What if the Leafs never traded Tuukka Rask?

[hfman]

14 years ago lol

Hey what would have happened if we never traded Bill Derlago to Boston in 1985?

What would the Leafs look like today? Leave your replies down below.

 

[Gabriel426]

The Leafs would have a few Cups if Rask was not traded. As he is the chosen one for the Leafs but JFJ traded him away and the Leafs is being punish. The fortune of the Leafs would have changed if he didnt get traded.
The 2006 draft, Leafs would have drafted Giroux, Marchand, Leo and Reimer. Then in 2007, they would not have traded for Vesa but instead traded down and draft Perron, Subban and Benn. In 2008, they just missed on winning the lottery but with the 2nd overall, they got Doughty. 2009 is the year the Leafs won the lottery and got JT and drafted Ekholm and Hoffman in the later rounds. After that, The Leafs just kept winning Cups after Cups and always be able to draft a great player outside of the 1st round, plus all the players buy in the team mentality and would always give the Leafs a huge discount when resigning.

Should I continue or is that okay.

How about what if we never traded Clark for Sundin but it was Clark for Lindros?
What if The Great One was traded to the Leafs instead of the Kings?
What if Messier came to us instead of the Rangers?
What if the Leafs drafted Brodeur instead of Berehowsky?
What if Leafs actually drafted Russians and Euros in the 1989 draft, they would have Lidstorm, Federov, Bure and Konstantinov.
What if the Leafs actually won a Cup in the 70s?

 

[Leaf Fans]

In the 2005 NHL Entry Draft the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted an 18 year old Tuukka Rask. At the time, due to the NHL Lockout the Leafs have missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1997-98 season. Ed Belfour was 40 years of age and nearing retirement so Leafs GM at the time John Ferguson. JR knew that the Maple Leafs would need a backbone that can carry their team to success for many years to come, so on July 30th 2005, he pulled the trigger on 18 year old Tuukka Rask! At the time, Rask was looking like an absolute stud putting up amazing save percentages for his Ilves tampere team in Finland and was the Goalie the Toronto Maple Leafs needed to replace an aging Ed Belfour. With all that hype and build up surrounding Tuukka Rask, it would seem that he would definitely be a future NHL Star and the Leafs wouldn't even think about trading him, right? Wrong! On June 24th, 2006 the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Rask to the Boston Bruins for a 26 year old Calder Winning Goaltender in Andrew Raycroft. At the time, this trade seemed fair since Rask was still yet to enter the Main Roster and Andrew Raycroft was coming off a Calder winning season and was looking like a future star backbone. Unfortunately, that was the complete opposite. Tuukka Rask went on to be a Superstar Goaltender for the Boston Bruins putting up Stud Stats every year, willing a Vezina in 2013-14, a Jennings in 2019-20 and a Stanley Cup in 2011 while Andrew Raycroft only played 2 short seasons with the Leafs before being Sent off to Colorado. Obviously, this was one of the worst trades in the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise history and I don't know what was going through John Ferguson JRs head when he thought of making this trade. So what do you guys personally think? What would have happened if this were an Alternate Reality and John Ferguson JR never traded Tuukka Rask. What would the next 14 years look like for the Toronto Maple Leafs? Leave your replies down below.

Andrew Raycroft would have a cup or two and Task would leave us with no back up in the play in

 

[Drew311]

Rask wouldn’t have flourished in Toronto at that time. The defense was trash and he’s is a complete hot head. You have to have a team in front of a goaltender to make him successful, and the Leafs didn’t have a good enough team...which was evidenced by the goaltender graveyard that was the Leafs between 2005 - 2015.

 

[Tairy Greene]

Then John Ferguson Jr. who is the current executive director of player personnel for the Boston Bruins, would never have bragged to be the one who got Rask to Boston.

I do find it quite peculiar that they hired him

 

[aingefan]

A butterfly would have flapped its wings and there would have been a pandemic in 2018 or 2022 instead of 2020.

Elsewhere, a dead horse arises from its grave, its shattered bones a testament to the severe beating that sealed its fate.

I was totally going to make a butterfly/pandemic joke.

