Leaf Nation - A Bright Future?

[Hard Idle]

Since the Leafs have a proven track record of drafting duds, we are probably better off with a proven 22 year old 35 goal scorer like Kessel.

That's a logical compromise. The Leafs have drafted poorly. And they haven't developed a truly premuim NHL forward since Damphouse. The few guys who reached the next best level all did so with other organizations.

Besides, if they kept that draft pick, they probably would have won just enough to play themselves out of the lottery like all the other times ... this outfit can't even master losing properly, let alone winning.

Up until the Kessel deal, the Leafs also hadn't acuired a premium NHL forward (who WASN'T already washd up when he got here...) since Sundin. Kessel isn't as good a player all around as Sundin, but when he's on, he's probably be more fun to watch and might just average more goals per game.

I like and accept Kessel for want he is. Will probably never be the all-round franchise cornerstone, but highly dynamic streak scorers can be useful and that kind of talent doesn't grow on trees. It'l be like having a right shooting Bill Derlago, with a little better puck-carrying ability.

 

[Saskatchewan]

NOBODY wants Carey Price, for good reason.

His numbers are not that bad. Price has never had a GAA above 2.87 (exactly the same as The Monster's) and has always had a save percentage better than .905, its .912 this year (which is better than The Monster's).

His only problem is that he has been upstaged by Halak.

 

[Rockslinger]

Oh yea Phil got 11 goals in his rookie year and 19 goals the next year ..

Didn't Phil have cancer during one or both of those years? Kind of hard to skate when you have cancer of the nuts.

 

[pencilneckgeek2]

The cancer was caught in the early stages there for he didn't have it in his first two season .. He played full schedules ....

Oh by the way lets not forget that the Leafs shut Phil for the end of the season with a injury they are being hush hush about ..

Not that hush hush. It's a torn abdominal muscle, as per Ron Wilson's press conference yesterday.

 

[Lapper]

kessel is a decent player for what he is. a guy who can net 25-35 goals a season. the problem is that kessel will never live down that he's going to cost the leafs hall/seguin and more top prospects. no one can live up to that sort of pressure.

 

[new2game]

That # 2 pick may not be all you figure it's going to be. If Edmonton does take Taylor Hall # 1, then I'm not that worried about the Leafs not getting Tyler Seguin. I've watched him a few times this year, including 2 playoff games. He seems a definite level below Hall. If it works out that way, and by some stroke of luck, the Leafs weasel into a playoff spot next year, then a weak # 2 pick (Seguin) and the # 14 pick or worse next year is not really that bad for a 30 goal guy. Remember, even without a quality centerman, and having played under 70 games, Kessel still hit 30. That puts him in top 20 in goals.And the guy is 22 yrs old, lots of time to develop the other parts of his game. Maybe not the cornerstone piece of a franchise, but a pretty darn good young player. Don't think there are many better pure snipers in the league.

N2G

 

[Saskatchewan]

Kessel still hit 30. That puts him in top 20 in goals.And the guy is 22 yrs old, lots of time to develop the other parts of his game. Maybe not the cornerstone piece of a franchise, but a pretty darn good young player. Don't think there are many better pure snipers in the league.

Agreed.

 

[Rockslinger]

Phil Kessel - some like him and some don't. Please consider this. There are over 300 forwards in the NHL, only 15 are in the 30 goal club in 2010. Phil is in that club which puts him in the top 5% of elite forwards.

 

[pdson2]

Phil Kessel - some like him and some don't. Please consider this. There are over 300 forwards in the NHL, only 15 are in the 30 goal club in 2010. Phil is in that club which puts him in the top 5% of elite forwards.

And he did it without a training camp, missing 10 games and without an elite centre to help him out.

 

[thelake]

And his golf swing is really improving, after a couple of more years with the laffs I predict him to be a scratch golfer!

 

[reaper29]

Don't forget that Burkie inherited a totally messed up team that JFJ butchered into the ground. He's really only been on the job for about a year and a half and has so far done a decent job in getting rid of the shit that JFJ had created. Also it's my understanding that with all the buy out contracts for guys like Tucker , Domi and Raycroft, the Leafs are still taking salary hits still.

It sucks that they haven't played a post season game since the pre-lockout days but hopefully, good things will come out of this in the next 2 or 3 years. Hopefully, Burke will be given a chance.

 

[dj1470]

Let's take it easy on the Leaf fans these days.
Hey, I'm the first to make fun of the Maple Laffs but let's take it easy on them.
They got Kessel and they'll be bitching and moaning about Hall or Seguin for yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeears to come.
We can make fun of the Leafs again next year.

LET GO SENS!!!

 

[pencilneckgeek2]

Also it's my understanding that with all the buy out contracts for guys like Tucker , Domi and Raycroft, the Leafs are still taking salary hits still.

As of now, the only buy out that the Leafs are still paying out is Darcy Tucker $1,000,000/yr for 4 more years.

There are other teams in as bad, or worse situations with regard to buyouts:

Dallas: Sean Avery $1,937,500/yr for 2 more years
Minnesota: Mark Parrish $927,778/yr for 4 more years

And the Gold Medal Winner, All-Time worst buyout:
New York Islanders: Alexi Yashin: $4,755,067 for the 2010/11 season then 4 more years at $2,204,000

 

[hunter65]

Fuck the Sens!

 

[The Oracle]

Fuck the Sens!

Intelligent comment.

Not!

 

[maurice93]

Phil Kessel - some like him and some don't. Please consider this. There are over 300 forwards in the NHL, only 15 are in the 30 goal club in 2010. Phil is in that club which puts him in the top 5% of elite forwards.

So your saying goals is the only tool to evaluate forwards. No other quantative or qualitative factors are relevant.

 

[Rockslinger]

So your saying goals is the only tool to evaluate forwards. No other quantative or qualitative factors are relevant.

Goals are probably the most important criteria for a forward but there are other factors as well, especially for role players. I remember when the Canadiens passed on drafting Mike Bossy because they thought he was weak defensively. Of course, he went on to score 60 goals a year in the NHL for many years. Query: Who did the Canadiens draft when they passed on Bossy?

 

[Rockslinger]

Query: How many 1st round draft choices are on the Leafs current roster?

I can easily think of 3. They are Schenn, Kessel and Phaneuf.

 

[pencilneckgeek2]

I remember when the Canadiens passed on drafting Mike Bossy because they thought he was weak defensively. Of course, he went on to score 60 goals a year in the NHL for many years. Query: Who did the Canadiens draft when they passed on Bossy?

Mark Napier. The Leafs drafted John Anderson and Trevor Johansen ahead of Bossy. Lots of mistakes made that year.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1977a.html

 

[pencilneckgeek2]

Query: How many 1st round draft choices are on the Leafs current roster?

I can easily think of 3. They are Schenn, Kessel and Phaneuf.

Giguere 13 th overall 1995
Van Ryn 26th overall 1998
Komisarek 7th overall 2001
Sjostrom 11th overall 2001
Primeau 17th overall 1994
Lundmark 9th overall 1999