38 replies to this topic

[Kadrix43]

The title says it all... 1 loss and we have our future # 1 center, probably Galchenyuk, maybe Grigorenko, but if we lose and the Isles win we get the fourth last spot. Even if we both lose we get the 5th spot... But we NEED to lose otherwise we most likely wont get the # 1 center in the draft... The center we are all looking for is 1 loss away... This game is as important as any. WHERES TOSKALA??? Get him in our net!

[youngbud]

It just boggles my mind how leaf fans think. They don't win they are not playing well enough for you you want to trade phil kessel and his mother for rick nash and other saviors. Then they lose and fall down near the bottom of the barrel and you WANT them to actually lose so they can get a better draft pick?

I mean make up your bloody mind. You get pissed off at them and boo them because they are not winning and "not trying hard enough" which means you want them to win, and then when they do crap out you just want to throw more dirt on them, or you want them to lose and tank....and humiliate themselves more? What kind of team goes out on the ice as professionals and conspires to lose...or decides...well the fans want us to lose so let's give them what they want?

I can't believe it has come to this. I can't believe I am living with a generation of leaf fans that thinks its okay for their team to lose if it means they can instant gratification by winning some dumb *** draft lottery...good lord. It's a team game for god sakes. not a one man show-off competition. You want to know why we are not winning enough? Not because kessel, lupul, grabs, and guys like that are not good enough it's because we need EVERYONE pulling their weight not just 3 or 4 guys a game.

But to actually be glad that your team is losing? To want to wimp out and take the easy way out....by drafting? I'm sorry that is just despicable. Where is the honor in that?

[Russell_23]

.. I agree fully YB... this idea of tank for a better pick is noncense.... even if we get the 5th spot its only 8% that we would get the #1 pick... and is there that much difference between a 5th pick and a 6th..... what does it matter anyway... the same ppl on this site that are wishing for a loss will be the same ones grippin about whatever pick Burke makes it won't be good enough it will be the wrong one, regardless of who he trades for they will be the wrong one, or we gave up too much for them.... or who we trade away will be the wrong ones and we should have kept them.... It really won't matter what Burke does or does not do.... there will be those who will just have to dump on it.... the true and real Leaf fans know who we/they are that really is all that matters....

[MaximumTaco]

It's the Habs. I want to beat them, to humiliate them. To blow them out 7, 8, 9 to nothing in their final home game of the season.

If we lose I can take solace in the draft pick being a top 5 (or top 4) lottery pick. But I want to beat the Habs.

[H-B-C-Y-G]

If we get any one of Galchenyuk, Forsberg, or maybe Faksa, I'll be happy.

[oldmanleafer]

I agree with Taco, lets kick the Habs arses , Kessel with a hattie, Scrivens with the shutout

[youngbud]

Thanks russ. When you consider that its montreal this game should bring out in the best in us and in them too...it should be an emotional and up tempo game...i for one expect a hard fought match-up. That's the way you want to go out, swinging! Win or lose (preferably win) I will be proud of our guy if they just go out there play there game and give us everything we want to see. No more or less.....lay it all on the line and give it all you game. Let them say this game is meaningless...give the fans something to be proud of.

[mapplebeck66]

It just boggles my mind how leaf fans think. They don't win they are not playing well enough for you you want to trade phil kessel and his mother for rick nash and other saviors. Then they lose and fall down near the bottom of the barrel and you WANT them to actually lose so they can get a better draft pick?

I mean make up your bloody mind. You get pissed off at them and boo them because they are not winning and "not trying hard enough" which means you want them to win, and then when they do crap out you just want to throw more dirt on them, or you want them to lose and tank....and humiliate themselves more? What kind of team goes out on the ice as professionals and conspires to lose...or decides...well the fans want us to lose so let's give them what they want?