 

[Cory Kennedy]

On my last forum post, I told the story of Tuukka Rask and how the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted the superstar goaltender but then traded him in a complete robbery to the Bruins for calder winning goaltender Andrew Raycroft who was a one season wonder that would only play 2 short seasons with the Bruins before being traded to Colorado. John Ferguson JR made one of the worst decisions in Franchise History which is why we are gonna hop in the time machine and travel all the way back to 2006. We are gonna create an Alternate Universe And we are gonna see what would happen if John Ferguson JR never traded Tuukka Rask to the Boston Bruins. Note, this is gonna be a long thread so only read if your really bored lets go!

2006-07: To be realistic, like real life, Tuukka Rask still decides to play 1 final season with the Ilves Tampere in LIIGA before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs AHL Affiliate the Toronto Marlies.

2007-08: Tuukka Rask joins the Toronto Marlies and is ready to suit up and be the starting netminder for the Marlies. In real life this team did pretty good ammasing 50 wins and going all the way to the conference finals. In this timeline, Tuukka Rask and the Marlies finish with a 53-19-3 record and unlike real life, they finish the Job and capture the Calder Cup! Tuukka Rask played 42 games won 30 and had a .913%.

2008-09: After his outstanding performance in the AHL, John Ferguson JR calls up Tuukka Rask to join the Pro Roster and replace a struggling Vesa Toskala as the starting goalie. The leafs, end up putting up 89 pts a 38-34-10 record, and they finish 4th in the Northeast division. Tuukka played 48 games, won 29 and had a .905%, not bad for a rookie goalie.

2009-10: In Tuukkas sophomore season with the Leafs, Toronto managed to acquire a hot headed american goal scorer in Phil Kessel, new faces in Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak, a leader Defensemen in Dion Phaneuf and much more. Things are looking good for Leafs Nation. This season the Leafs Managed to finish 10th in the Eastern conference with 85 pts, Tuukka played 45 games, won 32 and put up a .918%, Tuukka Rask is showing improvement at 23 years of age.

2010-11: Going into the 2010-11 season, the Toronto Media is heavily on this leafs team as they still can't seem to make the Playoffs even with all the assets they acquired and moves they made over the off-season, and to add more fire onto the pit, those 1st and 2nd round picks Brian Burke traded to the Bruins ended up being Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton, so the pressure is on this team. James Reimer has been called up to the Leafs to back up Tuukka Rask. This season the Leafs manage to put up 95 pts and a 42-29-11 record, beating out the New York Rangers to secure their first playoff Birth since 2004! In the first round the Leafs are taking on the back to back presidents trophy winning Washington Capitals and end up losing in 5 games, this is realistic since at this time the Leafs are a very young and inexperienced playoff team and still have alot to learn. But after all of that, hope has been restored in Toronto! And as for Tuukka

2011-12: In the 2011-12 Season, the Leafs are coming off their first playoff birth in 7 years and fans are heavily behind this team, this season they end up finishing with 86 pts and 10th in the Eastern Conference, they may have missed the playoffs but yet again they are still a young team and have a bright future ahead of them. Tuukka Rask played 44 games and finished with a .910%.

2012-13: This year, the NHLPA failed to reach a bargaining agreement and Team Owners and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman agreed to go into Lockout. Despite all teams playing only 48 games, they still managed to make the Playoffs happen. Tuukka Rask manage to play the best season of his career and the Leafs managed to finish with a 30-14-5 record and amassed 65 pts winning the Atlantic Division for the first time in ages! In the first round, they take on their provincial rivals the Ottawa Senators and we see the battle of Ontario in the first round since 2004! The leafs managed to win the Series in 5 games then Upset the Conference Winning Pittsburgh Penguins in 6 games and then we see a Toronto vs Boston Eastern Conference Final! And unlike real life, the Leafs managed to overtake the Bruins in 7 games and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 46 years! Tuukka has just entered the prime of his career. For the first time in ages, all of Canada has rallied behind this team and Beleafers have started to Beleaf again! But just like real life, the Blackhawks managed to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games to capture the Stanley Cup. I think this was fair since Toews and Kane were on fire at this point in time and I don't think they would lose to a young team thats only in their 2nd appearence in 9 years. All though it wasn't quite the Fairy tale ending, this was still a Playoff run Leaf Fans have dreamed about for a long time Beleafers have finally started to Beleaf again, well see what the 2013-14 season brings.

