Drew75
Registered User
- Sep 5, 2005
- 2,518
- 0
With the dog days of summer in full swing, I was pondering my excitement for the rebuild (actually, just "build" if you ask Shanny). While the casual fan is mostly concerned with what the big club does on the ice – we on HF Boards – those who can name the Leafs scouts, nutritionists, and players on AHL contracts – are far more invested in the journey of building this team.
We know the product on the ice this year for the Leafs will not win a lot of games, but it will still be fun cheering for guys like Matthias and Arcobello to play well while speculating the return we'll get for them at the deadline. It will be fun seeing if Kadri steps up in his last shot to become part of the core, or if Bernier and JVR can return to form.
The most fun this year will likely be watching the Marlies, and all of our prospects for that matter as they develop in their respective leagues. How does Nylander do as a #1 Center for the Marlies? Does Kapanen step up beside him, and does Brown continue to prove the doubters wrong? Who steps forward on the Blue line to exceed expectations? Can Marner win the scoring title again? Can Timashov? Can Dzierkals shoot for the rookie-of-the-year in the Q?
And then there's the upcoming draft. With potentially multiple picks in almost every round, we may follow this draft class closer and longer than we ever have. How many more picks will we get? Who will potentially fall enough to garner a 'steal'?
With the start of the 2016/17 season – and for the next couple of seasons afterwards, we should start to see the outer shell of a core start to take shape. As kids like Nylander, Marner, Gauthier, Kapanen, and Brown begin to graduate, the on ice product will start to gradually improve. We'll begin aiming for a climb in the standings rather than a bottom 5 finish. Loaded with one of the league's top prospects pools (post 2016 draft), a wealth of assets, cap space to burn, and (finally) a respected organization that can potentially attract talent – will we have a shot a big name UFA? Will we be in a position to steal a top end RFA from a cap-strapped team?
Don't get me wrong – I am very excited at the prospect of my Leafs finally doing things right and becoming a perennial contender. I would project that we'll be fighting for a playoff spot in 2-3 years, with a steady progression up the standing from there. I can't wait to shut up my friends who have spent years making Leaf jokes at my expense. I don't know what I'd do if we won a cup – but it would involve days of intense celebration and multiple of bottles of good whiskey!
However – I, like I assume many on these boards, also LOVE the process of the build. I love having a lot of draft picks, picking at the top end of the draft, watching the tantalizing potential of our kids as they develop. I love the fact that on any day there could be a huge trade with another core player being shipped out.
I can't remember the last time I've been this excited to be a Leafs fan.
It's like Christmas morning with the presents wrapped and overflowing out the bottom of the tree – that anticipation and excitement of colorfully wrapped boxes and your imagination spinning with the possibilities of what those boxes could contain.
Soon enough, those presents will be unwrapped, and we'll know what we have. That excited anticipation will be over, even though we'll still have the fun and joy of a potentially great team.
I just thought that during these slower days, it might be worth taking a moment to appreciate the fun and exciting journey we're embarking on. Things will change on these boards soon enough, as the picks get later, the trades are fewer and further between, and the Leafs are playing hockey longer each year. We'll eventually move from topics around how well or where to develop our prospects, excitement of who to can be part of the future core, and move into things like what is that last piece of the puzzle we need.
What are some of the things during this journey that you are most excited about? As much as we all want to win – being honest – what part of excitement during the building process do you think you'll miss the most?
We know the product on the ice this year for the Leafs will not win a lot of games, but it will still be fun cheering for guys like Matthias and Arcobello to play well while speculating the return we'll get for them at the deadline. It will be fun seeing if Kadri steps up in his last shot to become part of the core, or if Bernier and JVR can return to form.
The most fun this year will likely be watching the Marlies, and all of our prospects for that matter as they develop in their respective leagues. How does Nylander do as a #1 Center for the Marlies? Does Kapanen step up beside him, and does Brown continue to prove the doubters wrong? Who steps forward on the Blue line to exceed expectations? Can Marner win the scoring title again? Can Timashov? Can Dzierkals shoot for the rookie-of-the-year in the Q?
And then there's the upcoming draft. With potentially multiple picks in almost every round, we may follow this draft class closer and longer than we ever have. How many more picks will we get? Who will potentially fall enough to garner a 'steal'?
With the start of the 2016/17 season – and for the next couple of seasons afterwards, we should start to see the outer shell of a core start to take shape. As kids like Nylander, Marner, Gauthier, Kapanen, and Brown begin to graduate, the on ice product will start to gradually improve. We'll begin aiming for a climb in the standings rather than a bottom 5 finish. Loaded with one of the league's top prospects pools (post 2016 draft), a wealth of assets, cap space to burn, and (finally) a respected organization that can potentially attract talent – will we have a shot a big name UFA? Will we be in a position to steal a top end RFA from a cap-strapped team?
Don't get me wrong – I am very excited at the prospect of my Leafs finally doing things right and becoming a perennial contender. I would project that we'll be fighting for a playoff spot in 2-3 years, with a steady progression up the standing from there. I can't wait to shut up my friends who have spent years making Leaf jokes at my expense. I don't know what I'd do if we won a cup – but it would involve days of intense celebration and multiple of bottles of good whiskey!
However – I, like I assume many on these boards, also LOVE the process of the build. I love having a lot of draft picks, picking at the top end of the draft, watching the tantalizing potential of our kids as they develop. I love the fact that on any day there could be a huge trade with another core player being shipped out.
I can't remember the last time I've been this excited to be a Leafs fan.
- We have what could potentially be one of the best and brightest management teams in the league.
- We have a scouting department that is getting kudos and credit from media and other teams alike
- We have a potentially top 10/12 prospect pool, with a shot at being top 5 a year from now.
It's like Christmas morning with the presents wrapped and overflowing out the bottom of the tree – that anticipation and excitement of colorfully wrapped boxes and your imagination spinning with the possibilities of what those boxes could contain.
Soon enough, those presents will be unwrapped, and we'll know what we have. That excited anticipation will be over, even though we'll still have the fun and joy of a potentially great team.
I just thought that during these slower days, it might be worth taking a moment to appreciate the fun and exciting journey we're embarking on. Things will change on these boards soon enough, as the picks get later, the trades are fewer and further between, and the Leafs are playing hockey longer each year. We'll eventually move from topics around how well or where to develop our prospects, excitement of who to can be part of the future core, and move into things like what is that last piece of the puzzle we need.
What are some of the things during this journey that you are most excited about? As much as we all want to win – being honest – what part of excitement during the building process do you think you'll miss the most?
we're Leafs fans dear. they'll always make fun of our team. 
eat it with a spoon 
