News Article: Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis talks draft, Bolland and trades

[Budsfan]

Q: Still thinking of moving up at the draft?

Nonis: Yeah, we would depending on the price. We think, like I think most teams think, that it’s fairly deep in terms of quality, one through 10, 12, 14, so we believe we’re going to get a good player at eight. That said, if we can move up higher and the cost made sense we would do it. We’ve talked to a couple of teams and shared ideas of what would make sense right now. Right now we haven’t found anything that does, but if there’s a deal there that isn’t cost prohibitive we would look to do it, if not we’re happy to pick where we are.

This is just one of the Questions and Answers in the Atricle

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/06/18/maple-leafs-gm-dave-nonis-talks-draft-bolland-and-trades

Click to read more...

 

[Budsfan]

I found this quite interesting too...

Q: Jake Gardiner, any thought of making him a forward, given you have Morgan Rielly back end?

Nonis: He was a forward, he started as a forward. He played more of his formative years as a forward. There’s been some talk of it, but I think he gives us an element at the back end that would be hard to replace. He can skate the puck out, pretty good on the power play. So I think right now, we would keep him back there.

 

[K19*]

I loathe him.

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

What a generic response. Typical nonis/ Burke response. Whatever

 

[Diatomic]

Atleast we know that this offseason can't get any worse than last years... Or can it

 

[TankNationTillDeath]

 

[FlareKnight]

Yeah, it's really the fault of expectations. People just got too down on basically the worst team in the NHL after the Olympic break...And for a team that could finish between 4 and 10 in the conference we did a bang up job finishing 12th .

But anyways, a pretty generic bit of responses. But never expect much more these days. No one is going to say what they are actually doing until after they've done it.

Basically Nonis being Nonis. Not surprised he isn't saying much.

 

[Rare Jewel]

Still thinking of moving up at the draft?

Nonis: Yeah, we would depending on the price. We think, like I think most teams think, that it’s fairly deep in terms of quality, one through 10, 12, 14, so we believe we’re going to get a good player at eight. That said, if we can move up higher and the cost made sense we would do it. We’ve talked to a couple of teams and shared ideas of what would make sense right now. Right now we haven’t found anything that does, but if there’s a deal there that isn’t cost prohibitive we would look to do it, if not we’re happy to pick where we are

What is this Leafs team? The team that took Boston to seven games in 2013 or the team that missed the playoffs this year?

Nonis: I think we collectively, fans, people with the team, you are too negative when things don’t go well and too positive when things do go well. I think our team is right in the mix with a number of other teams that could finish anywhere from four to 10. And that’s what we even said going into the year. We believed we had the makings of a playoff team but so did six other teams that were fighting for the same spot. We’re still a team trying to grow that needs to get deeper, we still need to get more experience. Our Marlies team is looking like they’re starting to give us some options with some players. All those things have to continue, we’re not anywhere near where we need to be. We’re happy with some of the strides we’ve taken, we’re moving in the right direction. But we have a lot of work to do.

Good on both.

It looks like with Shanahan there as well it's going to a much steadier process now.

 

[Budsfan]

Yeah, it's really the fault of expectations. People just got too down on basically the worst team in the NHL after the Olympic break...And for a team that could finish between 4 and 10 in the conference we did a bang up job finishing 12th .

But anyways, a pretty generic bit of responses. But never expect much more these days. No one is going to say what they are actually doing until after they've done it.

Basically Nonis being Nonis. Not surprised he isn't saying much.

This is the point, when a reporter stops him and asks questions about what he will be doing to change the team, he will just give generic responses.

I'm sure though, that he and all the management, owners, coaches, players and fans, want a better outcome this coming year, than the one we just experienced and would like to improve but he can hardly come out and say much because the players are under contract and I'm sure he won't spill the beans, about players they like in the draft.

 

[leafs in five]

I loathe him.

same

 

[TheThrill81*]

What a generic response. Typical nonis/ Burke response. Whatever

Because every other GM in the league has been so forthcoming with details.

 

[Mckay]

Do people really expect detailed step by step plans of what they intend on doing? We will all know soon enough the direction they are taking.

The draft is next week... patience.

 

[leafs in five]

We will all know soon enough the direction they are taking.

i can't wait to see what direction Nonis wants to take, Nonis the GM that signed a guy to a long term deal with open disdain for the years at the end, re-signed Bozak, Kessel, Phaneuf, retroactively declared the Leafs a bubble playoff team, announced that they could be successful under his coach, advertised that the same team had no untouchables.

 

[KuleminFan41]

I loathe him.

Why?

 

[Daisy Jane]

Do people really expect detailed step by step plans of what they intend on doing? We will all know soon enough the direction they are taking.

The draft is next week... patience.

i know - it's like everyone is expecting the management group to do a Shanahan video and break down who they plan to trade, to what team, detailing why this would work, and how when it is all said and done, boom. good team.

of course it's generic answers. holy moses.

 

[Cor]

You guys know every GM in the league gives generic answers right?

Only one who didn't was Burke, and all of you hated him too, so

 

[MakeTheIronSing]

It's never a dull day when you read the Sun. Quality quality stuff.

 

[FlareKnight]

I'm somewhat amazed we made a topic out of a generic interview.

The only thing to talk about is that there is nothing to talk about.

 

[rdawg1234]

I think one fault with Nonis is how safe he can be.

Sometimes thats a great thing, like not giving up a prospect, but other times it's worth it to take a risk and shakeup the team. But I'm afraid he might end up playing it safe and only making very small trades(i.e Franson and Reimer for picks)

 

[Diatomic]

Thank god Nonis's tenure in toronto will end soon enough.

 

[Number13]

I like Nonis.

 

[The Beyonder]

Yeah... Damn you, Nonis, for not revealing your hand weeks before the draft and free agency. You should tell us everything so you could screw yourself and the team over in the process because fans need to be appeased.

The man wasn't going to give anything, and he shouldn't; actions speak louder the words, talk at the podium when you get things done.

 

[FrozenJagrt]

What a generic response. Typical nonis/ Burke response. Whatever

Could those two be any more different?

 

[ShaneFalco]

I'd just like to know what direction this team is going in. What kind of identity do they want to have. No idea........

 

[YearsintheWilderness]

The ****-eating grin on Phaneuf's face says he knows he's not going anywhere.

Narcissists are generally skilled at sussing out whose arses need kissing to allow them to get what they want.

I imagine Domi and Phaneuf are great pals already...