Looking Back at the Leafs two years ago and what it means for rebuilding teams

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DatSnipeMatthews

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Oct 5, 2017
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So, the Leafs are 6th in the league in terms of points. Definitely a good or even a contender team.

But looking back just two years ago, the Leafs were a dumpster fire and the worst team in hockey. What can the current rebuilding teams (Oilers, Arizona, Detroit etc...) learn from the Toronto experience?
 
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Rhaegar Targaryen

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varano

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Jun 27, 2013
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So, the Leafs are 6th in the league in terms of points. Definitely a good or even a contender team.

But looking back just two years ago, the Leafs were a dumpster fire and the worst team in hockey. What can the current rebuilding teams (Oilers, Arizona, Detroit etc...) learn from the Toronto experience?
That none of it was rocket science and tanking has been done all the way back to the Mario draft
 

3rdLiner

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Jan 21, 2011
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So, the Leafs are 6th in the league in terms of points. Definitely a good or even a contender team.

But looking back just two years ago, the Leafs were a dumpster fire and the worst team in hockey. What can the current rebuilding teams (Oilers, Arizona, Detroit etc...) learn from the Toronto experience?

Step 1: tank for years
Step 2: luck into elite talent (Matthews)
Step 3: repeat steps 1+2 until decent roster/prospect pool is achieved
Step 4: pay $$$ for good coach
Step 5: boast endlessly on HFBoards.
 

frisco

Some people claim that there's a woman to blame...
Sep 14, 2017
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Finish last. Win the draft lottery. Get high picks in other years and do a decent job of drafting. Hire a good but not great coach. Spend lots of money and guys who know what they're doing in the front office. Lower everyone's expectations.

My Best-Carey
 
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X66

114-110
Aug 18, 2008
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Definitely took some luck, without Matthews we'd still be lost.

There wasn't a single player in that 2016 draft that could have meant what Matthews did to the organization. Any other player from that draft and they'd still be in that spot with no franchise center.

Mix that in with solid moves like acquiring Andersen and it goes a long way.
 

A4T1L6

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Feb 10, 2015
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Step 1: tank for years
Step 2: luck into elite talent (Matthews)
Step 3: repeat steps 1+2 until decent roster/prospect pool is achieved
Step 4: pay $$$ for good coach
Step 5: boast endlessly on HFBoards.
nice analysis
 

M2Beezy

Objective and Neutral Hockey Commentator
May 25, 2014
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So the Benning approach would be considered in the same convo then???

We made solid moves to:

-Eriksson 6 years $6mil/per
-Traded youth and top picks for a dud injured dman from Florida
-Drafted two top 6 picks poorly (JV OJ)
-Gave away picks in most trades instead of receiving them
-Finding a 5th rd gem and trading him for a bleh Clendening

Looking at that not really sure why were in 28th place every year...

:cry:
 

Josepho

i want the bartkowski thread back
Jan 1, 2015
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How come the Oilers and Sabres are a crap show then?

Edmonton's had terrible asset management but I still expect them to get it together next season.

Buffalo went completely scorched earth and got rid of f***ing everyone for picks. A shit ton of those picks have yet to work out and Buffalo is likely one of the least popular UFA destinations in the entire league.

Toronto kept enough veterans, sold off what they needed to, tanked at the right time and got lucky as f*** in the draft lottery. It was the perfect mix.
 

Frankie Blueberries

Allergic to draft picks
Jan 27, 2016
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Sooo you need to luck out with a 1st overall in a good draft, and get multiple top 10 picks (Marner, Rielly, Nylander, Kadri, etc.).
I don't think teams should try to emulate Toronto. No one wants to see their team suck for a decade and give up players like Seguin and Hamilton.
 

Critical13

Fear is the mind-killer.
Feb 25, 2017
12,617
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Sitting at a desk.
Step 1: tank for years
Step 2: luck into elite talent (Matthews)
Step 3: repeat steps 1+2 until decent roster/prospect pool is achieved
Step 4: pay $$$ for good coach
Step 5: boast endlessly on HFBoards.

Step 1: Commit to rebuild and deal aging players and contracts even if they return middle round picks
Step 2: Draft high talent players, BPA always
Step 3: When you get a high pick, make sure it counts. Rielly, Matthews, Marner and Nylander...you could argue they aren't the best in their classes, but all turned into core players.
Step 4: Find a stud young goaltender who is ready to be a 1A.
Step 5: Grow thick skin because the haters will be extra salty (see quoted post) when you start having success.
 

