BlueBaron
Registered User
It only looks like were not tanking because we have the best coach in hockey and he is getting this group to overachieve
We traded Kessel to lower scoring and get high draft pick, Im really needing some trades for this group to get worse because they are showing they are capable with competing with any team.
I had an Epiphany boys and if we trully want our Leafs to get to where they need to get just watching the Leafs last night I thought to myself were all carried away, starting to talk play-offs this year and all that. And even though it would be great for rielly, gardiner, kadri, JVR etc development to get more playoff experience Im watching us play and thinking for the best of this team we really need to consistantly lose like the start of season, play hard, compete but lose. We need that top 5 pick. With the amount of top end prospects we have in our organization already I think just this last season to get a high end prospect to add to this would be enough. Next year we can work with what we have and worry about developing and competing but just watching last nights game, yeah were playing hard and competing with all teams but we just dont have the team/skill to be at the top consistantly. Hunter/scouts showing we can get good prospects with lower picks but obviously we need those top ones when we can. were nowhere close to the skill we need so...
last 3 games have really helped making this conclusion, sorry allot of this is obvious but I was just watching the game and thinking to myself why are we hoping for a win this year?? seriously I dont want to be edmonton or Calgary anymore!!!
So Im hoping for value to increase with our good play but also hoping for some trades very soon!!
I have to disagree with you in part. I do not believe we are tanking exactly and we certainly did not trade Kessel to deliberately score less goals .
I think a good many of you guys are confusing Culture Change for tanking. That is why Kessel was traded, they thought he was a slacker who lacked compete. I also think that any of the one year contract guys that are a good fit could be retained because they reinforce the culture Babcock is trying to instill, rather than being moved for a 3rd round pick for example.
Make no mistake we are building through the draft but we will continue to try an acquire players that fit the Babcock mould. No one on this team is going to try and lose and the team is not going to get any players to specifically make the team worse, that is just foolishness. I am fairly sure our management team cares less about our draft position and more about the progress of the core players they have identified coupled with the progress of our young blue chippers .
I would be surprised if we sign any free agents in the next few years that make over 4 mil and get more than two years unless it is a very special exception because the player has been identified as a potential core piece (yes I mean you Stamkos/Taveres).
I believe it is far more likely they will just slowly promote next year with fewer and fewer one year boys being signed each year until the majority of the squad is our promoted prospects and the hold overs from what we currently have.
Once Management sees a consistent high level of performance then they will start looking for finishing pieces. Let's be honest here, I am willing to say I am liking Nylander's chances of being a true number one at this point but I have to think it will be at least two and more likely four years of NHL experience before he is the calibre of centre that leads a contender on a deep playoff run. Once he matures then we start asking ourselves could one expensive player make the difference.
Babs has proven a few important things so far. Rielly (1 or 2) , Phaneuf (2 or 3), Gardiner (3 or 4) are all top four defensemen capable of playing real D. yes I know many of you hate Dion but I think our leading scorer has demonstrated he is a pretty fine D when used properly. It is plausible they think they already have much of that core.
JVR-Nylander-Marner (this is a mighty fine first line if everyone develops as hoped)
Brown-Kadri-Kaps ( for sure Kadri is a number 2 C, I believe in Brown, the third guy is still a question)
Already having 5 of your top 6 forwards and 3 of your top 4 D means the main thing they need is time for development and maturity. If we got one of the top 3 guys in this years draft it would be glorious but I do not see Babcock coaching a team that bad or us having that kind of luck in the lottery, we are the Leafs after all (unless we traded the pick, then of course it would for sure be top 3
).
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