Future of the team is incredibly bleak

[stats1]

Also I’ll add another reason prople are so bleak with the future of this team isn’t necessarily the draft picks we’ve given up it’s that we haven’t even made a conference final. Like if we made the ECF or the SCF I guarantee people on here wouldn’t be talking about how bleak things are. The conversation would be what are we going to do to get over the hump. But we can’t even get close to talking about that.

You think people are talking about how bleak the future is in Edmonton? No they’re upset about their current season but also talking about how to get back to the SCF

 

[Nineteen67]

If you’re going to hire a rookie first time GM, it needs to be someone with experience and knowledge about hockey like Steve Yzerman, Joe Sakic or even Rob Blake. Not some gimp kid with ZERO hockey experience.

No GM in the history of hockey has ever done LESS with MORE than Dumbass did.

Imagine having Matthews, Marner and Nylander all on ELCs with a ton of cap space and all their draft picks in hand.

What a waste of five years that was.

With 100 yrs of history to review, one can easily build a template of what’s needed to win a Cup and then start the more difficult task of acquiring the pieces to fill the template.
Shanahan and Dubas decided to break the template and said that the old way of winning a Cup was gone and they were ushering in this new way with speed, possession and softness. They embarrassed the franchise and thankfully it didn’t work. Me, I’d rather watch Sam Bennett crack Marchand in the jaw and both players say it’s part of competition, than watch Willy Nylander give up against McDonagh in a game 7.

When they realised their mistake they had already spent too many years and too many assets.

 

[Evilhomer]

Let's talk last week of April

I think it will make more sense to talk at the end of May when the Leafs are in the conference final.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I think it will make more sense to talk at the end of May when the Leafs are in the conference final.

I hope you are right homer, I really really do. I will easily accept a bleak future for a nice cup run.

The problem is not even making it to the final 4 in 10 years of "contending", staring down massive raises due to the core who might not even stay, with almost no notable prospects and no high draft picks for the next few years.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Nice streak to stay within striking distance of the Division title, but as far as I’m concerned that’s the bear minimum of what this group should be doing and should accomplish. This team still needs to go on a run in the playoffs given the age of this roster and all the futures we’ve sent out the door.

Judgement is still reserved depending on the postseason. We’re one first round exit away from seeing the core dismantled (due to pending free agency, nothing proactive from this franchise of course) and having gigantic question marks going into next season and beyond.

I really would rather this team goes deep into the playoffs (hell win the whole thing why don’t they) than see everything crumble and potentially entering another dark age.

 

[Evilhomer]

I hope you are right homer, I really really do. I will easily accept a bleak future for a nice cup run.

The problem is not even making it to the final 4 in 10 years of "contending", staring down massive raises due to the core who might not even stay, with almost no notable prospects and no high draft picks for the next few years.

We won't be having this conversation in late May because this thread will have long disappeared by then. You're going to get your nice Cup run this season for the same reason I've said over and over - the rest of the conference has been watered down to the point that the Leafs are now the most likely to win it. The last straw was the Panthers losing Tkachuk. I think we will see a Toronto/Carolina conference final, with the Leafs winning that series in 6 or 7 games.

 

[Da Mash]

A run in playoffs means nothing. So many get caught up with the players winning a series or 3.

The run is good for the fans to cheer and the owners to make money but in reality it does nothing for the players. They want to win Lord Stanley.

We made icons of former leafs who won nothing. If we beat Tampa and then say Florida is next and beat them but then get swept by Washington….how is that an accomplishment for the players?

Like McDavid said….losing in the finals is a big disappointment as the goal is to win the cup. Do they get a pass now because they made it and fans can build statues of McDavid and hyman etc?

 

[HockeyVirus]

A run in playoffs means nothing. So many get caught up with the players winning a series or 3.

The run is good for the fans to cheer and the owners to make money but in reality it does nothing for the players. They want to win Lord Stanley.

We made icons of former leafs who won nothing. If we beat Tampa and then say Florida is next and beat them but then get swept by Washington….how is that an accomplishment for the players?

Like McDavid said….losing in the finals is a big disappointment as the goal is to win the cup. Do they get a pass now because they made it and fans can build statues of McDavid and hyman etc?

Strongly disagree. The difference ending this era with a trip to the finals but not winning the cup while still a failure, is far better legacy than not being able to escape round 1.

 

[Da Mash]

Strongly disagree. The difference ending this era with a trip to the finals but not winning the cup while still a failure, is far better legacy than not being able to escape round 1.

Means nothing to the players. We had no cap and had no idea how much Clark or Gilly salaries were and didn’t care. Now we whine and complain about players salaries because they can’t win a series or two.

The Bruins won a cup in 2011 …had one of the best teams with HOF players and have won squat since. Do you think those players are satisfied winning a few series?

 

[thusk]

Do you want to have a good list of prospect or a good team? Personally i never saw a list of prospect winning anything.

