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Year 7: The rebuild continues

BlueWhiteBlood said:
I don't think Phaneuf and Schenn need to go, that's way too short sighted for my taste.
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Ive never heard Phaneufs name mentioned in trade talks. It is short sighted if they are peddling Schenn, but it's all about what comes back in trade that paints the overall picture to me. It has to be youth for youth talent for talent. Once Burke starts bringing in 29-35 year old players (goaltender excluded) for picks or prospects, I think the rebuilt is officially over, and I start to question the 'blueprint'
 
RedLeaf said:
Yeah. I'm not sure trading for a youngish player like Nash would qualify as selling the farm for a quick fix though either? A trade like that could easily fall into the 'long term move' category. Hence the confusion.
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Sure, but at what cost? I'd like to have Nash also, but to me, a deal like that can't be totally dependent on all young assets and that is what Howsen is trying to do. When you trade a big salary, you should expect one to come back, or at least some form of contract coming back.

I wouldn't trade Gardiner, Kadri, Colborne and a first for example. I don't care how good Nash is, that would be suicidal IMO. I would do something like Schenn, Kadri, Armstrong and a first or a different, but similar combination of that, You have to keep some pieces or it's stupid to even have Nash here, if you've eliminated the other future pieces to get him.
 
RedLeaf said:
BlueWhiteBlood said:
I don't think Phaneuf and Schenn need to go, that's way too short sighted for my taste.
Click to expand...

Ive never heard Phaneufs name mentioned in trade talks. It is short sighted if they are peddling Schenn, but it's all about what comes back in trade that paints the overall picture to me. It has to be youth for youth talent for talent. Once Burke starts bringing in 29-35 year old players for picks or prospects, I think the rebuilt is officially over, and I start to question the 'blueprint'
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They've both taken some major heat up in here the last few weeks. I mean, they are still young and part of the core IMO. punjunction lumped Schenn and Phaneuf in with Komisarek, Connolly, Lombardi and Army, which I don't see. The ladder 4 are pieces that could have helped, but the other two are players you try to keep moving forward.
 
RedLeaf said:
I really don't think it's as bad as all that. This team has looked good most of the season. It's really just been the last 8 or 9 games they've looked bad. I believe once this trade deadline passes, we see the team we've watched most of the season return. Perhaps with a few additions we may see an enhanced version of the team we've watched most of the year.
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Actually most of the season they have been a ~.500 club, not consistent enough for playoffs.  The early surge kept them above water but this latest streak has drained that reservoir away.  Can they fill it back up again, the ~10pts above .500 they will need to make the playoffs?  They haven't played at the necessary level since October.

I agree that a coach might be able to turn things around, and maybe separate the truly hopeless from those that can accomplish something here.
 
pnjunction said:
RedLeaf said:
I really don't think it's as bad as all that. This team has looked good most of the season. It's really just been the last 8 or 9 games they've looked bad. I believe once this trade deadline passes, we see the team we've watched most of the season return. Perhaps with a few additions we may see an enhanced version of the team we've watched most of the year.
Click to expand...

Actually most of the season they have been a ~.500 club, not consistent enough for playoffs.  The early surge kept them above water but this latest streak has drained that reservoir away.  Can they fill it back up again, the ~10pts above .500 they will need to make the playoffs?  They haven't played at the necessary level since October.

I agree that a coach might be able to turn things around, and maybe separate the truly hopeless from those that can accomplish something here.
Click to expand...

Better goaltending alone would securely have us in a playoff spot today. That's one player. It's not as bad of a team as many make it out to be. They're very young and very inexperienced. This slide has got some fans thinking the team is in shambles. I disagree.
 
The only thing this team hasn't tried to do is the right thing, which is a total rebuild.  Way too many lateral moves as someone has already mentioned.  For a team that has missed the playoffs seven years in a row (after this year) the fact that we have one blue chip prospect (Gardiner) is a disgrace.  Any other young players with potential have been ruined by Wilson and his bungling.  I wouldn't be surprised if it was Wilson that pushed for the Colaiacovo/Steen deal to St. Louis considering they were almost immediately in his dog house.  Is this the type of coach we want?  One that doesn't let young players play, make mistakes, and subsequently develop?  All this talk about making Kadri a two way player has practically ruined that kid's confidence.  Kadri is a boom or bust player at the moment that needs to be given an opportunity to demonstrate his offensive flare.

It seems that a lot of Leaf fans believe Rick Nash is suddenly the answer, and they are panning Burke for being unable to make an impact deal.  This club has made several major deals in the last decade that has not panned out, all the while teams that have been stockpiling youth through the draft and shrewd trades have been winning the Stanley Cup.  If Burke makes the Nash deal that will cost us the last four years of our prospect acquisitions he should be fired.  What will it take for the fans and management of this city to realize that youth and the draft is the way to go?  Acquiring Nash on the NHL's youngest team would leave us woefully without depth, and for the next 5-10 years we will be talking about how Nash doesn't have a decent supporting cast. 
 
RedLeaf said:
pnjunction said:
RedLeaf said:
I really don't think it's as bad as all that. This team has looked good most of the season. It's really just been the last 8 or 9 games they've looked bad. I believe once this trade deadline passes, we see the team we've watched most of the season return. Perhaps with a few additions we may see an enhanced version of the team we've watched most of the year.
Click to expand...

Actually most of the season they have been a ~.500 club, not consistent enough for playoffs.  The early surge kept them above water but this latest streak has drained that reservoir away.  Can they fill it back up again, the ~10pts above .500 they will need to make the playoffs?  They haven't played at the necessary level since October.

I agree that a coach might be able to turn things around, and maybe separate the truly hopeless from those that can accomplish something here.
Click to expand...

Better goaltending alone would securely have us in a playoff spot today. That's one player. It's not as bad of a team as many make it out to be. They're very young and very inexperienced. This slide has got some fans thinking the team is in shambles. I disagree.
Click to expand...

We haven't had good goaltending for a whole season since the lockout.  What gives you any hope that he fix that now or any time soon?

Burke said he builds from the net out.  Our goalies blow and the D is suspect.  The forward group has put up some decent numbers but is still prone to a disappearing act in tough games.  The logjam in cap up front (and Komi) will handcuff Burke from making any significant advancements.  We are right back to 4 years ago getting rid of dead weight and trying to 'retool' this piece of junk that has been retooled a thousand times but never rebuilt from the ground up.  For all of our 'youth' the guys who are putting up the numbers are UFA in the next 0-2 years.  Guys like Schenn and Kadri are the future and their development is going all kinds of wrong.

Really though I think the coach should go first before we can see how many of these guys can get back on track.  The single biggest thing Burke is doing to impede the progress of this team is holding on to Wilson.  I don't even see much debate about whether he should be fired or not on here anymore, and that says alot!
 
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