they were major contributors on cup winners... slotted where they needed to be. it always feels like people forget to add this. just because it didn't work here and they won somewhere else, doesn't mean it was wrong to still move along from them because... they weren't working here. and you'd think that one day - ideally, we'd get players [from wherever] it would work the same way but it doesn't.
i will say the same thing i say all time. if trading [whomever] gets us a better [whomever] and it can help us win - then that's okay and I hope they do it. apparently the flavour of the day is hating on Mitch - and I do think a part of it is brought on by himself and he's gotta do better speaking to the media, and living up to the contract demands.
if berube gets him to buy in. that's great. but if he can't (or Mitch won't). then we should move him (or ANYONE ELSE) who won't /can't buy in for those who will. it's really that simple.
Toronto's greatest deficiencies list.
1. Team building and a settled style of play. They mix and match styles of players and don't set this like say the 90s and 00s Red Wings did.
2. Inability to draft and develop top level tenders.
3. Inability to draft and develop top tier defenders.
4. Contract handling. We always overpay and worse, overpay over the hill players or players that will be over the hill during the contract.
5. They most often make terrible moves holding on to assets and use own rental as a justification. I have written so many posts on this topic. You can not lose assets for nothing and get ahead in the NHL anymore.
6. Trading picks to augment the team before the POs. Now we have lack of talent and no cost controlled kids. Dubas killed us with this.
Why they cant figure these things out is a mystery. If they can fix the above 6 thing's they will be contenders. No question.