Leafs fortunes change tonight??

Does #1 pick Matthews turn the Leafs franchise around?

  • Yes

    Votes: 20 87.0%
  • No

    Votes: 3 13.0%

  • Total voters
    23
  • Poll closed .

jimmylikes

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
3,469
854
113
#1 pick , about 30 years since it happened , wendel clark....does the team turn around from here??

- #1 Pick , franchise center with Matthews
- Possible Stamkos signing
- Mitch Marner rookie year
- Nylander and Reilly blooming nicely
- trade more players and picks for defence, etc.
- Other young players on the way

I think we'll be playoff bound soon!
 

K Douglas

Half Man Half Amazing
Jan 5, 2005
27,590
8,281
113
Room 112
It won't be the only reason the franchise turns itself around. But it will play a big part in it. As will Reilly, Nylander, Marner, Zaitsev, Kapanen and hopefully Stamkos.
 

Insidious Von

My head is my home
Sep 12, 2007
40,182
7,531
113
Finally, it took them eight years to do it, they may have just replaced Mats Sundin.

Lets hope he can disarm the Toronto media with the same easy grace that Sundin had.

Patrik Laine makes me uncomfortable. He's a fine hockey player and probably a charming human being - but he looks too much like Reinhard Heydrich.
 

Insidious Von

My head is my home
Sep 12, 2007
40,182
7,531
113
As for Mathews turning around the franchise, I voted no. The talent pool is still at only at 50%, they don't need Stamkos now.

On the bright side 50% is a vast improvement of 5% when Baron von Truculent was running things.
 

saxon

Well-known member
Dec 2, 2009
4,760
523
113
Franchise turned around? No, not until the youngsters prove themselves at the NHL level, only Reilly has done that. Btw, new jerseys look sad.
 

leafssuck4ever

New member
Feb 5, 2015
12
0
1
Matthews will help lead the franchise in the right direction.

I'm floored that Edmonton got a gift in Puljujarvi.... WTF!!! How are they so damn lucky???
 

thewalker

Well-known member
Jun 10, 2008
1,471
26
48
Raptors fan here, but will hop on the Leafs bandwagon for sure this year even if they don't make the playoffs, when have the Leafs ever had a young stud player straight from the draft anyway? Ever?
 

smuddan

Well-known member
Mar 7, 2007
2,305
303
83
As for Mathews turning around the franchise, I voted no. The talent pool is still at only at 50%, they don't need Stamkos now.

On the bright side 50% is a vast improvement of 5% when Baron von Truculent was running things.
The main goal in year two of the Shannaplan should be the development of the young kids they have now and continue to add to the talent pool. We now have a core that you can build on but they'll need time and space to develope. Getting Stamkos now will immediately put a lot of unjustified pressure on the team to make the playoffs and that can have a negative impact on the kids' development.

Even without Stamkos though, I wouldn't be totally shock if they can somehow make a push for a playoff spot, or at least make things interesting. If you look at the teams in the East, I can only see four teams, Caps, Pens, Lightning and Panthers that are sure bets. Rangers and Bruins will be weaker and the rest are not much better than the Leafs.
 

Ironhead

Son of the First Nation
Sep 13, 2008
7,014
0
36
The main goal in year two of the Shannaplan should be the development of the young kids they have now and continue to add to the talent pool. We now have a core that you can build on but they'll need time and space to develope. Getting Stamkos now will immediately put a lot of unjustified pressure on the team to make the playoffs and that can have a negative impact on the kids' development.

Even without Stamkos though, I wouldn't be totally shock if they can somehow make a push for a playoff spot, or at least make things interesting. If you look at the teams in the East, I can only see four teams, Caps, Pens, Lightning and Panthers that are sure bets. Rangers and Bruins will be weaker and the rest are not much better than the Leafs.
Agree. In fact I believe the Leafs WILL be in contention for the playoffs come Feb, March. Not saying they will make it in for sure, let us be clear on that point.
 

Ironhead

Son of the First Nation
Sep 13, 2008
7,014
0
36
The Leafs have addressed their goaltending need, now whether you believe Andersen is the guy or not, should the Leafs draft a goalie today ASAP ?
The Leafs pick first again(31 overall), and 26 picks later have their second pick in the second round.
I think they should pick a young goalie whether Andersen is the guy or not.

With the first pick today I cannot decide what I would like to see more, a goalie or defenseman.
Markus Niemelainen is a big Fin on D, I like this kid. Tyler Parsons is the Knight's goalie who just helped London win the Memorial Cup, then there is Carter Hart, the goalie from the WHL.
 

dirkd101

Well-known member
Sep 29, 2005
10,374
160
63
eastern frontier
Another option should have been; "It's a start".

Matthews is a great acquisition, no doubt, but he isn't necessarily ready for the grind that being an everyday NHLer is all about. Hence I say that he is not capable of turning the franchise around, at least he is a piece to the puzzle. The Leafs still need a few more pieces to fit into the puzzle, before their fortunes turn around. But no one player can turn a franchise around. Just look at Edmonton.
 

Dawgger

Active member
Jan 3, 2005
4,578
0
36
leafssuck4ever;5578990 I'm floored that Edmonton got a gift in Puljujarvi.... WTF!!! How are they so damn lucky???[/QUOTE said:
Wonder who the Oilers thought they were going to draft? Did not see Puljujarvi's name on the jersey.
 

workingstiff

Member
Mar 17, 2004
90
0
6
A 'no' vote as Matthews being drafted is not going to be the thing that turnaround the fortunes and saves the Leafs in my opinion. In fact it could be a danger to the turnaround if they rebuild plan gets scrapped and they start signing guys like Stamkos and pushing for the playoffs.

If there is a turnaround underway, and as a long suffering fan I hope there is, then it began the day Shanahan and Co. convinced the powerbrokers that a long-term rebuild was necessary and needed to be committed to. Matthews will improve the Leafs and if the turnaround is to be a success then he will be a key cog in the machine for years to come (hopefully a key to an eventual parade on Yonge). I really hope the Leafs do not sign Stamkos...if we are going to invest in a free agent we should be waiting a few years for things to develop and make a run for Tavares who will be better timed. For this to be a true turnaround and not another false dawn the Leafs must stay the course with the long-term rebuild plan...hopefully this includes another high draft pick next year and maybe the year after that too.
 

Ironhead

Son of the First Nation
Sep 13, 2008
7,014
0
36
Leafs draft a USDT goalie.
Woll. 6'3"
 

gfelover

Well who here isn't..! ..
Oct 13, 2004
992
0
0
Toronto
Raptors fan here, but will hop on the Leafs bandwagon for sure this year even if they don't make the playoffs, when have the Leafs ever had a young stud player straight from the draft anyway? Ever?
TW, uhhhh I don't think we are ready to share sig girl with all these crazies who think a draft pick is their biggest news of the year..but I'll go wherever she goes, so if it's into Leafland, I'll just up the 420 budget and come along.....!!!
 
Ashley Madison
Toronto Escorts