Playoffs or High Draft Pick?

[The Winter Soldier]

Again, people thinking Kessel and Lupul are saviours.

Defence wins championships, one can even say Defence gets you a playoff spot, so unless some here realize to do this offence will be sacrificed to play a system that does not resemble a Ron Wilson coached team where scorers sacrifice goals for GA, then this team will not see the playoffs when you are 29th or 30th in GA. I just wonder does this team have the players and the defence that can do this? They don't have the goalie, yet, and I doubt the former they have the personnel.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Worked for Edmonton.

Justin Schultz v2

A few years ago Tyler Bozak was the top free agent playing in College that at least 15 teams wanted to sign. He's been a good player on Toronto, so Justin Schultz is no different when it comes to that type of hype.

 

[7even]

to no extent did that strategy work out for Florida. Kulikov is the only player on that team that tanking paid dividends for. They got good from hot goaltending and some free agency signings that they needed to get to the cap floor.

To no extent? They won their division.

Also Huberdeau? He's not bad.

 

[robdicks]

To no extent? They won their division.

right, but he said that the strategy of bottoming out to get good players has worked for edmonton. That's not what worked for Florida. Signing Campbell, the emergence of Garrison, and the stellar play of Theodore were the reasons they won the division.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Playoffs everyday of the week. But the leads aren't a playoff team so i'll take the top pick instead of a 9th place finish.

 

[robdicks]

A few years ago Tyler Bozak was the top free agent playing in College that at least 15 teams wanted to sign. He's been a good player on Toronto, so Justin Schultz is no different when it comes to that type of hype.

The only player that was rated higher than Bozak that year was Matt Gilroy, and he has already played for 3 NHL teams.

 

[Hurt]

Playoffs everyday of the week. But the leads aren't a playoff team so i'll take the top pick instead of a 9th place finish.

Everyone in the top 14 has a shot at the #1 pick.

 

[Bomber0104]

right, but he said that the strategy of bottoming out to get good players has worked for edmonton. That's not what worked for Florida. Signing Campbell, the emergence of Garrison, and the stellar play of Theodore were the reasons they won the division.

The thing with bottoming out that people need to remember is that it takes patience. This is the whole point of the strategy, after all...coming in last is not something that can be considered lightly...and some fans just will never understand it because they demand everything all at once.

People dismiss Edmonton but don't even give Schultz or Yakupov one NHL game before they dismiss the strategy.

They don't give Nugent Hopkins one season and so on and so on...

 

[Bomber0104]

Everyone in the top 14 has a shot at the #1 pick.

Last place has the greatest chance, obviously.

As always..

 

[Badger Mayhew*]

Playoffs, which will happen with Luo in net. Our players need some playoff experience.

Still a lot of talent if we have a late pick. Somebody like Curtis Lazar would be fantastic if he falls to us.

 

[Porn*]

honestly... i'd prefer to make the playoffs. once they start, it's a whole new season.

but a high pick is intriguing.

it's a toss up...

 

[robdicks]

The thing with bottoming out that people need to remember is that it takes patience. This is the whole point of the strategy, after all...coming in last is not something that can be considered lightly...and some fans just will never understand it because they demand everything all at once.

People dismiss Edmonton but don't even give Schultz or Yakupov one NHL game before they dismiss the strategy.

They don't give Nugent Hopkins one season and so on and so on...

I think that most understand the Edmonton strategy as something that doesn't usually happen. Even with a team as bad as Edmonton's, only one team can get the 1st overall pick. People like to point to Edmonton as an example of what can be done with tanking, but I can point to Columbus, Florida, NYI, Winnipeg, Dallas, and Colorado as teams that have taken a conscious effort to rebuild, but never got the number one overall pick that they needed (let alone 3)

 

[Im Old Gregggg]

I really want to say a high pick (this draft has great center prospects in the top 10) BUT i think its really important to wipe the slate clean with the new cba and start a winning environment.


Making the playoffs could benefit us huge:
- confidence in our young players
- more desirable team for big fish FA (2013 FA looks insane, getzlaf or perry would be amazing)
- Burke saves his ass (im still a believer in him and feel hes the right man for the job)
- reward to the fans for enduring that entire abysmal stretch that was the last cba era

That being said its a lose/lose on this board as we will be ridiculed even if we do make the playoffs (due to it being half a season, took nearly a decade FFS etc)...... I hope to see us make the luongo deal to prove we are looking to take the next step (that coupled with a playoff appearance could be the key between signing a big fish this summer *cough* getzlaf *cough* to solve our problems up the middle or another bandaid)

That being said I wouldnt be mad if we completley bottomed out and got mackinnon/jones

 

[rdawg1234]

If we get Luongo, we'll be in the playoffs, I'd bet money on it(or at the very worst 9th-10th place.)

without Luongo, it would be a massive tossup. If Reimer plays really well or even average, we'd probably end up 8th-10th.

I dont see a scenario where we get a top 3 pick, slim chance at a top 5, most likely a low top 10 pick without luongo.

So i say playoffs, because no guarentee we get get a high pick this year.

 

[Bomber0104]

I think that most understand the Edmonton strategy as something that doesn't usually happen. Even with a team as bad as Edmonton's, only one team can get the 1st overall pick. People like to point to Edmonton as an example of what can be done with tanking, but I can point to Columbus, Florida, NYI, Winnipeg, Dallas, and Colorado as teams that have taken a conscious effort to rebuild, but never got the number one overall pick that they needed (let alone 3)

Takes some luck but at the end of the day...you do end up with a good player.

