Race to the bottom - Rebuild thread #2.

[ungentrified]

You guys are thinking in the NBA mindset.

a 5'11 crosby-lite is not going to turn this franchise/team around.

Hell I wouldn't even say our biggest need is a centre right now, it's a competent defense.

I'm not gonna hate on the idea of tanking or getting another great piece, but in the NHL tanking is not a necessity, especially when there are 7 rounds in a draft with numerous great players coming out of each round.

On top of this, this team has far too much talent to be a bottom 3 team, yes we look like crap now, but we still have alot of skill and will win some games.

I agree, the team has the talent and the skill to rebound even if they look like hot garbage right now. The insistence on tanking isn't going to resolve the overall issues with leadership and heart that have been lacking for years with the team - new shiny pieces aren't going to fare well if the culture doesn't change.

 

[34]

Not good enough Sabre... this team is in BIG trouble clearly. They will be officially out in another few games.

It is time to hit the Panic button!

Officially in 10th place! Out of the playoffs.

They will be in the bottom 3 in the east in 2 weeks! Book it.

 

[7even]

Officially in 10th place! Out of the playoffs.

They will be in the bottom 3 in the east in 2 weeks! Book it.

I mean at this point that's all you can realistically hope for

 

[34]

I mean at this point that's all you can realistically hope for

Sadly, your right. The team is done, they have clearly given up. There is no fight left in this lion...

 

[Judas Tavares]

In a realistic tank / rebuild (aka Kessel and Phaneuf not being moved, not cause I don't think they should, just cause we all know Nonis wouldn't after just signing them), I think Lupul is the main chip that goes. I think a team ponies up a first and a good prospect, and that is something we would have to take, not sure how much longer he can hold value.

 

[ConnorTO]

people willing their team to lose, what a pathetic bunch and a poor excuse for the word Fan

 

[Joey Hoser]

people willing their team to lose, what a pathetic bunch and a poor excuse for the word Fan

Considering the players themselves are just as willing to lose, I don't feel bad at all.

 

[Faltorvo]

What does that matter? Never said the kids were bad, but the players they drafted dont begin to fill the holes their team has

You are complaining about a core of players that are 19,20,21,22 years old.

That is like blaming our troubles on Reilly,Kadri,Ashton,D'Amigo and the other kids on the team.

 

[Paradoc]

If we're going to tank I suggest we get Ekblad. Having a core of Phaneuf, Rielly, Ekblad, Gardiner, Finn for the next 5 years will be amazing.

 

[Joey Hoser]

If we're going to tank I suggest we get Ekblad. Having a core of Phaneuf, Rielly, Ekblad, Gardiner, Finn for the next 5 years will be amazing.

#playbadforekblad

 

[Paradoc]

Oh I forgot NJD forfeit their pick which is better for us.

 

[leafs in five]

I agree, the team has the talent and the skill to rebound even if they look like hot garbage right now. The insistence on tanking isn't going to resolve the overall issues with leadership and heart that have been lacking for years with the team - new shiny pieces aren't going to fare well if the culture doesn't change.

if you had to make a list of the Leafs biggest weaknesses/deficiencies you would put heart and leadership at the top?

 

[JackJ]

Sabres GM Tim Murray: ”Good drafting allows you trade well, and then you use free agency to put you over the top. That’s my philosophy.”

Take notes Nonis

 

[The CyNick]

I hate the term leadership related to hockey because nobody outside the dressing room knows.

I would say our top players lack grit and determination. Kessel is awesome but geez it would be nice to see him wina puck battle. And it's not just him. JVR had the same issue. Clarkson looks like he takes shifts off. Kadri too.

 

[Faltorvo]

if you had to make a list of the Leafs biggest weaknesses/deficiencies you would put heart and leadership at the top?

Heart and leadership means to me.

You show up night in night out to compete for every inch of ice , you skate as hard for a break away as you do for a back check or loose puck in the corner.

You will go into the face wash areas to give and receive.

You will take a hit to make a play, you will give a hit to make a play.

So yes, it is about H/L on this team.

To many pretty boy, over paid ,prima donnas sitting at the top in leadership roles.

 

[achtungbaby]

In a realistic tank / rebuild (aka Kessel and Phaneuf not being moved, not cause I don't think they should, just cause we all know Nonis wouldn't after just signing them), I think Lupul is the main chip that goes. I think a team ponies up a first and a good prospect, and that is something we would have to take, not sure how much longer he can hold value.

A 30th overall pick and prospect who amounts to little then? It's hard too see a team giving up much more then that for Lupul.

 

[LEAFSIN4]

wow my post about this fanbases insecurity gets deleted... i shouldn't have expected anything less.

 

[Pi]

Right now our pick is 10th overall.

There is a good chance it will be 7th overall by the end of next week.

Slowly but steadily getting to the bottom.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

In a realistic tank / rebuild (aka Kessel and Phaneuf not being moved, not cause I don't think they should, just cause we all know Nonis wouldn't after just signing them), I think Lupul is the main chip that goes. I think a team ponies up a first and a good prospect, and that is something we would have to take, not sure how much longer he can hold value.

Pominville is the best recent trade comparable:

-2013 1st (Minny was a bubble team and it ended up being 16th overall)
-2014 2nd
-Two 7.0B/C type prospects in Larsson and Hackett

I'm all for trading Lupul for prospects if a team is willing to overpay dramatically but I also wouldn't be opposed to keeping him for the off-season and trying to use him as our Loui Eriksson type trade asset and would retain a lot of his cap hit to make it happen.

 

[leafs in five]

wow my post about this fanbases insecurity gets deleted... i shouldn't have expected anything less.

i feel secure in my belief that the Leafs are a bad team being coached by a bad coach and managed by a GM who is making them worse.

 

[Nyax]

This team is a steaming pile of garbage. Getting brutally outshot every freakin game is no blueprint for success. It is officially tank time. They'll finish 9th or 10th and the Toronto sports cycle of **** will continue.

 

[Loosie]

Officially in 10th place! Out of the playoffs.

They will be in the bottom 3 in the east in 2 weeks! Book it.

Out of the playoffs by a point. there is 3 points seperating 7th (Detroit) and 12th (NJ), The next few weeks there is probably going to be a lot of shifting, and a lot of teams in and out of the playoffs.

It looks bad because the 3 losses were REALLY bad. If they were close losses where the played well but lost 2-1 or something like that we'd still be in the same position.

 

[leafs in five]

Out of the playoffs by a point. there is 3 points seperating 7th (Detroit) and 12th (NJ), The next few weeks there is probably going to be a lot of shifting, and a lot of teams in and out of the playoffs.

It looks bad because the 3 losses were REALLY bad. If they were close losses where the played well but lost 2-1 or something like that we'd still be in the same position.

it looks bad because the Leafs have won 2 regulation games in the past two+ months. it looks bad because it is bad.

 

[Trapper]

it looks bad because the Leafs have won 2 regulation games in the past two+ months. it looks bad because it is bad.

When even your wins look bad, its bad.
A win on this team is required by:
Outstanding goaltending in the moment.
Incredibly high shooting %.

Remove these 2 things and the results are 2 reg wins in 2 months.

 

[21JVR*]

In a realistic tank / rebuild (aka Kessel and Phaneuf not being moved, not cause I don't think they should, just cause we all know Nonis wouldn't after just signing them), I think Lupul is the main chip that goes. I think a team ponies up a first and a good prospect, and that is something we would have to take, not sure how much longer he can hold value.

You will always be this bubble team if you think you can go on a rebuild with these players. They are not winners on this team but they won't be the losers either. We will be stuck forever with these players.