Luke Schenn 5th overall pick
Phil Kessel 5th overall pick
Tim Connolly 5th overall pick
Nazem Kadri 7th overall pick
Jeoffrey Lupul 7th overall pick
Dion Phaneuf 9th overall pick

Some of the better players on out team:

Nikolai Kulemin 44th overall pick
James Reimer 99th overall
Keith Aulie 116th overall
Mikhail Grabovski 150th overall pick

Yes we don't have any 1st overall picks, but you know what? only 1 team gets that a year.

We could tank, end up with 5 5th overall picks and end up int he exact same situation we are in now. You build a championship team through DEPTH Scouting (i.e. Kulemin, Reimer), smart trading (i.e. Lebda/career ECHLer for Franson/Lombardi ---- or Spare parts for Phaneuf/Aulie), a good coach (will come in when Wilson is fired), and a great system

Draft picks do not equal results. Smart management equals results. Burke is doing fine, and time will tell how it turns out. Stop losing faith.
- mfreedman

Burke came in saying he would build through the draft. He then dealt away three picks (Seguin, Knight and Hamilton). It was a huge mistake. Most Leaf fans admit it was a huge mistake. But, for some reason, their is a core of guys on this site who function as apologists for Burke trying to argue that everyone is fixed and they try and pretend that the deal did not set the franchise back by a bunch of years. I am a bit more irritated than usual. I attended four games this weekend of the prospects in Oshawa, I see the great kids that the Senators are putting together and it reminds of the mistakes the Leafs have made.

Never said they would not make the Bruins or Ducks. They are just so far behind other players on the depth charts of those teams that they are expendable. This is not rocket science. Teams that are deep in talent invariably will be required to offer up some good talent if the player has the ability to play in the NHL with another team. I think the point you make fails to recognize that all the teams have great scouting staff and they know their talent. If Anahiem gives up on a Gardiner they have a reason and you should not be so quick to assume that they made a bad choice or, even worse, the idea that Burke won another deal. The same thing probably applies to Franson. Nashville has done pretty good in making the right choice, why would you think that they suddenly got stupid? Franson might be a good player on the Leafs, he does not have a big role with the Preds if you look at their roster and some of the talent in their farm system. The fact that they have used the Leafs to leverage their own talent is good management on their part. The Leafs are able to do it because they do not have their own home grown talent competing for playing time.
- spatso

Anaheim got a player in Beauchemin they could have had for free 18 months earlier. Terrible trade. If the Leafs pulled that you'd be all over them.

Burke came in saying he would build through the draft. He then dealt away three picks (Seguin, Knight and Hamilton). It was a huge mistake. Most Leaf fans admit it was a huge mistake. But, for some reason, their is a core of guys on this site who function as apologists for Burke trying to argue that everyone is fixed and they try and pretend that the deal did not set the franchise back by a bunch of years. I am a bit more irritated than usual. I attended four games this weekend of the prospects in Oshawa, I see the great kids that the Senators are putting together and it reminds of the mistakes the Leafs have made.
- spatso

You're mad? The Leafs prospects have looked great.

But, no NHL impact players on roster. It'll take longer than you think.
- prock

I would guess that the Senators have at least seven players on their prospect team who have the potential to be impact players at the NHL level (top 6 skater, top 2 Dman, top goalie).

I would guess that the Senators have at least seven players on their prospect team who have the potential to be impact players at the NHL level (top 6 skater, top 2 Dman, top goalie).
- spatso

7? Names please.

No. I don't care about the Sens. Like I said, it's fun when we're ousting them from the playoffs, to taunt them. But we don't care.

It's just little man syndrome out of Sens fans.
- prock

Look I was there for all those games. It was a long time ago. Not many players are still in the league. I doubt that there is a single Leaf remaining on the roster. It makes us sound like old confederate soldiers sitting around waiting for the south to rise again.

Great signing by Burke.

Remember Fabian Brunnstrom? Point is, it doesn't always mean success translates to the NHl level.
- RogerRoeper

we have good history with the finns, even objective observers see Vatanens potential!

And took a decent asset as incentive to take on that baggage. The best part is, that "baggage" is potentially starting to turn into a decent asset too.
- prock

A dump is a dump is a dump. If you are receiving other people's dump it says something about the quality of your property.

He has played one season of 68 games and another of only 8. And his stats weren't anything to brag about. -11 on the Ducks?

Hardly puts him above the potential of Gardiner.
- RogerRoeper

and yet here you are, touting the greatness of a player, who you didn't know about 8 months ago, who has yet to play an NHL game

No. I don't care about the Sens. Like I said, it's fun when we're ousting them from the playoffs, to taunt them. But we don't care.

It's just little man syndrome out of Sens fans.
- prock