2013-14: We are now entering the 2013-14 season and unfourtntly, since the leafs finished with 86 pts in 2012, they don't end up getting the 5th overall pick which means they don't draft Morgan Rielly. However the Leafs are coming off a Stanley Cup Final playoff run and fans are excited for what the 2013-14 season has in store. Keep in mind that this was the season that Wild Card seeding first plays into effect. Tuukka Rask ends up playing the best season of his career as the Leafs end up finishing 2nd in the Atlantic Division with 105 pts. They up defeating the Tampa Bay Lighting in 7 games in the first round but end up losing to the Presidents Trophy winning Tim Thomas and the Boston Bruins in the 2nd round. Not as good of a playoff run as last season but in Hockey, things like this take time and Rask ends up winning the Vezina Trophy. Tuukka Rask signs a 8 year deal with the team.

2014-15: In real life, this was the Season that Phil Kessel got traded but that had to do with obvious reasons for the leafs poor play and media breathing down his neck so in this timeline none of that happens and the Leafs keep Kessel Abroad. In 2014-15, players like Kadri Bozak and Van Riemsdyk are starting to develop and this team is looking hot. The leafs with their Extra Cap Space sign one of their Forwards Leo Komarov to a 4 million dollar deal. This core is looking hot! However, tough luck for Toronto this season they managed to play ridiculous and end up finishing with 94 pts missing the Playoffs. Randy Carlyle ends up getting fired and like real life, the Leafs hire Mike Babcock as their new Head Coach! Lets see what next season has to offer. Phil Kessel signs a 8 year deal with the Leafs.

2015-16: This season, This season the Toronto Maple Leafs unlike in real life finishing Dead Last, Managed to finish with 95 pts and advancing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Hiring a New Coach and making a few roster changes payed off as the leafs finish 3rd in the atlantic and are headed to the playoffs! But unfourtantly once again, they managed to fall short in 7 games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2016-17: Since the Leafs were better the last 2 years, William Nylander Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews don't get drafted. So hey, maybe the Leafs trading Tuukka was a good idea after all! But anyway the Leafs are coming off another playoff collapse the Leafs are left with Barely Any money in Cap so some Important Players need to go, Dion Phaneuf gets Traded to the Edmonton oilers for Young Forward Leon Draisaitl! On paper this trade looked good for Edmonton as Toronto was getting a future Offensive threat who was in his 2nd year on his Entry level deal and Dion Phaneuf had been a Shut Down Defensive player for the leafs and Edmonton needed Defense, little did the Oilers know, this trade would haunt them in the future. This season Tuukka Rask played like Tuukka Rask putting up Tuukka Rask numbers and the Draisaitl amassed 35 goals to help the leafs finish with 50 wins and 107 pts to win the Atlantic Division! This trade was a Robbery for Toronto as it wouldn't turn out well for Edmonton. Toronto ended up knocking out the New York Ranger in the 1st round then went on to play the Montreal Canadiens in the Conference Semi Finals, they won the series in 7 games as Montreal gave it their all and the Leafs were back in the Conference Finals! Against the Pittsburgh Penguins! They ended up defeating Crosby and the Penguins in 6 games and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in years! And for the first time in 50 years, Toronto Finally Managed to it! They beat the Nashville Predators in 6 games to win the Stanley Cup! Phil Kessel won the Conn Smyth and clearly that Draisaitl trade immediatly backfired for the Edmonton Oilers.

2017-18: As the leafs are coming off their first Stanley Cup in 50 years, they had alot new prospects and they were ready to get back into play in the 2017-18 season, They finished with 110 pts and took on the Boston Bruins in the first round, They ended up winning that series in 5 games but would fall to a strong Tampa Bay Lightning team in 7 once again.

2018-19: The Leafs are coming off a 2nd round defeat to the Tampa Bay Lighting and ended up resigning JVR and Tyler Bozak in the Off-season. Like real life they end up finishing 3rd in the Atlantic but this time fall to the Boston Bruins in the first round. I guess this is the stage where the Leafs enter a rebuild.

2019-20: And the final season of this Alternate time line, this season the Coronavirus hit the NHL hard and hockey was held off until August, Ilya Mikhaiyev has just joined the team and the leafs are looking to get right back into it. They finish 2nd in the Atlantic Division and defeat The Tampa Bay Lightning in round 1, they end up playing the Bruins in the 2nd round and they win that rematch in 7 games, then they fall to a strong Islanders team in the Conference finals.





