Future of the team is incredibly bleak

[Evilhomer]

Come on now my friend.

You know we're talking about the future of this offseason and beyond and the challenges that await. It's not about winning or losing streaks. It's about going all in with no success over the last half decade +

It's about the lack of options having no firsts for three drafts and a potentially limited ability to retool in free agency with only a few options and a lot of teams with cap space.


If they win a cup or, heck, even a few rounds the conversation changes completely.

This team is now in its prime winning years, and will be for the next 3 or 4 seasons. Who cares what happens after that. Why would anyone worry about that? Guess what, next year at the trade deadline, they will probably trade another first round pick. It's what contending teams do.

 

[Evilhomer]

It is what it is. There trying to win, I'd rather them try to win then milk the fans for money and put a shitty product on the ice for 10 years.. I remember how fun it was seeing them come in 10th-15th in the eastern conference for 10+ years.

You don't always win and you don't always win multiple Stanley Cups. All Toronto needs is one Stanley Cup win and suddenly no one gives two shits about not having first round picks or having a trash team for 3-4 years again.

Amen.

 

[Torontonian]

Calgary sucks and they got extremely lucky against Colorado. Lemme me know when they crush a great team or desperate team trying to claw into the playoffs.

I see the goal posts have been shifted.....

Calgary 2 points out of a wildcard spot doesn't count as a desperate team trying to get into the playoffs...
Beating a "great team" in Colorado doesn't count as they didn't win the game good enough for you.

Classic!

 

[tuckerintensity]

Do normal people "choose" teams?

There is no choose. There is only the Leafs.

Healthy people choose what makes them happy. If this team is doing the things it's doing to so many people in here, ya, go choose a new team. It's not the Leafs fault you feel this way, it's your own.

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

I see the goal posts have been shifted.....

Calgary 2 points out of a wildcard spot doesn't count as a desperate team trying to get into the playoffs...
Beating a "great team" in Colorado doesn't count as they didn't win the game good enough for you.

Classic!

2 points out of the Wildcard is irrelevant - Calgary is out of the playoffs and stink.

Barely beating the Avs (thanks to a lucky break) is not good enough for me.

Wake me up when they stomp Florida or another true Contender.

 

[notDatsyuk]

2 points out of the Wildcard is irrelevant - Calgary is out of the playoffs and stink.

Barely beating the Avs (thanks to a lucky break) is not good enough for me.

Wake me up when they stomp Florida or another true Contender.

If they beat a 'contender' then it wasn't really a "true Contender"?

Got it.

Since we lost all the games to Ottawa, does that mean they are a "true Contender"?

 

[Phion Keneuf]

16 games is all it takes to turn perennial losers into winners. We have a solid chance as any other team if we play how we can.

Not worried about the long term future. Winning changes everything.

 

[Torontonian]

2 points out of the Wildcard is irrelevant - Calgary is out of the playoffs and stink.

Barely beating the Avs (thanks to a lucky break) is not good enough for me.

Wake me up when they stomp Florida or another true Contender.

So what do you classify as a "desperate team trying to claw into the playoffs."? This isn't a good look for you...

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

So what do you classify as a "desperate team trying to claw into the playoffs."? This isn't a good look for you...

Like the Rangers or Canucks. Beat a team on a hot streak, not an inconsistent pretender like the Flames. Last time I was impressed with this team is when they beat a hot Habs team 7-3. Quite frankly I don't care how I look, this team's problems are quite apparent.

 

[Commander Clueless]

This team is now in its prime winning years, and will be for the next 3 or 4 seasons. Who cares what happens after that. Why would anyone worry about that? Guess what, next year at the trade deadline, they will probably trade another first round pick. It's what contending teams do.

The worry is about what happens next season with Marner, free agency, and how to make changes without making the team worse should the team once again have postseason difficulties.

Why would anyone be worried that this era is Leafs can't find success? Why would anyone be worried that the team has overestimated its ability and has given up high picks/prospects for not much in return?

Because they've seen it time and time again.

This season is yet to be played out. There is plenty to hope and cheer for and I assure you I will be hoping and cheering for just that.....but let's not act like this team hasn't given us plenty to worry about.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Healthy people choose what makes them happy. If this team is doing the things it's doing to so many people in here, ya, go choose a new team. It's not the Leafs fault you feel this way, it's your own.

My statement was tongue in cheek. Sort of... It's Leafs or no hockey for me personally.

Also let's not act like suggesting our favorite hockey team has a rough future ahead of them if they can't find success now is some sort of depression. It's merely an unpleasant observation/prediction.

