Your summer 2012 strategy?

[bustaheims]

Radulov came out of the Quebec league and still left - because of the Rookie Cap. That's the issue I think. The KHL could throw scads of money at these 3 just to drag them over to the KHL.

Yeah, but, Radulov is an exception rather than the rule - and, if he had played out that one year, he'd probably have more money from the subsequent contract than he earned in Russia, which is part of the reason he's coming back. Most of these guys want to play in (and succeed/stand out in) the best league in the world, and that's the NHL.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

Radulov came out of the Quebec league and still left - because of the Rookie Cap. That's the issue I think. The KHL could throw scads of money at these 3 just to drag them over to the KHL.

Yeah, but, Radulov is an exception rather than the rule - and, if he had played out that one year, he'd probably have more money from the subsequent contract than he earned in Russia, which is part of the reason he's coming back.

I think he just saw what Grabovski got and fainted.

 

[Rebel_1812]

Radulov came out of the Quebec league and still left - because of the Rookie Cap. That's the issue I think. The KHL could throw scads of money at these 3 just to drag them over to the KHL.

Yeah, but, Radulov is an exception rather than the rule - and, if he had played out that one year, he'd probably have more money from the subsequent contract than he earned in Russia, which is part of the reason he's coming back.

I think he just saw what Grabovski got and fainted.

yeah and he is only belarussian.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

Radulov came out of the Quebec league and still left - because of the Rookie Cap. That's the issue I think. The KHL could throw scads of money at these 3 just to drag them over to the KHL.

Yeah, but, Radulov is an exception rather than the rule - and, if he had played out that one year, he'd probably have more money from the subsequent contract than he earned in Russia, which is part of the reason he's coming back.

I think he just saw what Grabovski got and fainted.

yeah and he is only belarussian.

Technically he is German

 

[Champ Kind]

I want to echo some earlier sentiments.  To me, the model to follow is Philadelphia's approach last summer.  I think Parise and Suter need to be obtained, at just about any cost.  Screw this self-imposed five year / non-front end loading limitation and open the bank for business.  Principles are fine and all but desperate times call for desperate measures.

These moves would allow for more required changes to take place: trade Kessel, Phaneuf, and Schenn.  These assets should bring in a load of good, top young talent and draft picks, plus set up aquiring Rick Nash.

Kessel, for example, I believe would bring in something like this from the Rangers: McDonagh, Dubinsky / Stepan, prospect and 1'st rd pick.  I think with Parise essentially replacing Kessel's production, this would need to be seriously considered.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

I want to echo some earlier sentiments.  To me, the model to follow is Philadelphia's approach last summer.  I think Parise and Suter need to be obtained, at just about any cost.  Screw this self-imposed five year / non-front end loading limitation and open the bank for business.  Principles are fine and all but desperate times call for desperate measures.

These moves would allow for more required changes to take place: trade Kessel, Phaneuf, and Schenn.  These assets should bring in a load of good, top young talent and draft picks, plus set up aquiring Rick Nash.

Kessel, for example, I believe would bring in something like this from the Rangers: McDonagh, Dubinsky / Stepan, prospect and 1'st rd pick.  I think with Parise essentially replacing Kessel's production, this would need to be seriously considered.

You don't think Sather will go after Parise on his own?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Radulov came out of the Quebec league and still left - because of the Rookie Cap. That's the issue I think. The KHL could throw scads of money at these 3 just to drag them over to the KHL.

Yeah, but, Radulov is an exception rather than the rule - and, if he had played out that one year, he'd probably have more money from the subsequent contract than he earned in Russia, which is part of the reason he's coming back.

I think he just saw what Grabovski got and fainted.

yeah and he is only belarussian.

Technically he is German

No he's not.  He was born in Germany to Belarussian parents who then moved back to Belarus.  That makes his birthplace Germany, but nothing else about him is German.

 

[Champ Kind]

I want to echo some earlier sentiments.  To me, the model to follow is Philadelphia's approach last summer.  I think Parise and Suter need to be obtained, at just about any cost.  Screw this self-imposed five year / non-front end loading limitation and open the bank for business.  Principles are fine and all but desperate times call for desperate measures.

These moves would allow for more required changes to take place: trade Kessel, Phaneuf, and Schenn.  These assets should bring in a load of good, top young talent and draft picks, plus set up aquiring Rick Nash.

Kessel, for example, I believe would bring in something like this from the Rangers: McDonagh, Dubinsky / Stepan, prospect and 1'st rd pick.  I think with Parise essentially replacing Kessel's production, this would need to be seriously considered.

