Failed Expectations

[Joe S.]

I really thoughtMariusz Czerkawski was going to be something,  especially because he was buddies with Sundin.

If memory serves I think Quinn had him scratched for most of the season.

 

[Joe S.]

Lonny Bohonos. Seems like the guy could do no wrong in his limited time with the team, but never, ever stuck.

Also, ironically, one of my favourite Leafs of all time could sort of qualify for this: Felix Potvin. Still my favourite goalie ever, worshipped him and followed his career in Long Island, Vancouver, Los Angeles, etc... but I thought for sure the Leafs were sporting a future Vezina winner when The Cat broke onto the scene. Loved that he played so well in L.A., actually getting a few Vezina votes one season, after a few off years after Toronto.

Wasn't Potvin a vezina finalist in 93?

Actually I just looked it up - he came in 4th:

http://www.hockeygoalies.org/awards/vezinavoting.html

 

[Bonsixx]

Lonny Bohonos. Seems like the guy could do no wrong in his limited time with the team, but never, ever stuck.

Also, ironically, one of my favourite Leafs of all time could sort of qualify for this: Felix Potvin. Still my favourite goalie ever, worshipped him and followed his career in Long Island, Vancouver, Los Angeles, etc... but I thought for sure the Leafs were sporting a future Vezina winner when The Cat broke onto the scene. Loved that he played so well in L.A., actually getting a few Vezina votes one season, after a few off years after Toronto.

Wasn't Potvin a vezina finalist in 93?

Actually I just looked it up - he came in 4th:

http://www.hockeygoalies.org/awards/vezinavoting.html

I never knew that. Nice site.

 

[Mr. Leaf]

Mike Craig was pretty much a supreme disappointment.  Signed by Ole' Cliffy as a restricted free agent, was considered a young, tough forward on-the-rise. (For an expired Burger King gift card, can anyone tell me the compensation sent to Dallas?).
 
Arrived in Toronto and COMPLETELY fell off a cliff.

I remember for sure it was Peter Zezel, because he was one of my favourite Leafs and it made me sad that they got rid of him.  I'm pretty sure they also sent Grant Marshall, or perhaps a draft pick that Dallas used to select Marshall.

 

[Madferret]

Christian Hanson - scored in a preseason game once

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Todd Warriner.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Drake Berehowsky.  Defence.  Chosen 10th in the First round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.  Wasn't until '95 that he made his big league debut playing in only 25 games before the Leafs traded him to Pittsburgh for Grant Jennings (who?).

 

[Tigger]

Christian Hanson - scored in a preseason game once

You were high on Christian?

 

[hockeyfan1]

Yanic Perrault.  Centre (QMJHL)  Drafted 47th in the Third round of the NHL Entry Draft in 1991.  Made his brief NHL debut in '94 before the Leafs traded him to the L.A. Kings for a fourth rounder.

 

[Madferret]

Christian Hanson - scored in a preseason game once

You were high on Christian?

There was no escaping NCAA signings mania in those days. "Found draft picks"

 

[bustaheims]

Christian Hanson - scored in a preseason game once

You were high on Christian?

I'm pretty sure he's just high, period.

 

[Rebel_1812]

Christian Hanson - scored in a preseason game once

lol.  Very true.

How about John Doherty?  Our highest pick in one of the best draft years around.  He couldn't even stay with an ECHL team for long.

 

[moon111]

Russ Courtnall. 

 

[MetalRaven]

Eric Lindros/Owen Nolan

 

[Scot4bz]

Bruce Boudreau. The guy would light it up in the minors but could never replicate it in the big leagues. Had to rach way back for that one.....

 

[Redleaf]

I always thought Bryan Berard could have had a long successful career with the Leafs before that terrible eye injury.

 

[dappleganger]

Justin Pogge must be the biggest disappointment in recent years.

Jeff Ware stands out for me. 6'4" 220lbs, drafted 15th overall in 1995, he had the size. Didn't pan out though.

 

[ZBBM]

God, what a list of names.  This thread is a bummer.  Of course, fans of any team could probably spin out their own equally dismal lists.  The fact is, most guys don't make it, even the hyped ones.

 

[mc]

I always thought Bryan Berard could have had a long successful career with the Leafs before that terrible eye injury.

Hossa.

 

[Corn Flake]

The lost 2005 season which we missed out on one more full year of Brian Leetch, and a pretty well stacked team that would have gotten 1 more run at it before the cap came in.