- Sep 5, 2005
- 2,518
- 0
I know I'm going to get ripped and called a 'homer' - and that's cool.
I'm not against a 'true rebuild', but the fact the times for that have passed us for now. The first time for it was the Muskoka 5, when the Leafs actually wanted to do it, but those damn players stopped it from happening.
The next time was when Burke came in, but he thought he could do it faster, and while I hoped it would work, it failed - however it did get us some nice young pieces.
Now, I know there is a die-hard group of tankers here that seem to wish we were in a perpetual rebuild - but the fact is when has one of the 5 youngest teams in the league EVER torn it down to rebuild? Lets face the facts - it's not going to happen now. That doesn't mean we still can't build a successful team, but we're not going to blatantly tank by selling everything for picks and prospects. Accept it and move on.
Here are some facts: The whole "ownership doesn't want to build a contender" is BS. There was probably some truth to that under Ballard, and fiscal decisions may have dominated under guys like Stavros and Peddie who I think honestly believed you could buy a successful team - the fact is that having the Leafs join the upper ranks of the league translates into huge profits for MLSE, and they like profits. Their capital value will rise, they will get millions from each round of the playoffs, and the better the Leafs do, merchandise revenue goes up exponentially. They want that money - they are just relying on the hockey people to get them there.
Now - just because we're not going to rebuild does not mean we're coming back with the same team next year. This team has some serious holes that needs to be filled, and I believe it will be the priority of Shanonis to fill them. I know how Shanny's interview went - but seriously, do people here really expect him to come out and say "this guy sucks, I want to get rid of him," or "we are desperate to make drastic changes to this roster". Firstly, all he will accomplish is reduce their bargaining power in trade negotiations. Secondly - they are not so stupid as to trade Phaneuf for nothing, and if they can't find a successful deal for him - why destroy his confidence and create a bad situation in the event he's back next year? although here it seems if a player is not a top line player or #1D than he's pretty much garbage, it doesn't actually work like that in the NHL.
The choice for us is simple, we can live miserable lives and be completely depressed about the team because they are not building the way we want them to, or we can look for progress, and try to enjoy the ride. I know many will say that I'm "accepting mediocrity" - but that's BS as well. I'm not saying this team is a contender. I'm not saying I don't want them to improve, I'm only accepting that smarter people than I are making the decisions, and I'm hoping they make more right one's than wrong ones. I know those here like to jump on every move that doesn't work - but a) every GM makes them, and b) the armchair GM's here have made more. I remember the obsession with MPS, how Zack Kassian was going to be the next Lucic - etc, etc.
I see it that we have some solid young pieces in place. Reilly, Gardiner, Kessel, JVR, Kadri, and Bernier. We have some good depth prospects coming along slowly, and a handful of them have an outside shot of becoming key pieces in the future (Lievo, Brown, Johnsson, Gauthier, Finn, Percy, Grandberg, etc). I see that we have rebuilt our development system where we are taking time to let the kids develop in a winning environment (go Marlies!), and I can't remember the last time our prospects have cleaned up the awards as they did this year.
We need some key pieces for sure. I disagree with the whole obsession with a big #1 centre - Kessel and JVR make up one of the most offensively dynamic 1st lines in the league, and the addition of an offensive centre will make little difference where as we have more pressing needs elsewhere. Yes, we need to upgrade Bozak, and we really need to upgrade with a lot more depth and size up the middle. Kadri is a good #2 who is still putting his game together. Hopefully the development of Holland and Gauthier can provide some more depth, and if we can get a big 2 way centre who is good on the forecheck for an upgrade to Bozak - we'll be in a better place.
We potentially have a very good #2 & #3 D in Reilly and Gardiner (if he can round out his game). Phaneuf is a good top pairing D on any team, who is just asked to do too much here. If we can upgrade, he's moveable, but if he stays and we can upgrade the other D, the support will make him a lot more effective.
Essentially - yes - we have some serious holes that need to be filled. We need more leadership, better 2-way players, more depth up the middle, and an all round better defense. Some of those pieces we have, some are developing, and some we have to go get. The #8 pick this year will help.
We have the goalie. We have some very solid young pieces on D that need time and better support. We've started trying to build up the middle (Holland. Gauthier. Verhague(sp?)) - so the argument can be made that we've switched paths and are now trying to build from the net out. We can't control what happens - and you can say "we don't have to accept it" etc - but the fact is, all we can do is watch and debate incessantly with one another.
You can choose to be miserable, to say everything sucks, etc - and in hockey you can always find evidence to support every side. But there are some good pieces in place. We're not as bad as our worst times, and not as good as our best. I choose to see the good, to watch the team come together, and when we're there it will taste the sweeter for it. Call me a homer if it makes you feel smarter, I'm still going to enjoy the ride.