If you have read this all the way through you are a legend, this forum took plenty of research, and about 2-3 to write. This is definitly one of the longest forums on HFBoards most likely and if you read all the way through thank you, Im exhausted and once again this forum took so long to write. Anyway if you wanna see more "What Ifs" Show some Support Thank you.

 

[WestCoastLeafs]

What if the Leafs never traded Tuukka Rask?

 

[Stephen]

We don't need a sequel. The original wasn't that popular.

 

[Cleetus]

We don't need a sequel. The original wasn't that popular.

the op is really interested in the what if with Tuukka, gotta tip my cap to the poster, persistent....

 

[Mess]

I was in actual attendance in person at the entry draft in Vancouver back in 2006 when the Rask trade went down on the draft floor.

I remember the shock that went through my system at the time it was announced in complete disbelief that Leafs would trade Rask.

 

[colchar]

What if Fraser had called Gretzky for the high stick? Just as stupid a question as the one in the OP.

 

[Gabriel426]

On my last forum post, I told the story of Tuukka Rask and how the Toronto Maple Leafs drafted the superstar goaltender but then traded him in a complete robbery to the Bruins for calder winning goaltender Andrew Raycroft who was a one season wonder that would only play 2 short seasons with the Bruins before being traded to Colorado. John Ferguson JR made one of the worst decisions in Franchise History which is why we are gonna hop in the time machine and travel all the way back to 2006. We are gonna create an Alternate Universe And we are gonna see what would happen if John Ferguson JR never traded Tuukka Rask to the Boston Bruins. Note, this is gonna be a long thread so only read if your really bored lets go!

2006-07: To be realistic, like real life, Tuukka Rask still decides to play 1 final season with the Ilves Tampere in LIIGA before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs AHL Affiliate the Toronto Marlies.

2007-08: Tuukka Rask joins the Toronto Marlies and is ready to suit up and be the starting netminder for the Marlies. In real life this team did pretty good ammasing 50 wins and going all the way to the conference finals. In this timeline, Tuukka Rask and the Marlies finish with a 53-19-3 record and unlike real life, they finish the Job and capture the Calder Cup! Tuukka Rask played 42 games won 30 and had a .913%.

2008-09: After his outstanding performance in the AHL, John Ferguson JR calls up Tuukka Rask to join the Pro Roster and replace a struggling Vesa Toskala as the starting goalie. The leafs, end up putting up 89 pts a 38-34-10 record, and they finish 4th in the Northeast division. Tuukka played 48 games, won 29 and had a .905%, not bad for a rookie goalie.

2009-10: In Tuukkas sophomore season with the Leafs, Toronto managed to acquire a hot headed american goal scorer in Phil Kessel, new faces in Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak, a leader Defensemen in Dion Phaneuf and much more. Things are looking good for Leafs Nation. This season the Leafs Managed to finish 10th in the Eastern conference with 85 pts, Tuukka played 45 games, won 32 and put up a .918%, Tuukka Rask is showing improvement at 23 years of age.

2010-11: Going into the 2010-11 season, the Toronto Media is heavily on this leafs team as they still can't seem to make the Playoffs even with all the assets they acquired and moves they made over the off-season, and to add more fire onto the pit, those 1st and 2nd round picks Brian Burke traded to the Bruins ended up being Tyler Seguin and Dougie Hamilton, so the pressure is on this team. James Reimer has been called up to the Leafs to back up Tuukka Rask. This season the Leafs manage to put up 95 pts and a 42-29-11 record, beating out the New York Rangers to secure their first playoff Birth since 2004! In the first round the Leafs are taking on the back to back presidents trophy winning Washington Capitals and end up losing in 5 games, this is realistic since at this time the Leafs are a very young and inexperienced playoff team and still have alot to learn. But after all of that, hope has been restored in Toronto! And as for Tuukka

2011-12: In the 2011-12 Season, the Leafs are coming off their first playoff birth in 7 years and fans are heavily behind this team, this season they end up finishing with 86 pts and 10th in the Eastern Conference, they may have missed the playoffs but yet again they are still a young team and have a bright future ahead of them. Tuukka Rask played 44 games and finished with a .910%.