 

[Maple Leaf]

When they get to the 3rd round maybe i will believe

 

[Evilhomer]

The worry is about what happens next season with Marner, free agency, and how to make changes without making the team worse should the team once again have postseason difficulties.

Why would anyone be worried that this era is Leafs can't find success? Why would anyone be worried that the team has overestimated its ability and has given up high picks/prospects for not much in return?

Because they've seen it time and time again.

This season is yet to be played out. There is plenty to hope and cheer for and I assure you I will be hoping and cheering for just that.....but let's not act like this team hasn't given us plenty to worry about.

I don't understand the purpose of worrying about what might happen months or years from now. The Marner (and Tavares) worry is particularly silly. The Leafs will cave and sign them for whatever is required.

 

[Commander Clueless]

I don't understand the purpose of worrying about what might happen months or years from now. The Marner (and Tavares) worry is particularly silly. The Leafs will cave and sign them for whatever is required.

Something to talk about? It is a discussion board after all! We talk about all things Leafs - past, present and future!

And "caving" is exactly what some people in this thread are worried about.

 

[Evilhomer]

Something to talk about? It is a discussion board after all! We talk about all things Leafs - past, present and future!

And "caving" is exactly what some people in this thread are worried about.

Fair enough, I guess, in terms of worrying about the Leafs caving. It's basically a guarantee. They are going to pay those guys whatever they want to keep them.

 

[Evilhomer]

I can't see through all the bleakness.

 

[Superstar]

if they get knocked out early again, could it be any worse?

It could be worse...they could lock up Marner long term and re-sign Tavares for another go next year, lol

 

[Donnie740]

It’s as delusional as proclaiming “the future in Edmonton is bleak” and lamenting how much money they’re going to spend on McDavid and Draisatl.

What a terrible problem to have, paying top players top money. Surely it’d be much better to spread the money around on quantity instead of quantity and bring in a few David Clarksons and Pat Marleaus instead of Mitch Marner or William Nylander.

 

[Antropovsky]

Might be bleak, but Treliving has been 2x better than Dubas.

Took two years, but finally back to looking like a hockey team instead of a bunch of guys out for a game of shinny.

Shanahan wasted our best years giving a rookie GM and Coach their starts and let them learn through the school of hard knocks and our expense and the owners.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Like the Rangers or Canucks. Beat a team on a hot streak, not an inconsistent pretender like the Flames.

I believe you called for a victory against the Rangers... are we feeling better now..?

 

[Donnie740]

Shanahan wasted our best years giving a rookie GM and Coach their starts and let them learn through the school of hard knocks and our expense and the owners.

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.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

That lineup is too old and doesn’t have a 1 D, but might make the playoffs. If the plan is to do a proper rebuild, trading Matthews wouldn’t be the end of the world, or the worst thing the franchise has ever done.

There won't be a rebuild any time soon.

Yes, trading Matthews would be the dumbest thing this team has EVER done.

 

[stats1]

This is why the Leafs were rated the worst run franchise in the NHL. Some said "they don't deserve this moniker". Yes they do, especially when commensurate to the fanaticism and hopes of their fan base.

They decided to go for it every year around 4 or 5 players. This was always the risk if their core didn't pan out. Some years ago I supported it, but after they lost to Florida and we lost Schenn, Bertuzzi and O'Reilly, Acciari, The Boosh, all players who made the team fairly balanced up and down the lineup, it was clear that NO efforts at any deadline were going to change their spots. Losing so many Game 7s just reinforced to me, "the higher the stakes, the lower the chances that they meet the challenge". If they werent going to win with that lineup, this core was not going to win in a cap system.

I was hopeful that they would have moved Marner before his NMC kicked in. The second best outcome would be to let him walk and use the cap space. They could have done well though by grabbing some 1st Rounders and prospects and moving THEM in the future if they needed to with one less player. Imagine how this years deadline or next would have looked if Leafs had millions more in cap and more prospects and 1st Rounders to trade?

They lack the objectivity that a team needs to win. Can they build a strong team of the UFAs available over the next two years? We will see. It is going to have to be a team more middle-of-the-pack regular season but one who rises to the challenge in the post season.

If Leafs are looking for some lower level executives to help guide their team, send me a message and I will consider the opportunity, I'm sure many others will as well. This isn't rocket science guys, stop falling in love with players and consider one goal "what is the RIGHT path to winning a Cup? What is the right DNA?"

Their defense and goaltending provide a glimmer of hope. Their forwards MUST sacrifice to the same degree.

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

 

[Nineteen67]

There won't be a rebuild any time soon.

Yes, trading Matthews would be the dumbest thing this team has EVER done.

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

 

[HockeyVirus]

I can't see through all the bleakness.

Let's talk last week of April