I used to read people laughing at the LA Kings.

Look what they did...lead by Drew Doughty (2nd overall) on defence.

These high picks do matter.

And they help the team secure contract lengths.

 

[1995]

My heart says playoffs, but my head says pick.

 

[KingBuzzo]

I haven't seen playoffs since about grade 5 or 6. I can't even remember. It was pre youtube though. Give me playoffs.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Recent cup winners to bottom out and win the cup.

PITT, CHI, LA,

Bottoming out allowed them to pick high and nab key pieces to Cup champions.

Crosby, Malkin, Toews, Kane, Doughty, Schenn(to pick up Richards)

The only recent aberration was BOS, but they got lucky with UFA's Thomas and Chara.

So what I am saying Leafs fans, is we are half way there, we got Rielly last year, we tank this year we walk away with Seth Jones. Couple that with a UFA signing of Chara proportions and unloading of bad contracts, losing players and winning is not so far off.

Bottoming out has worked, as has UFA signings. Burke could use a hybrid approach. But one thing that would be disastrous, is we keep finishing in no man's land chasing a mirage. Where we pick 15th as opposed to 5 or lower.

 

[robdicks]

Takes some luck but at the end of the day...you do end up with a good player.

I used to read people laughing at the LA Kings.

Look what they did...lead by Drew Doughty (2nd overall) on defence.

These high picks do matter.

And they help the team secure contract lengths.

Ya but they almost missed the playoffs last year, and they only had one player that was drafted in the top 5 on their entire team. Hardly an example of a team that built through the draft. They were building, but got tired of it, traded for Richards, and traded for Carter. Most people that were advocates of the draft thought it was a huge risk to trade Schenn and a 1st for Richards.

 

[Im Old Gregggg]

Ya but they almost missed the playoffs last year, and they only had one player that was drafted in the top 5 on their entire team. Hardly an example of a team that built through the draft. They were building, but got tired of it, traded for Richards, and traded for Carter. Most people that were advocates of the draft thought it was a huge risk to trade Schenn and a 1st for Richards.

if they didnt have quick between the pipes they would been in th 10-12 range in that conference...... he put the team on his back winning MANY low scoring games (they couldnt score to save their lives for most of the year)

 

[Bomber0104]

Ya but they almost missed the playoffs last year, and they only had one player that was drafted in the top 5 on their entire team. Hardly an example of a team that built through the draft. They were building, but got tired of it, traded for Richards, and traded for Carter. Most people that were advocates of the draft thought it was a huge risk to trade Schenn and a 1st for Richards.

Well the fact is they bottomed out and drafted a great player in Doughty (who is better than every single D-man on the Leafs).

No one said there needs to be three in a row or anything like that...but it's clear the Leafs have postponed building for too long.

They need to start forging an identity and it starts in the way you draft.

We have three draft picks on the team...Kulemin...Gunnarsson...and Reimer.

That's it.

Very poor compared to the rest of the league.

In fact one of the absolute worst.

 

[Pyrophorus]

So keep losing but expect good players to sign with a loser team? Why?

Exactly.

Its why its playoffs AINEC.

 

[rdawg1234]

Recent cup winners to bottom out and win the cup.

PITT, CHI, LA,

Bottoming out allowed them to pick high and nab key pieces to Cup champions.

Crosby, Malkin, Toews, Kane, Doughty, Schenn(to pick up Richards)

The only recent aberration was BOS, but they got lucky with UFA's Thomas and Chara.

So what I am saying Leafs fans, is we are half way there, we got Rielly last year, we tank this year we walk away with Seth Jones. Couple that with a UFA signing of Chara proportions and unloading of bad contracts, losing players and winning is not so far off.

Bottoming out has worked, as has UFA signings. Burke could use a hybrid approach. But one thing that would be disastrous, is we keep finishing in no man's land chasing a mirage. Where we pick 15th as opposed to 5 or lower.

going by your logic we already have our piece in Rielly. LA only used Doughty from your list.

Pittsburgh was an extreme case, they bottomed for years and lucky for them had a lockout in between and end up with a generational player.

I'm sorry but no team usually ends up like Pitty, bottoming for 5 years, getting amazing players EVERY single year(literally three all-star worthy centres and an above average goalie). Just saying I'd much rather have Jordan Staal, Crosby and Malkin(all big, two-way centres/a generational talent) than RNH, Hall+Yakupov(a powerforward, skinny #1 C and a one-dimensional offensive small guy)

Chicago was also crap for years before hitting it big with Toews and Kane(Which was from the lottery.)


Bottoming out is a decent idea, but not a necessary one in the NHL, in the NBA yes, 100%. I think a high pick is needed for one or two years(i.E Rielly, Schenn and Kadri) to get a big piece, but I dont think bottoming for 3-4 years or more is needed.

But really, look at NYI, Columbus etc. they've been crap for along time, havent gone anywhere.
EDIT: I have to add, noones even thinking about JVR here.
Going from 14 min a night with minimal PP time to 16-17 min a night is going to make a huge difference for him.

 

[I Believe]

Would much rather have playoffs, finally start winning and attracting top UFA talent, then draft someone good at #15 or whereever we pick.

The tanking seemingly never ends. Oh we gotta get Mackinnon/Jones this draft, then suddenly next draft is looking deep, we should try to get a bottom 5 pick there. Then McDavid is coming up, gotta get him.....

 

[4evaBlue]

Playoffs.

Should have made this a poll, much easier to tally results.