2012-13: This year, the NHLPA failed to reach a bargaining agreement and Team Owners and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman agreed to go into Lockout. Despite all teams playing only 48 games, they still managed to make the Playoffs happen. Tuukka Rask manage to play the best season of his career and the Leafs managed to finish with a 30-14-5 record and amassed 65 pts winning the Atlantic Division for the first time in ages! In the first round, they take on their provincial rivals the Ottawa Senators and we see the battle of Ontario in the first round since 2004! The leafs managed to win the Series in 5 games then Upset the Conference Winning Pittsburgh Penguins in 6 games and then we see a Toronto vs Boston Eastern Conference Final! And unlike real life, the Leafs managed to overtake the Bruins in 7 games and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 46 years! Tuukka has just entered the prime of his career. For the first time in ages, all of Canada has rallied behind this team and Beleafers have started to Beleaf again! But just like real life, the Blackhawks managed to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games to capture the Stanley Cup. I think this was fair since Toews and Kane were on fire at this point in time and I don't think they would lose to a young team thats only in their 2nd appearence in 9 years. All though it wasn't quite the Fairy tale ending, this was still a Playoff run Leaf Fans have dreamed about for a long time Beleafers have finally started to Beleaf again, well see what the 2013-14 season brings.

2013-14: We are now entering the 2013-14 season and unfourtntly, since the leafs finished with 86 pts in 2012, they don't end up getting the 5th overall pick which means they don't draft Morgan Rielly. However the Leafs are coming off a Stanley Cup Final playoff run and fans are excited for what the 2013-14 season has in store. Keep in mind that this was the season that Wild Card seeding first plays into effect. Tuukka Rask ends up playing the best season of his career as the Leafs end up finishing 2nd in the Atlantic Division with 105 pts. They up defeating the Tampa Bay Lighting in 7 games in the first round but end up losing to the Presidents Trophy winning Tim Thomas and the Boston Bruins in the 2nd round. Not as good of a playoff run as last season but in Hockey, things like this take time and Rask ends up winning the Vezina Trophy. Tuukka Rask signs a 8 year deal with the team.

2014-15: In real life, this was the Season that Phil Kessel got traded but that had to do with obvious reasons for the leafs poor play and media breathing down his neck so in this timeline none of that happens and the Leafs keep Kessel Abroad. In 2014-15, players like Kadri Bozak and Van Riemsdyk are starting to develop and this team is looking hot. The leafs with their Extra Cap Space sign one of their Forwards Leo Komarov to a 4 million dollar deal. This core is looking hot! However, tough luck for Toronto this season they managed to play ridiculous and end up finishing with 94 pts missing the Playoffs. Randy Carlyle ends up getting fired and like real life, the Leafs hire Mike Babcock as their new Head Coach! Lets see what next season has to offer. Phil Kessel signs a 8 year deal with the Leafs.

2015-16: This season, This season the Toronto Maple Leafs unlike in real life finishing Dead Last, Managed to finish with 95 pts and advancing to the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Hiring a New Coach and making a few roster changes payed off as the leafs finish 3rd in the atlantic and are headed to the playoffs! But unfourtantly once again, they managed to fall short in 7 games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2016-17: Since the Leafs were better the last 2 years, William Nylander Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews don't get drafted. So hey, maybe the Leafs trading Tuukka was a good idea after all! But anyway the Leafs are coming off another playoff collapse the Leafs are left with Barely Any money in Cap so some Important Players need to go, Dion Phaneuf gets Traded to the Edmonton oilers for Young Forward Leon Draisaitl! On paper this trade looked good for Edmonton as Toronto was getting a future Offensive threat who was in his 2nd year on his Entry level deal and Dion Phaneuf had been a Shut Down Defensive player for the leafs and Edmonton needed Defense, little did the Oilers know, this trade would haunt them in the future. This season Tuukka Rask played like Tuukka Rask putting up Tuukka Rask numbers and the Draisaitl amassed 35 goals to help the leafs finish with 50 wins and 107 pts to win the Atlantic Division! This trade was a Robbery for Toronto as it wouldn't turn out well for Edmonton. Toronto ended up knocking out the New York Ranger in the 1st round then went on to play the Montreal Canadiens in the Conference Semi Finals, they won the series in 7 games as Montreal gave it their all and the Leafs were back in the Conference Finals! Against the Pittsburgh Penguins! They ended up defeating Crosby and the Penguins in 6 games and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in years! And for the first time in 50 years, Toronto Finally Managed to it! They beat the Nashville Predators in 6 games to win the Stanley Cup! Phil Kessel won the Conn Smyth and clearly that Draisaitl trade immediatly backfired for the Edmonton Oilers.

