Comments on: Solutions For the Mess Called The Toronto Maple Leafs

By: mapleleafsman

mapleleafsman — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:33:40 +0000

first of all, get a GM that has experience. like Burke(fingers crossed) .Then, the leafs need to get rid of some salary before anything else. I say get rid of mccabe via trade or buying him out. trade kkubina if u can as hes been playin great as of late. Then, sign a defenseman. Like a jason smith. Resign mats sundin and reunite him with fellow countryman markus naslund. In the draft, try to get a player like schenn or coliin wilson, or kyle beach.

By: cam7777

cam7777 — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:27:59 +0000

I dont want to make my own article, so ill post here, as it relates to fixing the mess:

So I was thinking what moves I might try to make if I were in the position of Cliff Fletcher approaching the draft, and unrestricted free agency. I put together this outline for what I might try to accomplish. Let's hear what you think is reasonable, or possible, or even just a positive move for the Leafs going forward.

-Draft Luke Schenn or Kyle Beach or even Bogosian
-Resign Mats to a 1 year deal for five million dollars
-Address the problem no GM has dealt with over the last 10 years, and find Mats a solid winger (and in doing so, someone who can replace Mats as the face of the Leafs in the coming year). Idea:

**Blockbuster Trade**
Kaberle, Tucker and a 2nd round pick to Detroit for Henrik Zetterberg
(now I know everyone can't wait to jump all over me and say that Detroit would never part with him, but consider this: 1.) Detroit loves quality defensemen and Kaberle is one of the most attractive in the league given his salaray and contract. Especially in the West, superstar defensemen are a necessity to compete with Anaheim. 2.) Detroit will flop in this years playoffs, as is a growing trend. Tucker provides grit in the playoffs, and a spark that they seem to be missing. 3.) Zetterberg will want likely in the area of 7.5 million or higher come next summer. Detroit drafts well, and has no problem attracting quality free agents to bargain contracts. Letting Zetterberg go really isn't the end of the world for them, especially with Datsyuk locked up. Plus they get a pick...)

Next up, let's make this team a little edgier. If Brian Burke signs on with MLSE I'd love to see him do a deal like this. Ponikarovsky and Stajan for Joffrey Lupul in Philly. I can't decide if that's too much, or not enough for Lupul. You guys decide. Whatever the case, no more Pokahontas

Free agency rolls around and the Leafs should jump on Andrew Brunette. Yea, he's getting a little older now, but you know what, he produces even when Sakic, Forsberg, Stastny, Smyth and Svatos are all MIA. It doesn't matter who he's on a line with, he's going hard. Pick him up for 2.6 million for 3 years, and let him bring some work ethic back to the Leafs (before February).

Now the Leafs look like this:

Zetterberg-Sundin-Lupul
Antropov-Steen-Brunette
Blake-Wellwood-Tlusty
Moore-Devereux-Earl

McCabe-Colaiacovo
Kubina-White
Bogosian-Strahlman

Toskala-Raycroft

CAP HIT- approximately 46 million

Ultimately this team gives us some solid young players that changes the makeup of the team. Kubina seems like he wants to play for Toronto, so let him. Raycroft can sit his ass on the bench and earn his wage so we dont have to pay him the following season. And still there's room to sign a cheap veteran D-man, and maybe a guy like Brunnstrom to make an all-Swede top line.

Let me know...

By: lafleur10

lafleur10 — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:31:35 +0000

i have done my homework on this draft! i'm not assuming the worst case sscenario but look at your teams draft history! it is horrible !i mean come !really man tell me what player(s) the leafs have drafted that are A list guys or quality prospects in your line-up right now,or in your system that can make a diiference for you guys!! or give your fans aprospect that you can really feel good about or compare to other teams A list guys!this is not a biased or homerism opinion !but seriously! look at your team and your scouting staff and where you guys are in the standings andlook at your future(your farm system) it's pretty bleak and not much there your cupboards are pretty bare!compared to some of the top teams!!maybe i'll be proven wrong eventually but until the leafs and there new g.m address the diffencies and fix your problem of drafting my assumptions will be dead on!!really teel me one young guy that you have that is as good as what we have right now!!i know you don't have any!!