This year 1st pick and next year 2nd pick for the player who's actually leafs #1 D

They traded next year 1st pick and Minten who's a potantial pretty 3C of futur for a Solid top 4 RHD who wqs looking for 10 years at 3,5M/ next 3 ...

Leafs got 100% of get 2 solid top 4 dman and good solid player to step so i don't know why we should be mad because they gave pick who having 23% to give something as good, 2 or less% to give something better and 75% to give something just worst or a bust...

What Brisebois said after his blockbuster trade is 100% what it should be

“I'd rather have a lineup full of good players than a bank of a ton of draft picks. Because I think ultimately, what we're trying to do is win hockey games. We want to win a lot of hockey games this season, next season, every season. We're chasing a championship now this season, but we're going to be chasing a championship next season and for the foreseeable future,” BriseBois said.

"So, if I can use those picks to help me accomplish those objectives of winning as many hockey games as possible and chasing championships, I think that's my job to go ahead and get those transactions done and acquire those players."

 

[Gary Nylund]

Means nothing to the players. We had no cap and had no idea how much Clark or Gilly salaries were and didn’t care. Now we whine and complain about players salaries because they can’t win a series or two.

The Bruins won a cup in 2011 …had one of the best teams with HOF players and have won squat since. Do you think those players are satisfied winning a few series?

I think their fans have had a lot more enjoyment/excitement watching their team in the playoffs than we have. They haven't won the cup but they've done a lot more winning than we have and I wouldn't dismiss everything they've accomplished as "have won squat".

I've never agreed with this "win the cup or it means nothing" POV. Every game means something, especially to those buying tickets, but also guys like me who mostly watch on TV. And every playoff game means a lot more than every regular season game, for me there's nothing in sports that's as exciting as watching my team in the playoffs and the more they win, the more games we get to watch, and the more enjoyment/excitement we get. Winning the cup is the goal, but the closer you get the better.

 

[Confucius]

We won't be having this conversation in late May because this thread will have long disappeared by then. You're going to get your nice Cup run this season for the same reason I've said over and over - the rest of the conference has been watered down to the point that the Leafs are now the most likely to win it. The last straw was the Panthers losing Tkachuk. I think we will see a Toronto/Carolina conference final, with the Leafs winning that series in 6 or 7 games.

Yeah, yeah, you also predicted Tampa and Panthers would lose yesterday. How’d that play out?

 

[Evilhomer]

Yeah, yeah, you also predicted Tampa and Panthers would lose yesterday. How’d that play out?

It worked out okay because they both lost ground to the Leafs on regulation wins. The reason the Leafs will win the division is simply because of their schedule.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

You may be right, they haven’t done a proper rebuild since the Sundin, so why would they do one now.

Yes let's do a "proper rebuild."

Then we can be just like Buffalo and Detroit, and Chicago.

One team is about to miss the playoffs for 14th straight year, with no end in sight, and that drought includes a year where 24 teams made the playoffs.

Fun fact the Buffalo Sabres are tied with the New York Jets for the longest playoff drought in North American sports let's be like them!!.

The second is about to miss the playoffs for the 9th straight season, again with no end in sight, and again this drought includes a year where 24 teams made the playoffs, let's be like them!!.

The BlackHawks are going to miss the playoffs for a 5th straight season, again with no end in sight and the ONLY reason the drought isn't longer is because they actually did make the 24 team year.

But it took 24 teams making the playoffs for them to get in otherwise they wouldn't have even been close.

I mean sure those teams suck and are going to for years to come but look at those elite prospect pools, nevermind that those prospects never develop into shit let's be like them!!

No thanks, not really interested in a 10+ year rebuild just so fans can ohhh and ahhh and a prospect pool and talk about our bright future.

 

[Nineteen67]

Yes let's do a "proper rebuild."

Then we can be just like Buffalo and Detroit, and Chicago.

One team is about to miss the playoffs for 14th straight year, with no end in sight, and that drought includes a year where 24 teams made the playoffs.

Fun fact the Buffalo Sabres are tied with the New York Jets for the longest playoff drought in North American sports let's be like them!!.

The second is about to miss the playoffs for the 9th straight season, again with no end in sight, and again this drought includes a year where 24 teams made the playoffs, let's be like them!!.

The BlackHawks are going to miss the playoffs for a 5th straight season, again with no end in sight and the ONLY reason the drought isn't longer is because they actually did make the 24 team year.

But it took 24 teams making the playoffs for them to get in otherwise they wouldn't have even been close.

I mean sure those teams suck and are going to for years to come but look at those elite prospect pools, nevermind that those prospects never develop into shit let's be like them!!

No thanks, not really interested in a 10+ year rebuild just so fans can ohhh and ahhh and a prospect pool and talk about our bright future.

I can’t get past the fact you think Buffalo and Detroit did/doing a proper rebuild? Tell us how you think Buffalo has done a good job on their rebuilds?