I'm not against a 'true rebuild', but the fact the times for that have passed us for now. The first time for it was the Muskoka 5, when the Leafs actually wanted to do it, but those damn players stopped it from happening.
The next time was when Burke came in, but he thought he could do it faster, and while I hoped it would work, it failed - however it did get us some nice young pieces. Now, I know there is a die-hard group of tankers here that seem to wish we were in a perpetual rebuild - but the fact is when has one of the 5 youngest teams in the league EVER torn it down to rebuild? Lets face the facts - it's not going to happen now. That doesn't mean we still can't build a successful team, but we're not going to blatantly tank by selling everything for picks and prospects. Accept it and move on.
Here are some facts: The whole "ownership doesn't want to build a contender" is BS. There was probably some truth to that under Ballard, and fiscal decisions may have dominated under guys like Stavros and Peddie who I think honestly believed you could buy a successful team - the fact is that having the Leafs join the upper ranks of the league translates into huge profits for MLSE, and they like profits. Their capital value will rise, they will get millions from each round of the playoffs, and the better the Leafs do, merchandise revenue goes up exponentially. They want that money - they are just relying on the hockey people to get them there.
Now - just because we're not going to rebuild does not mean we're coming back with the same team next year. This team has some serious holes that needs to be filled, and I believe it will be the priority of Shanonis to fill them. I know how Shanny's interview went - but seriously, do people here really expect him to come out and say "this guy sucks, I want to get rid of him," or "we are desperate to make drastic changes to this roster". Firstly, all he will accomplish is reduce their bargaining power in trade negotiations. Secondly - they are not so stupid as to trade Phaneuf for nothing, and if they can't find a successful deal for him - why destroy his confidence and create a bad situation in the event he's back next year? although here it seems if a player is not a top line player or #1D than he's pretty much garbage, it doesn't actually work like that in the NHL.
The choice for us is simple, we can live miserable lives and be completely depressed about the team because they are not building the way we want them to, or we can look for progress, and try to enjoy the ride. I know many will say that I'm "accepting mediocrity" - but that's BS as well. I'm not saying this team is a contender. I'm not saying I don't want them to improve, I'm only accepting that smarter people than I are making the decisions, and I'm hoping they make more right one's than wrong ones. I know those here like to jump on every move that doesn't work - but a) every GM makes them, and b) the armchair GM's here have made more. I remember the obsession with MPS, how Zack Kassian was going to be the next Lucic - etc, etc.
I see it that we have some solid young pieces in place. Reilly, Gardiner, Kessel, JVR, Kadri, and Bernier. We have some good depth prospects coming along slowly, and a handful of them have an outside shot of becoming key pieces in the future (Lievo, Brown, Johnsson, Gauthier, Finn, Percy, Grandberg, etc). I see that we have rebuilt our development system where we are taking time to let the kids develop in a winning environment (go Marlies!), and I can't remember the last time our prospects have cleaned up the awards as they did this year.
We need some key pieces for sure. I disagree with the whole obsession with a big #1 centre - Kessel and JVR make up one of the most offensively dynamic 1st lines in the league, and the addition of an offensive centre will make little difference where as we have more pressing needs elsewhere. Yes, we need to upgrade Bozak, and we really need to upgrade with a lot more depth and size up the middle. Kadri is a good #2 who is still putting his game together. Hopefully the development of Holland and Gauthier can provide some more depth, and if we can get a big 2 way centre who is good on the forecheck for an upgrade to Bozak - we'll be in a better place.
We potentially have a very good #2 & #3 D in Reilly and Gardiner (if he can round out his game). Phaneuf is a good top pairing D on any team, who is just asked to do too much here. If we can upgrade, he's moveable, but if he stays and we can upgrade the other D, the support will make him a lot more effective.
Essentially - yes - we have some serious holes that need to be filled. We need more leadership, better 2-way players, more depth up the middle, and an all round better defense. Some of those pieces we have, some are developing, and some we have to go get. The #8 pick this year will help.
We have the goalie. We have some very solid young pieces on D that need time and better support. We've started trying to build up the middle (Holland. Gauthier. Verhague(sp?)) - so the argument can be made that we've switched paths and are now trying to build from the net out. We can't control what happens - and you can say "we don't have to accept it" etc - but the fact is, all we can do is watch and debate incessantly with one another.
You can choose to be miserable, to say everything sucks, etc - and in hockey you can always find evidence to support every side. But there are some good pieces in place. We're not as bad as our worst times, and not as good as our best. I choose to see the good, to watch the team come together, and when we're there it will taste the sweeter for it. Call me a homer if it makes you feel smarter, I'm still going to enjoy the ride.
