Best Chance of Winning the Cup is...

[nsleaf]

Definition: of 'TANK': Intentionally trying to lose un-intentionally.

 

[Disgruntled Observer*]

Have to be patient, I know it's hard Leaf Fans, but no patience is what has ruined this team for years! Need to draft and develop players within.

If only management took this approach 10 years ago, instead of the NONSENSE that has happened.
Millions of lame excuses and rationalizations will commence.
Millions and millions and millions of lame excuses and rationalizations.

 

[Tyler Biggs*]

If Shanahan keeps his mentality the same and doesn't crack under the immense pressure in Toronto, we may really have a chance to have a cup contending team in the coming years! He's the first guy in many many years that actually wants to do the right thing by building through draft and internal player development instead of blowing the season on burning out stars! This Leafs fan likes the little glimmer of hope...it's been a while!

 

[ACC1224]

If Shanahan keeps his mentality the same and doesn't crack under the immense pressure in Toronto, we may really have a chance to have a cup contending team in the coming years! He's the first guy in many many years that actually wants to do the right thing by building through draft and internal player development instead of blowing the season on burning out stars! This Leafs fan likes the little glimmer of hope...it's been a while!

This isn't new with Shanahan, it's been this way for a while now.

 

[indigobuffalo]

I counter this logic with...

Winnipeg, Florida, Columbus, Ottawa are not in the same catagory as the Leafs as the Leafs will be able to spend to the cap when needed and will be able to retain their blue chip prospects.

Dallas, Buffalo have not tanked and drafted blue chip prospects. Only recently has Buffalo finished really low and it's too early to tell where they will be.

Edmonton is the classic case of a tank gone wrong.

I would say look at teams like Pitts (crosby, malkin), Chicago (toews, kane, keith), LA (doughty, koptiar), Van (Sedins) who were able to draft blue chip prospects and build around them.

There are no guarantees either way but which method of development has a better chance of building a consistant stanley cup competitor?

So wouldn't it make more sense to do the COL "tank" where you have a competent NHL playoff team, then you suddenly finish in the bottom 3 consecutive years, then return to being a competent playoff team except with two superstars.

If we want McDavid so bad, why not just hope Kessel and Phaneuf have Bolland-esque season ending injuries in October and we tank the season without trading our superstars.

Adding McDavid to the current roster is much better than trading Kessel for junky prospects and hoping it all coalesces into some sort of super team (see Oilers).