2017-18: As the leafs are coming off their first Stanley Cup in 50 years, they had alot new prospects and they were ready to get back into play in the 2017-18 season, They finished with 110 pts and took on the Boston Bruins in the first round, They ended up winning that series in 5 games but would fall to a strong Tampa Bay Lightning team in 7 once again.

2018-19: The Leafs are coming off a 2nd round defeat to the Tampa Bay Lighting and ended up resigning JVR and Tyler Bozak in the Off-season. Like real life they end up finishing 3rd in the Atlantic but this time fall to the Boston Bruins in the first round. I guess this is the stage where the Leafs enter a rebuild.

2019-20: And the final season of this Alternate time line, this season the Coronavirus hit the NHL hard and hockey was held off until August, Ilya Mikhaiyev has just joined the team and the leafs are looking to get right back into it. They finish 2nd in the Atlantic Division and defeat The Tampa Bay Lightning in round 1, they end up playing the Bruins in the 2nd round and they win that rematch in 7 games, then they fall to a strong Islanders team in the Conference finals.





If you have read this all the way through you are a legend, this forum took plenty of research, and about 2-3 to write. This is definitly one of the longest forums on HFBoards most likely and if you read all the way through thank you, Im exhausted and once again this forum took so long to write. Anyway if you wanna see more "What Ifs" Show some Support Thank you.

Just one question, how did the Leafs managed to win the Cup with a defense without Reilly and Dion in 2016-17?

 

[Langdon Alger]

What if you used paragraphs?

 

[Tak7]

Nothing would have changed

 

[leburn98]

Agreed. I also believe Seguin would have had a similar outcome here as he did in Boston with our management at the time. Hell, how long did it take Dougie Hamilton to really be a top pair dman? The 18-19 season? Yeah, no way our media wouldn't have run him out of town before then had he been drafted by the Leafs as well considering his alleged "quirkiness".

This is something that is often overlooked in these 'what if" scenarios. Everyone assumes that the player would be the same player he is today. Reality is, the environment plays a big part in many players development. It's one thing to join the Bruins with a young core of Bergeron, Krejci, Chara, Marchand, Lucic, etc. as a backup for Tim Thomas. It's another to do the same with the 2009-2010 Leafs. This is not even considering the toxic media surrounding this team and market.

 

[Tak7]

This is something that is often overlooked in these 'what if" scenarios. Everyone assumes that the player would be the same player he is today. Reality is, the environment plays a big part in many players development. It's one thing to join the Bruins with a young core of Bergeron, Krejci, Chara, Marchand, Lucic, etc. as a backup for Tim Thomas. It's another to do the same with the 2009-2010 Leafs. This is not even considering the toxic media surrounding this team and market.

Great point.

Not that Boston is a breeze, but the idea of Tuukka Rask, who already has an issue with temperament, being completely calm and in control in a tire fire media market such as Toronto, doesn't jive in my head.

 

[TheScandal89]

Most likely we would have ruined him but, and many will not agree, but he has a little Leaf in him...the guy is a bit of a playoff choker. Here me out

Yes his name is on Lord Stanley, however, he rode the Bench to Tim Thomas that cup run. Lets review his significant runs as a starter.

2010: Up in the series 3-0 against the Flyers and the Bruins blow it. Up 3-0 in game 7, and yet again, blew it

2011: Win the Cup with Tim Thomas

2013: Down 3-2 in the Cup finals series to the Hawks, the Bruins were leading game 6 2-1 with less 2 minutes, and ended up allowing 2 quick goals to lose in regulation.

2019: While it was the team full of Injuries, they were still upset by the Blues.

I think there is at least a case here, the B's have had a great team in the Chara/Bergeron/Krejci era but only have 1 cup to show for it. With that said, I would be happy if we could win just once and they've been the better team, but hey man, its just my opinion

 

[Subway Schenn]

I was in actual attendance in person at the entry draft in Vancouver back in 2006 when the Rask trade went down on the draft floor.

I remember the shock that went through my system at the time it was announced in complete disbelief that Leafs would trade Rask.

Same here, I had been intently watching Rask in Finland and every start at the preceding WJC and when it happened most struggled with the fact that we chose Pogge over him (and let's not try to change history, there were many Leafs fans who shared this preference with Pogge representing Team Canada). Raycroft was a recent Calder winner and there was always the hope that he'd be an above average starter for us.