Leafs are the first team in NHL history trying to win by creating a team from the Wingers In through poor defense going against the grain of everything logical and previously proven otherwise for the formula of success.
You wouldn't deploy this strategy even in a non Cap World and its exponentially worse when spending is controlled.
Talk about having your priorities backasswards.
the first team in history? Seriously, Mess? the first? Well then, talk about being rebels. (sigh) In regards to the wingers in, it was to build and support what was already here in place. Ironically enough - we had centres in place. Now, if you are saying - and I don't want to put words in your mouth - Kessel shouldn't have been traded for,then that's what you should say.
It's going to boil down to that trade over and over and over again - and it doesn't matter if you like it/didn't like it/support it - at the end of the day that trade, even with gamebreaker Kessel here has severely damaged the team. Which is why it pisses
me off that A: Burke when he got to Calgary he said wants the team to build through the draft and that not one media member said 'hold the phone, dude, you didn't say that in Toronto." and that B: people still want him here.
Let's call some spades, spades here.
*Cliff got rid of Steen [though Steen wasn't playing 'wellish' here]
*Burke trades 3 high round picks -the same thing we've lambasted JFJ and Quinn for, for Kessel - when the entire city, media and the like were like 'you know - we're good, we're okay, let's rebuild through the draft etc."
*Burke and Nonis + the GM core traded and selected the core we've got together right now, and put together our very weak farm system (with some bright spots - thank you defensive prospects) etc. At the end of the day - it's sort of like we're back where we started before you have to accept to rebuild... with 1/2 the rebuild in place.
I will give Nonis credit. he did try to get some big name free agents here [but RS wanted to go back to Pittsburgh, Ferrance went to Edmonton, and I can't remember who else was there available]. But he loses a lot for not making an attempt. But that's where some of his moves comes into play. Why a 4th rounder for Ryan o Byrne last year and he didn't make a difference? [that could have been parlayed into maybe getting Mike Weaver this year], and so on and so forth. But as I've said - we're hampered by the fact that
A: we're up by the cap
B: almost all players have 5++ year deals
C: our system compared to most sucks and
D: Rielly, Gardiner, Kadri will have to be included in any deal to make things work.
Stephen wins for making Red Wedding into an adjective though.
Highlander23 - just because you haven't heard it reported - doesn't mean the players haven't had one. I remember in December when they were freefalling and I was clamouring why we haven't heard anything because you always hear about it, and it was only watching the raptors highlight pack (and Bernier was in the crowd) that the Raptors guys were like "Yeah, the leafs had a players only meeting yesterday, to figure out what to do with their losing sump." It's the same how Nonis ripped the team a new one after the Carolina game, but no one heard about it until Chris Simpson wrote about it three weeks later after the fact.
and I'm sorry, I am agreeing with Bernier here. If you actually need to have a players meeting at this point of the season, knowing what's going on and seeing what needs to be done, then there are a lot. of. problems and having a meeting aren't going to address them.
I've been saying it for two years now - the Leafs are probably not wanting to do an entire blow up right now - because in three-four years they are turning 100. And they want the All Star Game, the Outdoor Game, the whatever, and wow wouldn't that just put the damper on things if the team was at the bottom of the league [still].
However - I personally feel if it's done now - the leafs should be very competitive in time for the 100th anniversary. It does start with having an aggressive GM who does have the patience, and does have exceptionally good drafting know-how. If Hextall etc aren't the targets, I'd be looking at any farm system that is deep and exceptional, and try to get THAT GM (and this is after I've fired 98 percent of the scouting system here - the European scout we have, Thommie Bergmann or whatever? he can stay).
then I'd look at this team, and like Stephen said - start Red Wedding-ing them.
Goaltending:
Bernier In
Reimer Out
Bring up MacIntyre, see what he can do.
this summer - draft some goaltending.
Defense
Rielly-stays
Gardiner-stays [re-sign him to a bridge contract of 3 years. I guess you can JVR his contract, 3 years, that still gives us RFA rights, if he really impresses, JVR him again for 5 years at a higher bump]
Gleason - move him if we can, but with a NTC and the cap hit it might be difficult.
Franson: out (I don't even want to hear anything about upside, right-hand side, anything. out. out out, out out).
If the rumours that teams still wanted Phaneuf even with that contract extension was true - then I'd be aggressively trying to trade him between the moment the Leafs are officially eliminated from the playoffs and July 1st 11:59am. It's not a "lol, no that won't work." it's - if we can get a reasonable package (including a pick or two), then we do it. the Leafs (well all teams but the Leafs) need to stop falling in love with players, and they have to stop with the whole "but if we let him go, what do we replace him with," as a reason to justify keeping ANYONE.
Gunnarson: can stay. moderate cap hit, and his contract is only 2 years long and is tradeable.
Bring in: Percy, MacWilliam, Granberg. Play the kids, and try to get some insulation for them (as in a Robidas, or whatever). create and draft up the pairs that you think that will work (ie: an offensive/defensive set up with everyone or set up Rielly/Gardiner together and let everyone slot in wherever). it might be scary, but if it develops from now and they grow together as a unit especially with the right coach in place - there you go.
Forwards
JVR: can stay
Kessel: is tricky. I'd keep him. Every team has a floater - I think it determines if the new coach will be like "screw you, you're benched even if it costs me a goal and/or a game to get my message through." vs. meh. do your thing, score 30+ goals. (also - he has a ntc right now, it's limited. I don't know how short his list is now, and I know next year when he kicks in at 8x8, his list IS at 8).
Bozak: a tradeable contract - but that line can stay - they just have to stop freaking be lazy.
Lupul: trade
Kadri: I've said this so many times, just find a post in a Kadri/Jake thread and read why - but if you can get a good deal, I'd trade him. the end, and sign a 2 way defensive minded player.
Kulemin: i have no idea. the fact that he can now play center is helpful. i think it depends on his contract demands
Raymond: is gone, gone gone. gone gone gone gone gone gone gone. and gone.
Bolland: if he's serious with his contract demands and won't budge, I will learn how to drive, and then take him to the airport. the dude flat out said he has issues turning left. I'm not signing him for 5+ years at 5+ million for someone who is having issues turning left.
Clarkson: again - like I said - with him, I would have a significant come to Jesus moment with him and ask him exactly, specifically what he wants. if he wants to be a Leaf, then whatever, and if not - retain 2.5-3 million of his contract and trade him to where he makes sense/fits.
Bodie stays, bring up D'Amigo, and craft your third line with them + again another cheap forward signing.
Orr and McLaren: get out.
McClement, have no idea at this point. i don't know his contract demands.
again - craft a fourth line of players in the system + cheap UFA signings.
next year will be a struggle - but again with the right coach and a proper system that makes sense [ie: not being outshot to death] it might not be so oogly. rinse and repeat.
), but Phaneuf seemed to be yapping something in Phil's direction, and as you can see, Phil tells him to "Shut [his] ****ing mouth".