I can't believe it has come to this. I can't believe I am living with a generation of leaf fans that thinks its okay for their team to lose if it means they can instant gratification by winning some dumb *** draft lottery...good lord. It's a team game for god sakes. not a one man show-off competition. You want to know why we are not winning enough? Not because kessel, lupul, grabs, and guys like that are not good enough it's because we need EVERYONE pulling their weight not just 3 or 4 guys a game.

But to actually be glad that your team is losing? To want to wimp out and take the easy way out....by drafting? I'm sorry that is just despicable. Where is the honor in that?

Youngbud, you really exemplify the mindset of all the fans last night.

[mapplebeck66]

The title says it all... 1 loss and we have our future # 1 center, probably Galchenyuk, maybe Grigorenko, but if we lose and the Isles win we get the fourth last spot. Even if we both lose we get the 5th spot... But we NEED to lose otherwise we most likely wont get the # 1 center in the draft... The center we are all looking for is 1 loss away... This game is as important as any. WHERES TOSKALA??? Get him in our net!

It just goes to show you how many idiot leaf fans there are who still want to win when it means getting a worse pick. Un friggin believable! Ya lets win now so we get a worse pick!. Thiink about it you meat heads. The reason leaf fans don't get it about getting a top five pick is because we have only had one in the past what 20 friggin years. I agree 100% with you Kadrix it is an important game and also important to lose it. Don't let the throng of morons make you think otherwise either. Real leaf fans are in your corner on this one brother. Good logic, unlike so many on this site.

Ask Chicago or Pittsburg or Washington how important it is to pick in the top four or five.

[Euronuck]

For every Chicago, Pittsburgh or Washington you have an Atlanta(Winnipeg), Columbus, Minnesota, Islanders, Oilers.

I will say this before someone says the Oilers are doing it right. Well look at the majority of top drafted players they have had that ended up leaving as soon as they could.

[sluggo]

For every Chicago, Pittsburgh or Washington you have an Atlanta(Winnipeg), Columbus, Minnesota, Islanders, Oilers.

I will say this before someone says the Oilers are doing it right. Well look at the majority of top drafted players they have had that ended up leaving as soon as they could.

Your comment are very misleading. The islanders and oiler are still rebuilding. It would be like saying the penguins rebuild failed the before they made the playoffs. Second you mentioned he thrashers and wild, who have done exactly what many want the leafs to do. They are teams that has 1 maybe 2 early picks, then got some veterans and tried to win instead of rebuilding.

The point is not that every team that rebuilds with early picks wins the cup. However the vast majority of teams that win the cup are built the same way. Not evey team that rebuilds wins......well hardly any teams that don't rebuild with early picks win

[Euronuck]

Alright now I'm confused, you keep saying you wanted Burke to do a rebuild by obtaining picks but now admit that not every winner is built in this way?

The last time Detroit picked in the top 5 was back in 1990 and then a top 10 in 91. The rest were 20-30 or no 1st round picks at all.

Then let's look at our recent cup winner Boston, only due to our trade they have had that 1st and then Kessel. The majority of that core is based around 2nd round picks and a few key ufa signings or trades.

Pittsburgh while having it's high picks also needed trades and ufa signings in order to win it's cup the same can be said for Chicago.

It took the Pens and Hawks 4-5 years after picking those top players to win the cup but still needed to acquire the talent via trade or signings to reach that goal. Some players didn't work see Hossa in Pittsburgh and thus another option was looked into in order to acheive that final goal.

Also the one thing that rings true is that once the playoffs start it realy can be anyones game. It is in no way like the NBA where the top seeds are basically going to steamroll the lower seeds. So many factors come in to play.

I am still trying to comprehend just what your answer is to make the Toronto Maple Leafs a Stanley Cup winner?

[sluggo]

Alright now I'm confused, you keep saying you wanted Burke to do a rebuild by obtaining picks but now admit that not every winner is built in this way?

The last time Detroit picked in the top 5 was back in 1990 and then a top 10 in 91. The rest were 20-30 or no 1st round picks at all.

Then let's look at our recent cup winner Boston, only due to our trade they have had that 1st and then Kessel. The majority of that core is based around 2nd round picks and a few key ufa signings or trades.