 

[Ianturnedbull]

It's ok. Back in the 70's people paid big $$$$ to hate & boo pro wrestlers. They would even bring battery acid to dump on a heel they hated. This is just the new version of that. Waste hours and money self-hating, or trying to prove to the world that the team they cheer for owes them something. It's exhausting.

 

[ACC1224]

There is no such thing as a 'proper rebuild', it's just a rebuild.
Some are successful, some aren't. Success can have many different measures.
There is no fool proof, one way to do things in sports.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Let's be real here. We have arguably 2 prospects of any note in Cowan and maybe Danford neither move the needle. We have no draft picks because we traded them all at the TDL. 2 of our 4 core pieces are UFAs and likely to walk for nothing. We have no #1 dman, hell no #2 dman.

We have NO future. The only possible move this offseason is to throw money around in free agency. For any long time fans, we've seen this story before. We will end up paying players like Komaserk, Lombardi, Armstrong, Connolly, Clarkson, etc big money in free agency and be trash but with a cap strapped team.

There is a very real chance we have gifted Bruins another top 10 draft pick. I am nearing my breaking point with this team.

So then you believe that Matthews, Nylander, Knies, Tavares because chances are Tavares will be back, Domi, McMann, Rielly, Carlo, OEL, Tanev, McCabe, Woll AND Stolarz.

Are ALL going to suffer season and/or career ending injury.

That is what you are predicting because that is the ONLY way your doomsday scenario happens.

Even if it did that would be enough to drop them into the bottom 5 in which case the pick is kept.

And it doesn't slide to 2027, it can't that belongs to Philadelphia and that pick is top 10 protected so I'm not actually sure what happens if the 2026 pick somehow is top 5.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I can’t get past the fact you think Buffalo and Detroit did/doing a proper rebuild? Tell us how you think Buffalo has done a good job on their rebuilds?

You are a calling for a tear it to the studs rebuild.

My point is if you do that that's what you become.

You become Buffalo

You become Detroit

You become Chicago.

But get to look at a nice shiny "elite prospect pool."

and you get seen as having a "bright future."

but nothing ever comes of it.

No thanks not interested in a 10+ year rebuild

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

It's ok. Back in the 70's people paid big $$$$ to hate & boo pro wrestlers. They would even bring battery acid to dump on a heel they hated. This is just the new version of that. Waste hours and money self-hating, or trying to prove to the world that the team they cheer for owes them something. It's exhausting.

People still spend big money on pro wrestling.

 

[ACC1224]

You are a calling for a tear it to the studs rebuild.

My point is if you do that that's what you become.

You become Buffalo

You become Detroit

You become Chicago.

But get to look at a nice shiny "elite prospect pool."

and you get seen as having a "bright future."

but nothing ever comes of it.

No thanks not interested in a 10+ year rebuild

Leafs already did that, bottomed out and drafted Nylander/Marner/Matthews

 

[tmlms13]

Strongly disagree. The difference ending this era with a trip to the finals but not winning the cup while still a failure, is far better legacy than not being able to escape round 1.

Unless it's to Edmonton, if the Leafs lose in the SCF this group will probably have their own bench on Legends Row, with probably 5 statues.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Leafs already did that, bottomed out and drafted Nylander/Marner/Matthews

That's only true for Matthews.

They weren't trying to suck when they drafted Nylander, they made the playoffs the year before they were trying to win that's why they gave David Clarkson ALL the money.

Same goes for the year they drafted Marner, the off season before that they had acquired Dave Bolland, and Mason Raymond.

The ONLY year where they intended to suck was the year they drafted Matthews.

Beyond him there was no intentional tank they just sucked.

 

[Leafsfan74]

The Leafs had to go for it every year the second they signed Tavares. That off-season they were flush with draft picks and cap space coming off their first playoff experience in the core 3 era… what does Dubas do?? He completely skips major steps in the rebuild, gives Tavares 11 million a year for 7 years and the second that happened it was win now mode. If they don’t sign Tavares they more than likely go another couple of years of developing the core, we get another couple of years of draft picks in the system and we still have major cap space… we’ve been chasing our tails since Tavares signed. Once again the blame falls on wonder kid Dubas who ironically was the one who promoted being patient but didn’t have any self control.

But I mean we can get upset and all this stuff but nothing can really change the plan now. It’s win now mode until they either win a cup or have to blow it up and start over.

I hate the Habs but Kent Hughes is doing it perfectly in Montreal. Making small upward strides while still hoarding draft picks and not getting tempted in free agency

Yes, I never understood the Tavares signing at that time either. Seemed like a pissing contest between the two GMs...

 

[kevsh]

1) Rebuild by lucking into a McDavid, Mack, Crosby = Very quick turnaround
2) Rebuild without lucking into a McDavid, Mack, Crosby = Slow & painful

Not a hard fast rule, but just ask Detroit how much fun it's been never getting a top pick despite years of being bad. Or Edmonton pre-McDavid spoiled with top picks but no elite talent among them.