the bob boughner home page:

http://www.boughner6.com/

However the Leafs ARE talking to the Flames about getting defenseman Bob Boughtner

With the exception of Hatcher, Kariya and Selanne, there have been no really big splashes on the UFA market. Federov is still available, de Vries is still available, and the list goes on. It’s not just the Leafs who are being cautious…EVERYONE is. While I’m a little pi$$ed that Quinn is in Vancouver not appearing to be working to hard on UFA signings or trades…no one else is either. This UFA season is, I think, clearly sending a message that teams are concerned about the impending 2004 CBA dispute.

On the Fan 590 radio, it has been reported that the Leafs have been “very aggressive” in attempting to obtain de Vries, according to his agent Pat Morris. In a taped interview, he stated that they Leafs had better “hurry up” or his client would be forced to entertain offers from other clubs. While that type of pressure usually works, I’m thinking that the current UFA’s are going to find it to be a very long summer.

Guess I’ll just have to be patient and see what the Leafs do.

That perfectly sums up what I’ve been thinking. Its not necessarily the content or management of the team that has resulted in their limited success (i.e. second/third round exits), but more likely the result of the “war chest”.

Its too bad, as the Leafs do have such a great history and the dollars and fan base for greatness, but it looks like they are content with mediocracy.

Kidd – 2 mil

Reichel – 3.75

Hoglund – 1.4

Green – 1.4

Lumme – 1.165

Eriksson – 1.25

All over paid, and now they’ve tied up 4 million with Svehla, who may not even play and may of hte players are upset with what Svehla is doing. Quinn has mad a lot of stupid moves with the teams money, he pays bad players a lot of money so theres no money left to get good players.

The site ranks Colaiacovo, Steen, Tellqvist, Stajan and Bell as the top 5 prospects. I think all of these guys were drafted in the past two or three years. Ponikarovsky should be a good player as well. The Leafs may have traded their best prospect away when they traded Boyes to San Jose.

I think the Leafs have been drafting a lot better in the last few years, as the only highlights from 1992-1997 were guys like VandenBussche, Dempsey, Kenny Jonsson, Landon Wilson, Frederik Modin, Sergei Berezin, Danny Markov, and Kaberle – almost all of which have been traded away.

Since 1998, they seem to have drafted a little smarter, although none of their draftees have really made any sort of impact in the NHL, with the possible exception of Antropov.

Overall, I’d have to think that scouting and development in the Maple Leafs organization hasn’t been that successful. In comparison, over the same period from 1998 – 2002, some other teams have drafted NHL players like:

Edmonton: Horcoff, Semenov, Comrie, Hemsky, Markkanen

Ottawa: Shastlivy, Havlat, Neil, Prusek, Volchenkov, Spezza

San Jose: Stuart, Mikael Samuelsson, Jillson, Levesque

Detroit: Jiri Fischer, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Kronwall

Colorado: Tanguay, Skoula, Regehr, Parker, Abid, Hahl, Vrbata, Nedorost, Kurt Sauer

I’ve seen many reports that the new owner (cant’ spell his name) wants to bring in a lot of young guys, like Healy so that once Quinn leaves (and he hopes maybe he’ll quit rather then deal with the young guys) the leafs will have a new managment staff with new, fresh ideas and a different way of looking at things.

Wesleys agent hasn’t said talks have stoped, they just aren’t going anywhere fast thats all.

I have no problem with building from within, but you don’t trade 5 of your draft picks (including the first round pick in one of the deepest drafts ever) and your best offensive prospect for 4 players over 30 years old (30,34,39 and 39) then 3 months later say that your rebuilding from within.

Most of the leafs players are over 30 years old, a lot of them are skilled, but they are older. THe Leafs should be going for the cup this year and players like Hatcher would only help do that.