Pittsburgh while having it's high picks also needed trades and ufa signings in order to win it's cup the same can be said for Chicago.

It took the Pens and Hawks 4-5 years after picking those top players to win the cup but still needed to acquire the talent via trade or signings to reach that goal. Some players didn't work see Hossa in Pittsburgh and thus another option was looked into in order to acheive that final goal.

Also the one thing that rings true is that once the playoffs start it realy can be anyones game. It is in no way like the NBA where the top seeds are basically going to steamroll the lower seeds. So many factors come in to play.

I am still trying to comprehend just what your answer is to make the Toronto Maple Leafs a Stanley Cup winner?

I've neve said every winner is built that way because that's not true but the vast majority of winners are built that way.

The red wings for lucky with with two late round picks which has kept them competitive (though they have only won 1 cup without their early picks franchise center man). But they ate built the excate same way, they just got those franchise players with later picks.

I've also never said all that's needed is early picks, in fact I've said the opposite.

How many times has the 8 or 7 seed won the Stanley cup?

The most important part of building a winner is the core and elite players that makeup that core, and early picks are pretty much needed to build those cores. The penguins cans bring in whatever supporting players they want, do they win anything without Crosby, malkin, and fleury..... The leafs don't that that core and franchise talent.

[youngbud]

How many times do I have to try and tell some of ya guys, that the draft is all about drafting SMART not WHERE or WHEN you draft it is about WHO you draft, and HOW you decide to implement that talent into your roster!
You don't have to draft high if you know already what your team needs. There are lots of players that have been picked surprisingly outside of the first round let alone top ten that have done very very well.

Henry Lundqvist is not a first round pick
Zetterberg is not a first round pick
Tim Thomas I don't even remember him being drafted to be honest.
Detroit does not have a whole bunch of 1st rounders, ditto boston.
After crosby and malkin who do pittsburgh have that is a first overall or first round pick?

I guess what I'm trying to say is there is no right or wrong way to build the team. All that matters is if the pieces fit together and it leads you to something great. First round picks and good picks are nice to have, but its not the ONLY way to build a team and it does not ALWAYS work out. Just ask the leafs lately.

Tlusty: First rounder 13th overall, then there was Steen, Stajan, Coliacovo, Wellwood, Antropov, Newburry, Williams, Mitchell, Earl, Staalberg, Straalman. How well did that work out for us? All drafted in the first or second round if I remember right.

All you have to do is develop players properly and make the right fits with some trades that pay off. Not every trade burke has made work out but that's why you go back to the ol drawing board anyhow. We are making strides, the marlies are a strong team now that is just one key component in development. Chin up, things are going to get better in leaf-land.

[racer888]

I agree about the drafting smart but i just don't see many examples of the leafs drafting smart the last 7 years and their record of developing players is less then ideal. I do not have a lot of faith left in Burke and staff to do either of these things right. way to many mistakes compared to success's

[oldmanleafer]

The most important part of building a winner is the core and elite players that makeup that core, and early picks are pretty much needed to build those cores. The penguins cans bring in whatever supporting players they want, do they win anything without Crosby, malkin, any..... d fleurThe leafs don't that that core and franchise talent.

For the Leafs to obtain the players you mentioned are YOU prepared to have the Leafs suck ( I mean Columbus like suck ) for three consecutive years. I really don't know if anyone on here is prepared for that.

[racer888]

[/b]
For the Leafs to obtain the players you mentioned are YOU prepared to have the Leafs suck ( I mean Columbus like suck ) for three consecutive years. I really don't know if anyone on here is prepared for that.

It's not like they havn't sucked for the last 7 years so how would we notice the difference. LOL hahah

[oldmanleafer]

It's not like they havn't sucked for the last 7 years so how would we notice the difference. LOL hahah

Hey buddy I mean being out of contention by the all star break, that kind of suckage. And I know you would notice the difference

[RPaj]

I'm a Kessel supporter, I don't want him out of town, just getting it out there.