3rdLiner

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Jan 21, 2011
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Step 1: Commit to rebuild and deal aging players and contracts even if they return middle round picks
Step 2: Draft high talent players, BPA always
Step 3: When you get a high pick, make sure it counts. Rielly, Matthews, Marner and Nylander...you could argue they aren't the best in their classes, but all turned into core players.
Step 4: Find a stud young goaltender who is ready to be a 1A.
Step 5: Grow thick skin because the haters will be extra salty (see quoted post) when you start having success.

See step 5 of my post lol.

Ease up, they tanked got the talent, paid front office/coaching staff and got good.

Nothing I wrote wasn't true.
 

Critical13

Fear is the mind-killer.
Feb 25, 2017
12,617
9,435
Sitting at a desk.
See step 5 of my post lol.

Ease up, they tanked got the talent, paid front office/coaching staff and got good.

Nothing I wrote wasn't true.
Is that what you call "boasting endlessly"? Your poor soul, what has Cape Cod done to your brain. :P

Also, "Luck into elite talent?". Which team are you a fan of? Let me guess, when your boys make a nice pick, it's pure talent, but when the Leafs do it, it's pure luck?
 

3rdLiner

Registered User
Jan 21, 2011
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Is that what you call "boasting endlessly"? Your poor soul, what has Cape Cod done to your brain. :P

Honestly, nothing good. But you know it's not just this thread flip around the main boards for a bit.

I'm going back to my lobster roll and chowdah now.
 

zeke

The Dube Abides
Mar 14, 2005
66,937
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So, the Leafs are 6th in the league in terms of points. Definitely a good or even a contender team.

But looking back just two years ago, the Leafs were a dumpster fire and the worst team in hockey. What can the current rebuilding teams (Oilers, Arizona, Detroit etc...) learn from the Toronto experience?

1.Don't blame good players on bad teams for not being great players and trade them for nothing. Just go out and get great players for them to complement and support.
2.Win the draft lottery in a year with a franchise player going #1.
 

Territory

Registered User
Jan 31, 2014
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The #1 thing is drafting well. Then developing well.

Combine those 2 things with adding a ton of picks on top of your own and a little luck you get the Leafs.

The Leafs made smart trades too. Getting Andersen is a giant factor in their success. Moving out money in Phil and Dion was huge too. Getting Kadri, Gardiner, Rielly signed at really good numbers was big. There are lots of little things that separate a successful rebuild and a failed one.
 

Pavels Dog

Registered User
Feb 18, 2013
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So, the Leafs are 6th in the league in terms of points. Definitely a good or even a contender team.

But looking back just two years ago, the Leafs were a dumpster fire and the worst team in hockey. What can the current rebuilding teams (Oilers, Arizona, Detroit etc...) learn from the Toronto experience?
Not much to learn tbh.

Any team that lands Dahlin will likely see a big turnaround. I'd say especially Detroit who has a solid group of forwards, goaltending and defensive depth but a major, major hole in terms of no top pairing D. Dahlin is exactly what they need. Arizona and Edmonton are dysfunctional enough where Dahlin might not be enough for them. Everyone else probably would see a big jump in performance if they get him.
 

BruinLVGA

CZ Shadow 2 Compact coming my way!
Dec 15, 2013
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So, the Leafs are 6th in the league in terms of points. Definitely a good or even a contender team.

But looking back just two years ago, the Leafs were a dumpster fire and the worst team in hockey. What can the current rebuilding teams (Oilers, Arizona, Detroit etc...) learn from the Toronto experience?

If using the Toronto model: tank, tank, tank. Get a good number of high picks, better if at least one first overall. Get some good management, let them work their plan, sit back and relax.
 
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BertCorbeau

F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
Jan 6, 2012
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Winning the lotto for Matthews' is why the Leafs' rebuild can't really be used as a template as players like him aren't available year after year at #1.

The rest isn't that difficult to see though - acquire as many picks/prospects as you can, draft/develop well. Also though establish the right culture off the ice from the front office to the dressing room by hiring the right people. And ensure you have the right leaders in the dressing room that can ease the pressure off the younger players until they're ready.

Lastly, acquiring a legit #1 goalie is probably another thing to be taken from the Leafs. As a young team, Andersen has been the stable rock they've hoped he would be when they traded for him. That was paramount.
 
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