You don't think Sather will go after Parise on his own?

Probably.  I guess I'm hoping the Leafs actually get him.  In fact, I'm sure that every team who may be after Parise (and Nash, for that matter) might be interested in Kessel. 

 

[hockeyfan1]

This is probably going to sound the most chicken little of all but I don't see much in terms of our young players either.  I wouldn't be surprised if in 3 years not 1 of Ashton, Colborne, Kadri, Schenn or Kulemin are even on the roster.  In fact, I'd probably make a fun bet that 3 years from now not a single one of those guys is playing for us.

That's just having a less than rosy outlook. Chicken Little was panicking. Honestly, at this point, I'd take some panic. Right now the overwhelming sentiment seems to be glum resignation.

The sky will fall only if Burke will let it (next season again).

This article gives insight into what's really wrong with the team and why things are not working out well for Carlyle (and his system):

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/article/1149928--maple-leafs-woes-can-be-traced-dow

The System
Captain Dion Phaneuf insists the team has not changed its system much under new coach Randy Carlyle. A few tweaks, the captain says, but nothing major.

Carlyle has asked the Leafs to play more north-south hockey and less rush plays, but there have been no dramatic makeovers.

Where the Leafs once had room to use their team speed and move the puck almost at will, they now encounter traps, tactical forechecking and effective cycling of the puck ? all of which has bottled up their rush attack...the problem is the Leafs continue to try and drive the puck up the ice and through the middle with plays that aren?t fooling anyone. Their defence doesn?t chip the puck in for a forecheck consistently. When they do, the forwards are often late arriving on the scene. There?s no hitting and the opposition defencemen aren?t being worn down.

...And when the Leafs gain the offensive zone, they still make plays to the middle of the ice, where the puck is once again turned over with frequency.

Goaltending
James Reimer remains a puzzle...the Monster has gone 1-6-3 in his last 13 games, 10 of them starts.

Experts have centred on the seemingly antiquated style the Leafs employ for their goalies. They say that style, which features the butterfly technique, worked well enough prior the lockout, when defencemen could hold up forwards and force much of the play from certain areas of the ice.

In the post-lockout era, though, with the rule book limiting what defencemen can do, the ice has opened up for far more offensive creativity.

Leadership
The real leader... is Carlyle.

The Leaf clearly miss Joffrey Lupul?s leadership, and there is no longer much value in arguing that Phaneuf or Phil Kessel should be doing more than what they have shown...

Carlyle?s task is to rebuild the team?s system and confidence.

As one former Anaheim player said about Carlyle, he may not be every player?s cup of tea as a coach, but he is one of the best technicians in the game, if not the best.

The Leafs are likely to land a big-name forward in the off-season, and may tweak a bit further with another forward. For the most part, though, the current roster will remain intact for next season.

The way out of this disastrous collapse, and back towards the playoffs, will be in large part through Carlyle.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Yep, clearly this proves it has exhausted the fanbase.  I certainly don't come onto this site everyday multiple times a day, nor do I see Leafs fans continuing to post/interact/engage on other websites on a daily basis.  In fact, I'd post more probably if this stretch didn't coincide with the absolute busiest time of my school term.

I'll admit, I'm exhausted, but it's not because of Burke or anything he's done to the team, but rather, because of those in the media and on message boards that continue to harp on the same points over and over and over and over and over again. Listening to this broken record on such a regular basis certainly tires me out.

Neither of you are alone.....

 

[Knobby]

Sign Ryan Suter, hope that Vancouver blows with Luongo in net and try to get him. Possibly not have to overpay as his contract is not a good one. Maybe ship a bad contract of our own there. If you get get Suter, you can easily part with Schenn for a top 6 forward.

 

[moon111]

Sign Ryan Suter, hope that Vancouver blows with Luongo in net and try to get him. Possibly not have to overpay as his contract is not a good one. Maybe ship a bad contract of our own there. If you get get Suter, you can easily part with Schenn for a top 6 forward.

Schenn's offense is worst then Jeff Finger's.  And besides his 'hits'...which mostly are rubs into the boards, he's not much better defensively either.

 

[Knobby]

Yeah and Phaneuf is starting to resemble the traffic pylon, er Todd Gill. Last night while the Leafs had 3 PP in a row, the Rangers kept chipping the puck out on Phaneuf's side and chasing after it. Most times, they seemed to get position on him with the puck and almost cut to the net.