By: 08-09

08-09 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:54:29 +0000

do your homework on this draft … and why must you assume the worst case scenario in everything leaf-related?that shows no perspective whatsoever – only a biased, homerist one. you assume the leafs will draft badly or draft outside of the top-5. such assumptions are bound to be proven wrong – eventually. again, do your homework on this draft.

By: lafleur10

lafleur10 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:18:53 +0000

how is this not good news for non leafs fans?even if you claim that you think that they will be drafting in the 6th -10th spot ! you might and might not get a franchise player!! it all comes down to the work of your scouting staff,to make sure that they make the absolute right pick and don't blow it! no matter how deep the draft is!!and the leafs scouting staff is in the bottom third of the league!!it is a no brainer though if you have a top 5 pick because it almost a can't miss guy you'll end up with!!and your young talent in your farm system isn't that strong or good!!so if your new g.m. whoever that maybe wants to show you leafs fans that yes it is indeed turning around you need to draft a few a list prospects!and your leafs don't have any of thjose they have d list which aren't what you need whne you want to turn things around!! as a habs fan we went through the same thing that you guys have been going through before bob gainey was hired and he over hauled our scouting staff and replaced all of them and we started drafting properly!! because i think with the way our 2 teams are currently situated that even though we will no doubt finish higher and will draft higher (likely 21st to 24)with our scouting staff the way it is and yours the way it is! i 'll bet we'll daft as good or better player that you will where ever you guys end up picking!!and that's not ment to insult you just a fact showing you that if you have a good scouting staff(ours is the best in the league) it doesn't matter necessarily where you end up drafting if your scouts do there homework you can find as good a player later in the draft as the bootom teams unless of course it is a top 5 pick!!even if there is change for you guys you guys still won't see the effects of the changes(drafting for at least 5 years )

By: 08-09

08-09 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:40:10 +0000

yikes ... all he said was that - AT THIS POINT - re: montreal hasnt won a playoff round ... the habs could be likened to teams who are making the playoffs and have drafted well (even comparing them to Edmonton is a little gracious on his part considering they made the cup final).

the fact that you counter his 'ridiculous' argument by immediately comparing the habs to Detroit and NJ is INSANE and swings way too far the other way.

geesh. just because he is a toronto fan dont discount what he says and grow some persepective!

By: 08-09

08-09 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:35:08 +0000

absolutely no way they trade toskala, although i understand the reasoning behind it. a combination of Pogge and Raycroft splitting games next season would definitely sink the to 28th to 30th place next year.

maybe an 'autonomous' GM does that move? (one who has signed a 5-year deal and is entering the first year of a 5-year plan and, therefore, has the balls to make such a move early on in his tenure?)

doubt it though.

and i hate all of this talk of buyouts ... absolutely the WORST and non-sensical thing to do when it comes to contracts that are longer in term.

By: 08-09

08-09 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:40:22 +0000

lol. i love how you say 'unfortunately.' obviously, if you are a hab or sens fan with any brain, you'd hope for the leafs to finish 9th (and evidently, you do hope for this event, which is completely understandable).

drafting 10th to 14th this year compared to the past two drafts though is not as 'dire.' this draft is super-deep.

but i do think the leafs will draft from 6th to 10th, which should easily give them - if not a franchise player - than certainly someone who can play on our top lines for a long time to come.

again, i said this a long time ago when the leafs were struggling early in the year and non-leaf fans were laughing their asses about it, such struggles - and the potential for change - is the LAST thing non-leaf fans should be hoping for. they should be hoping for 9th place and the status quo. that is the hell for leaf fans.

but the firing of JFJ, the harsh words from Fletcher after the deadline, the POTENTIAL for a new, autonomous GM, and a high, top-10 or top-5 draft pick, ... these are all things that hab and sens fans should be dreading, not welcoming.

of course, i totally understand the huge disclaimer in all of this: MLSE still runs the show and all of this might not happen, but the chances are still much better than they were a year ago or even 2 months ago. change seems to be on the horizon, not good news for non-leaf fans IMO.

By: 08-09

08-09 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:34:18 +0000

yeah, hard to post with any regularity. its like i do a very loud sigh and decide to post or not, but its harder and harder to put any effort or thought into responding to anyone or even entering the site. not as worthwhile as it once was.

By: the_word

the_word — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:14:16 +0000

Good call, would be nice to see the team dive a bit with Sundin's injuiry. Also agree with you that this site has degenerated into dull, mindless cheerleading.