Maybe you need a second team in YYZ (a Mets equivalent) to give the Leafs management something to worry about. Of course that would only work if the NHL was actually playing hockey.
OTB
OTB
gladheateher said:1969 - Ernie Moser (9th overall) - could have had Ivan Boldirev (11th overall).
1973 - Bob Neely (10th overall) - could have had Rick Middleton (14th overall).
1974 - Jack Valiquette (13th overall) - could have had Dave Maloney (14th overall).
1977 - Trevor Johansen (12th overall) - could have had Mike Bossy (15th overall).
1981 - Jim Benning (6th overall) - could have had Grant Fuhr (8th overall).
1982 - Gary Nylund (3rd overall) - could have had Scott Stevens (5th overall).
1987 - Luke Richardson (7th overall) - could have had Joe Sakic (15th overall).
1988 - Scott Pearson (6th overall) - could have had Jeremy Roenick (8th overall), Rod Brind’Amour or Teemu Salanne.
1989 - Scott Thornton (3rd overall) - could have had Bill Guerin (5th overall), Stu Barnes, Bobby Holik or Olaf Kolzig
1989 - Steve Bancroft (21st overall) - could have had Adam Foote (22nd overall).
1990 - Drake Berehowsky (10th overall) - could have had Keith Tkachuk (19th overall), Martin Brodeur or Bryan Smolinski
1992 - Brandon Convery (8th overall) - could have had Sergei Gonchar (14th overall) or Grant Marshall
1993 - Landon Wilson (19th overall) - could have had Saku Koivu (21st overall).
1994 - Eric Fichaud (16th overall) - could have had Dan Cloutier (26th overall).
1995 - Jeff Ware (15th overall) - could have had Petr Sykora (18th overall) or Martin Biron
1996 – Marek Posmyk (36th overall) - could have had Zdeno Chara (56th overall)
1998 - Nikolai Antropov (10th overall) - could have had Alex Tanguay (12th overall).
1999 - Luca Cereda (24th overall) - could have had Martin Havlat (26th overall).
You make an excellent point Kath but I'm gonna tell you why I think you're wrong.Kathleen said:N_V - It's certainly not nice when you get blasted, and others don't.
I'm one of 'those' leaf fan, I might as well be honest.
Yes, I've never been big on Pat Quinn, or a GM since Cliff Fletcher. I'd like to see compitent scouts draft someone like a Rob Blake or Peter Forsberg. I don't feel free agents always the answer.
I would like to see a single owner as is the case with Ottawa, and not a board.
Yes, Toronto has not won a cup since 1967. But it's no easy task no matter how good you draft.
Has Toronto of today been that bad to fans? I don't think so. I started watching Toronto after Harold Ballard passed. Now fine, through those times, Toronto was said to be sad. None the less, fans did have the chance to see some amazing players.
Since I started watching Toronto in 1993, I've seen a solid winning record. For the most, nothing to be ashamed of. Through the Potvin, Fuhr, Cujo and Belfour days, some serious runs at the cup.
From '93 I have seen Alex Mogilney fly, Sundin's amazing backhand goals, Dougie's amazing OT goal on St Louis, many sweet fights from Wendel and countless highlights.
Nights when Potvin or Cujo stood on their heads. I remember seeing Mike Gartner flying down the wing and one timming so many goals. The good memories far out weigh the bad to me.
Toronto's past is better then their present cup wise, but it's their past that attracts players and fans. Allowing them to be part of 13 Stanley cups, or 64 playoff appearances. They had a bad spell in the 80s, but that was bad ownership.
The leafs before that, and the Leafs of today are something to be proud about. It's the closest NHL city to me, so I consider them home town favorites.. and I love them.
Kathleen
Escohort said:You make an excellent point Kath but I'm gonna tell you why I think you're wrong.
Leaf owner is very smart so what he does is he makes it look like he's building a winner when really what he's doing is forming an almost-team of good players but not great players. A teaser if you will.
Fans think they are oh-so close to winning it every year and keep coming back in droves. It's brilliant when you think about it.
Meanwhile the owner is laughing all the way to the bank.
Exactly my point!!hummingbird said:I'm counting 8 years from the list above when nobody was drafted - this is potentially much worse, when you make the mid-season trade to get a burnt-out 33 year old for future considerations. The Leafs seem to specialize in this - getting phase 2 of Wendel Clark or someone else just as useless.
I think that in Toronto's it is the years of not drafting and developing a star players that is the central issue. Hindsight has nothing to do with it! If you look at the teams that have been successful, they clearly have had good scouting which has lead to the drafting and development of the talent they have on their team.hornyharry said:I have been a loyal supporter of the Leafs for as long as I can remember. Do I agree with some of the decisions made over the years...NO...but...at the time of drafting/trading for players who here knew that these guys would or would not be stars??? Hindsight is worth a million dollars right??