When have the Leafs ever been able to 'build' a team?

[BallzDeep]

Everybody is talking about the leafs rebuilding, when in recent years have they been able to do this, by build I mean draft well and trade players for good young prospects....never. In the 90's it was the Gilmour trade that made them good for a few years, but none were young prospects.

The Sundin trade was decent but they weren't smart enough to get him any help, except for Mogilny at the end of his career, they mostly bring in overpriced free agents. Quinn had a couple good years, if you count getting to the second round acceptable, most franchises don't, but the leafs do.

This notion that the leafs are going to rebuild is laughable, the only drafted player any good is Kaberle and he's unrliable alot of nights. All they're young players are average or below. They've never been able to rebuild before, so why now?

 

[slowandeasy]

Everybody is talking about the leafs rebuilding, when in recent years have they been able to do this, by build I mean draft well and trade players for good young prospects....never.

The pessimist would say that the glass is mostly empty..

The "Love Guru: would say that the world is one of balance, and when things go bad, they are eventually going to go well

The optimist would say that just means that the odds then in our favour.

MLSE and The Teachers Pension will say who cares as long as we keep making obscene amounts of profit!!!

 

[hunter001]

Everybody is talking about the leafs rebuilding, when in recent years have they been able to do this, by build I mean draft well and trade players for good young prospects....never.

To answer you question, the early/mid 70's, but the point they have the chance to build a team not that they will. Time will tell.

 

[basketcase]

I don't think it's a matter of the team being able to but more about the fans not having patience for.

Having seen a few Marlies games this year, I think it's the direction to go. The kids might not be NHL star caliber yet but they are a lot more fun to watch than 35 year old slow assed defensemen.

 

[Hockey_MLnut]

Quinn had a couple good years, if you count getting to the second round acceptable

The Leafs twice got to the conference finals which is the 3rd round.

 

[BallzDeep]

The pessimist would say that the glass is mostly empty..

The "Love Guru: would say that the world is one of balance, and when things go bad, they are eventually going to go well

The optimist would say that just means that the odds then in our favour.

MLSE and The Teachers Pension will say who cares as long as we keep making obscene amounts of profit!!!

Your last statement is said by everybody, however if they make the playoffs the bottom line even gets fatter because the players aren't paid and every home game is millions, most teams rely on the playoffs to break even or turn a profit.

 

[to-guy69]

Every single team in the NHL since 1984 until now has been able to draft a TRUE franchise player except Toronto (sorry Clark and Damphousse are not franchise players). That just about says it all right there.

 

[new2game]

Au contraire..

Every single team in the NHL since 1984 until now has been able to draft a TRUE franchise player except Toronto (sorry Clark and Damphousse are not franchise players). That just about says it all right there.

...I'm sure if we went through the league..we'd find more than a few teams that have not accomplished this...and some that have only managed to do it in the last couple of years....but your point is well taken...considering where the Leafs could have potentially drafted because of their lousy records....but always loved trading picks away. I would only argue that Clark certainly had that potential had he been healthy his whole career..

on a somewhat related topic...Luke Schenn...why this guy??...I thought the Leafs were stocked full of younger D guys...Colliacovo, Stralman,White..even Kronwall is relatively young...I'd rather they taken a forward....or is this Schenn guy in the Dion Phaneuf mold??

 

[JD75]

Every single team in the NHL since 1984 until now has been able to draft a TRUE franchise player except Toronto (sorry Clark and Damphousse are not franchise players). That just about says it all right there.

I have to disagree. Wendel Clark was the face of the Leafs for many years. He was in my opinion, the ultimate power forward before his style of play put him on the injured reserve for far too long. Wendel was definitely a franchise player.

 

[JD75]

...I'm sure if we went through the league..we'd find more than a few teams that have not accomplished this...and some that have only managed to do it in the last couple of years....but your point is well taken...considering where the Leafs could have potentially drafted because of their lousy records....but always loved trading picks away. I would only argue that Clark certainly had that potential had he been healthy his whole career..

on a somewhat related topic...Luke Schenn...why this guy??...I thought the Leafs were stocked full of younger D guys...Colliacovo, Stralman,White..even Kronwall is relatively young...I'd rather they taken a forward....or is this Schenn guy in the Dion Phaneuf mold??

I haven't seen enough of Schenn personally, but from what I've read, he's in the mold of an Adam Foote/Dion Phaneuf mold and has the potential to be team captain. I was really happy with this pick!

 

[JD75]

The Leafs twice got to the conference finals which is the 3rd round.

And one goal away from the finals vs Montreal in 93. (lost to LA in Game 7)
see this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlQhZv3LpKw

 

[Neverenuff$]

I have to disagree. Wendel Clark was the face of the Leafs for many years. He was in my opinion, the ultimate power forward before his style of play put him on the injured reserve for far too long. Wendel was definitely a franchise player.

Wendel was the face of the leafs ... and the best player the leafs franchise had... but He wasn't a Franchise player in the context mentioned.. ie the Guy you build a team around (successfully)

 

[slowandeasy]

Wendel was the face of the leafs ... and the best player the leafs franchise had...

