The Leafs have likely peaked and have no draft picks and very little in the minors.
The Thornton trade was a necessary ending of things. We had to break a cycle that was consistently screwing us over.
Now see, I see this and I see some good ideas, but I also see some of the flaws that have put the Leafs in this situation. Buying high on talent that's already established put the Leafs where they are right now. you guys are going to have to figure out how to score high value low cost talent if you want to get back on this particular horse. Especially with your farm system the way that it is.
Bringing in all the right pieces, similar to what you’ve outlined, that can also drive the team will take a grand slam to hit on them all.
They need the next Marchand, Bennett, etc. that are hungry to win and hate losing. When Dubas and Shanny signed Tavares and prematurely halted the rebuild without evaluating their needs, that’s when a lot of us realized the window may not open…… and they’ve been piecing together ever since.
Right, but here's the thing that gives me a bit of hope for you, Treliving has already found a couple of those guys. He's thinking the right way, he just needs to be allowed to do his thing without excessive meddling.
This is the mantra I keep repeating , get the next Bennett, Ekblad, Marchand, Wilson. Get the core to waive their nmc’s and trade for players who will grow into those mentioned above……..
Treliving has a history of moving the guys they need, not acquiring them. The guys he brought in are going to be a burden, in all likelihood, beginning this season and almost certainly next season.
I kept hoping there would be a window to win if they could acquire enough pieces, particularly at D. Last year I felt they were two or threes away, now I don’t think there is a window, unless Treliving et al hit an absolute bomb of grand slam.
Run it back because that’s worked soooooo well the last half DECADE. The very definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome. You want a President’s trophy, I want a cup……
Everything but the core has been changed so yeah get rid of the one consistent that results in playoff failure, move 34,16,91,88 and 44, that solves the playoff failure currently plaguing the team…….
I think ownership knows they’ve wasted years hoping the core would come through and that’s why Shanny was let go. The next question was is Treliving also responsible for the mess they’re in, with Marner walking for nothing and no first round picks for the next three drafts. And while MLSE was deciding on his and possibly Berube’s fate, Brad went back to Calgary for a few days and Pelley had dinner with Berube to suss him out. Now that the dust has settled, it was decided that Treliving was limited in his autonomy to make significant changes by Shanahan and they believe Berube’s style of play can help them contend for a cup. The problem is they’re not well set up for it because they wasted precious resources and opportunities (draft picks and moving players before NMC’s kicked in) while believing that the core group could get it done. I believe that Treliving knows what needs to be done but I don’t see how they can change the DNA of this team overnight. Sure, their goaltending and defense with a tweak or two are probably good enough but their forward group is a disaster. I think it will take at least two seasons moving players out, buyouts, forcing trades if possible and using their resources to sign the right UFAS to do what they should have done after losing to the Habs four years ago. Build a deeper, tougher, mentally stronger TEAM that doesn’t just rely on four players to score in big games and I think they will give Tre and Berube two seasons to get it done.