However, a win this late in the season does nothing, and I mean nothing for me. What do I care if the Leafs win their last 2 games of the season? am I supposed to feel better for next season, or will it somehow diminish how I felt about this collapse? NOPE!

Getting a better pick will make the team better, and at this point, I want a better pick. If we win, we have a chance to fall down to the 8th or 9th pick if other teams lose, that will significantly lower the chances we get the player we need, or want. I know the lottery chances are 8%, but thats pointless to me too at this point. I just want the best possible pick, if we get lucky and move up a few spots like NJ did, or some other teams in the past, great...if not..oh well.. I still want to be starting out with the 5th pick.

The fact that some people would rather win, because they think its a confidence booster going into next season are the ones needed to be questioned. Winning the two final games of a season does nothing for the club going into next season, you think they will remember what happened in the final game? nope. They will remember the collapse they had, and the great first half of the season, nothing else.

TANK TANK TANK!

[Early90sLeafs]

It just goes to show you how many idiot leaf fans there are who still want to win when it means getting a worse pick. Un friggin believable! Ya lets win now so we get a worse pick!. Thiink about it you meat heads. The reason leaf fans don't get it about getting a top five pick is because we have only had one in the past what 20 friggin years. I agree 100% with you Kadrix it is an important game and also important to lose it. Don't let the throng of morons make you think otherwise either. Real leaf fans are in your corner on this one brother. Good logic, unlike so many on this site.

Ask Chicago or Pittsburg or Washington how important it is to pick in the top four or five.

I couldn't agree more. Sure, a win is always nice, and I don't think anyone is suggesting the Leafs actually throw the game, but the simple fact is the Leafs would be in a better position with a loss. It's fine to cheer for the Leafs to win, but it's also fine to cheer for the loss because that's the equivalent of cheering for them to be in a better situation. A win really does nothing and certainly doesn't make the season any less embarrassing.

How many times do I have to try and tell some of ya guys, that the draft is all about drafting SMART not WHERE or WHEN you draft it is about WHO you draft, and HOW you decide to implement that talent into your roster!
You don't have to draft high if you know already what your team needs. There are lots of players that have been picked surprisingly outside of the first round let alone top ten that have done very very well.

Henry Lundqvist is not a first round pick
Zetterberg is not a first round pick
Tim Thomas I don't even remember him being drafted to be honest.
Detroit does not have a whole bunch of 1st rounders, ditto boston.
After crosby and malkin who do pittsburgh have that is a first overall or first round pick?

I guess what I'm trying to say is there is no right or wrong way to build the team. All that matters is if the pieces fit together and it leads you to something great. First round picks and good picks are nice to have, but its not the ONLY way to build a team and it does not ALWAYS work out. Just ask the leafs lately.

Tlusty: First rounder 13th overall, then there was Steen, Stajan, Coliacovo, Wellwood, Antropov, Newburry, Williams, Mitchell, Earl, Staalberg, Straalman. How well did that work out for us? All drafted in the first or second round if I remember right.

All you have to do is develop players properly and make the right fits with some trades that pay off. Not every trade burke has made work out but that's why you go back to the ol drawing board anyhow. We are making strides, the marlies are a strong team now that is just one key component in development. Chin up, things are going to get better in leaf-land.

I like the optimism and agree with it near the end. However, the draft position really DOES matter. In fact, it matters incrementally more and more the closer you are to the first pick. The year Crosby was drafted, there was a huge difference between first and second choice, and drafting skills had nothing to do with it. The first pick this year also has what will likely be a great reward, but one that takes little drafting skills to pull off. But the further down we go, say 28th pick versus 29th pick, there are too many variables about who teams will have chosen by then, and the difference of one spot is more or less negligible. So with the leafs having a potential 4th or 5th pick, that one place difference really does mean quite a bit (not to mention the fact that a bottom 5 finish gives us an outside chance at Nail, and I would think you were pretty stupid if you didn't want an 8% shot at getting him).