Better than Sittler? Rick Vaive?

 

[iam0234]

My prediction is they will finally learn how to build a team by 2067 and win the next Stanley of the franchise since 1967, while celebrating a century of Cup thirst.

 

[Neverenuff$]

Better than Sittler? Rick Vaive?

No no, I mean "at the time"

 

[Clear History]

Does anyone remember Dick Beddoes and his radio show back in the mid '70s? I recall him saying back then that the Leafs would not win the Cup before the year 2000.

 

[lawyerman]

I remember Dick Beddoes. He was a miserable old sod but he was right on the money most of the time. The Leafs have had bad management, scouting, etc. for many years (JFJ for 5 years was more than enough). I'm not sure when everything will come to fruition for them if ever but they seem to be going in the right direction.

I am glad to see Wellwood and Raycroft gone. I think Tucker always gave it his all and I am kind of sad to see him go. If he was making 2 million per season, I think he would still be with the team.

There are such high expectations for any player to play for the Leafs and it seems that no one is ever good enough to satisfy Leafs fans.

Generally speaking, people have heavily criticized every Leafs player that has ever played for this team. I hope Luke Schenn blossoms into a solid NHL defenceman.

 

[new2game]

I gotta bash you for this one...

There are such high expectations for any player to play for the Leafs and it seems that no one is ever good enough to satisfy Leafs fans.

Generally speaking, people have heavily criticized every Leafs player that has ever played for this team. I hope Luke Schenn blossoms into a solid NHL defenceman.

High expectations?.....Expecting to be in the Finals a few times in the last 40 yrs is expecting too much??....I see Leaf fans giving guys like Sittler, Roberts, Gilmour, Clarke , Sundin..(the list could go on and on) more adoration and respect than Wings fans give their heralded Captain Yzerman,, who was on 3 Cup winners, or Lidstrom, who has been on 4...

...can you imagine the Captain that ever brings the Leafs another Cup...he'll be recommended for sainthood....exactly the reason Burke wants to be on the Leafs as GM...if he ever brought the Cup to Toronto....he'd be more revered than any executive in any sport...

As far as Schenn??...I was really surprised at that pick...it's not like they don't have enough potentially good young D men.. Stralman,White,Colliacivo, Kronwell...this team needed a scorer..and on that count, I think Schenn was a less than desirable choice....


N2G

 

[lawyerman]

High expectations?.....Expecting to be in the Finals a few times in the last 40 yrs is expecting too much??....I see Leaf fans giving guys like Sittler, Roberts, Gilmour, Clarke , Sundin..(the list could go on and on) more adoration and respect than Wings fans give their heralded Captain Yzerman,, who was on 3 Cup winners, or Lidstrom, who has been on 4...

...can you imagine the Captain that ever brings the Leafs another Cup...he'll be recommended for sainthood....exactly the reason Burke wants to be on the Leafs as GM...if he ever brought the Cup to Toronto....he'd be more revered than any executive in any sport...

As far as Schenn??...I was really surprised at that pick...it's not like they don't have enough potentially good young D men.. Stralman,White,Colliacivo, Kronwell...this team needed a scorer..and on that count, I think Schenn was a less than desirable choice....


N2G

How could you say that Schenn is a less than desirable choice? Have you seen him play? He hasn't even played one game for the Leafs and there are people down on this guy already. He is supposed to be a tough, stay-at-home defenceman and Cliff must have wanted him pretty badly in order to trade up with the Islanders. I guess being negative and having high expecations run rampant.

I should re-phrase my earlier post. The media and general public put very high expectations on Leaf captains and sometimes unfairly. We have had some very good captains in the past but you can't blame the captain if the rest of the team sucks. The fans want a Stanley Cup and not just getting to the finals. There has always been some sort of negativity towards Leaf captains (especially Sundin) and I don't think you know how revered Yzerman is in Detroit. The guy is considered a saint and no one has a bad thing to say about him. It's quite obvious that you have never been to Detroit and see Yzerman play. I have and I am telling you they absolutely love the guy. Lidstrom is not far behind. Sundin gets bashed here on a regular basis by the media and the fans.

I could only imagine what it would be like if the Leafs win the cup. The captain would be a hero and a saint.

As for Toronto defencemen, White is not bad but for an offensive minded defenceman, I expect a little more. He is muscled of the puck quite easily.
Stralman will get better when he adjusts to the North American game and he had been doing a steady job. Even though I really like Coliacovo, he is very injury prone. Kronwall is pretty solid defensively but he has had a hard time cracking the Leafs lineup.

It's quite obvious management wants to unload salary and McCabe looks like he is on his way out. With the uncertain status of Coliacovo (injuries), the Leafs defence will look something like this at the beginning of the year:

Kaberle
Kubina
White
Coliacovo
Stralman
Schenn
Kronwall

 

[pdson2]

And let the race for 30th begin......this should get them off to a good start

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