 

[cw]

I really hope Burke swallows his pride and looks to re-make this team into something tougher than it currently is.  He should rely heavily on what Carlyle sees/doesn't see in the current roster makeup after his 18 game "tryout".  Look for players who :

a) have played well for Carlyle previously
b) have played well in a defensive-responsible system ANYWHERE

This team needs to become a boring as hell to watch, but wins on most nights type of team.  Low amount of scoring chances, clog up the neutral zone, chip and hammer on the boards.  Get any kind of player who's had success playing in a system like that.  Totally revamp the team.

Please note: Phil Kessel scored 36 goals playing with Claude Julien's team that gave up the fewest goals in the league in 2008/2009, so he can stay.

He already turned over the roster completely while preaching truculence and toughness.

Turning over the roster and icing a good team are two different things. But seriously, it's time to go crazy with picks and hope Owuya pans out.

Ugh things could've been so much different if we just didn't sign JFJ. We would've been had some stability and there wouldn't be such anxiousness to make the playoffs because it probably wouldn't be drawn out this long.

When JFJ cut Pat Quinn loose, it was only the second time in 17 complete NHL seasons, Pat had missed the playoffs as coach. The chances of GM/coach Quinn going 7 seasons in a row missing the playoffs seem pretty darn slim based upon his record.

 

[Bullfrog]

Sign Ryan Suter, hope that Vancouver blows with Luongo in net and try to get him. Possibly not have to overpay as his contract is not a good one. Maybe ship a bad contract of our own there. If you get get Suter, you can easily part with Schenn for a top 6 forward.

Schenn's offense is worst then Jeff Finger's.  And besides his 'hits'...which mostly are rubs into the boards, he's not much better defensively either.

One of the most prolific rubbers in the league.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Sign Ryan Suter, hope that Vancouver blows with Luongo in net and try to get him. Possibly not have to overpay as his contract is not a good one. Maybe ship a bad contract of our own there. If you get get Suter, you can easily part with Schenn for a top 6 forward.

Schenn's offense is worst then Jeff Finger's.  And besides his 'hits'...which mostly are rubs into the boards, he's not much better defensively either.

One of the most prolific rubbers in the league.

;D

no comment!

 

[bustaheims]

Sign Ryan Suter, hope that Vancouver blows with Luongo in net and try to get him. Possibly not have to overpay as his contract is not a good one. Maybe ship a bad contract of our own there. If you get get Suter, you can easily part with Schenn for a top 6 forward.

Schenn's offense is worst then Jeff Finger's.  And besides his 'hits'...which mostly are rubs into the boards, he's not much better defensively either.

One of the most prolific rubbers in the league.

 

[Corn Flake]

Yeah and Phaneuf is starting to resemble the traffic pylon, er Todd Gill. Last night while the Leafs had 3 PP in a row, the Rangers kept chipping the puck out on Phaneuf's side and chasing after it. Most times, they seemed to get position on him with the puck and almost cut to the net.

Phaneuf has an on-ice SV% of .945 .  Considering the save % of the goalies, and that Komi is a team worst .838, I have a tough time not shaking my head at the undue criticism.

 

[No.93]

Five things that must happen in offseason:

No. 1 - Put Connolly on waivers... then send him down to minors. We did this with Finger. We're doing it again with Connolly. Burke must admit his mistake. He needs to go to save 4.5 mil in cap space.

No. 2 - Trade MacArthur for draft pick. Basically salary dump. Acquire 3 mil or so in cap space.

No. 3 - Trade for goaltender and legit centre. Burke must be creative here. He must get a legit veteran netminder who can PUSH Reimer. He must also find a centre who can play in top six. The Connolly experiment did not work. This time, Burke must hit on a centre who can play in Carlyle's system.

No. 4 - Let the kids play. Colbourne, Kadri, Ashton and Frattin all need to be with this team next season. End of story. Burke needs to understand where this team is and realize that his assessment of FA's have not been very good thus far as GM.

No. 5 - Draft centre. There are several players in top 10 who can play the position. That's a must.

 

[Fanatic]

I have not read this thread.... so sorry if I am being repetitive in any way at all.

The Leafs will never win with Phaneuf and Kessel. They may be fine players, but just not for this team. I would suggest a major overhaul that goes something like this:

- trade Phaneuf for whatever you possibly can
- sign UFA Ryan Suter - don't just go after him - get him
- trade Kadri and a pick for Ryan Getzlaf - Ducks cannot keep him and Perry next year so they need to make a move
- trade Kessel for a solid goalie

Of course there is no telling that all (or any) of that could happen. But in those moves you address the goal, the D, the Centre and captain that you need..... I know it won't happen, but that is what it would take to shake this team.

I love the Leafs, but I fear that the suffering is not nearly over yet.