Matthias to Avs for Colin Smith and a 4th round pick

[herman]

I'd say we tanked smarter than Buffalo, with our cheap temporary lineup filler that have yielded more returns than could've been hoped for. They definitely tanked on the right draft though.

They did a really good job of accumulating picks though. In the last four drafts they've had six #1's(none higher than #16), seven #2's and four #3's.

Indeed they did; that's a solid haul. They've been tanking a bit longer (deliberately) than we have too. I don't think they intended to be quite so bad this season as Kane, RoR, and Lehner (and the failed attempt at Babcock) alongside Eichel were big pushes for immediate contention.

 

[Kin]

Indeed they did; that's a solid haul. They've been tanking a bit longer (deliberately) than we have too. I don't think they intended to be quite so bad this season as Kane, RoR, and Lehner (and the failed attempt at Babcock) alongside Eichel were big pushes for immediate contention.

I don't know how true the first half of that is. I don't think Regier was deliberately tanking, I just think they did a better job than the Leafs did on pulling the plug on seasons going nowhere and selling at the deadline.

I agree they probably anticipated more of a step forward this season though. Although how realistic that was when a lot of it was on Lehner's shoulders is up in the air.

 

[lamajama]

Being a long long long Leafs fan, and staring at and experiencing near-death lo, these many many years, I can't
help myself waiting for the piano to drop on our collective heads.

Finally - finally the Leafs are doing it the right way, and yet I fear we just never get some luck.

Like we win the lottery and Bettman steps up and says Leafs lose the pick for some perceived slight...like
tampering with Stamkos... : (Yes I know - seek help...)

I live in Vancouver - and they are dropping like a stone. Same obviously as Montreal.

Along with a combination of Edmonton, the Habs or Canucks jointly dropping us out of Top 3?

KA-BLOOIE. Head explodes.

 

[Kin]

Along with a combination of Edmonton, the Habs or Canucks jointly dropping us out of Top 3?

Something to keep in mind, and I think we're starting to see this a bit, is that regardless of the talent changes we'll see in the next week I bet we start to see a Leafs team with a bit less fight in them.

Earlier in the year everyone was really impressed with Babcock getting the team to buy in and compete hard and I know there's a tendency to think the same will be true post deadline but I think there's going to be some serious air let out of the tires here.

I know we all looked at the beginning of the season and said "The Leafs have no shot" but I don't think it's in a player's nature to do the same. When the team starts shipping guys out, it's going to be a lot harder to get everyone to give 100%.

 

[bustaheims]

Something to keep in mind, and I think we're starting to see this a bit, is that regardless of the talent changes we'll see in the next week I bet we start to see a Leafs team with a bit less fight in them.

Earlier in the year everyone was really impressed with Babcock getting the team to buy in and compete hard and I know there's a tendency to think the same will be true post deadline but I think there's going to be some serious air let out of the tires here.

I know we all looked at the beginning of the season and said "The Leafs have no shot" but I don't think it's in a player's nature to do the same. When the team starts shipping guys out, it's going to be a lot harder to get everyone to give 100%.

Honestly, I think it's already started - and really started to get hammered home after the Phaneuf deal. Over the past few weeks, there's been a lot more inconsistency in their performances. They don't seem to be working as hard to being able to stick to their structure as well. Part of that is teams now know what to expect when they play the Leafs, and they've adjusted, but some of it certainly has to do with the direction the team has been heading all season.

 

[Kin]

Honestly, I think it's already started - and really started to get hammered home after the Phaneuf deal. Over the past few weeks, there's been a lot more inconsistency in their performances. They don't seem to be working as hard to being able to stick to their structure as well. Part of that is teams now know what to expect when they play the Leafs, and they've adjusted, but some of it certainly has to do with the direction the team has been heading all season.

Yeah, the other thing, and this is maybe more about why I think the team's march to respectability might be slower than others do is that there is something to be said for the relative ease of getting a bunch of seasoned NHL veterans who are used to the grind of a season and playing in different systems and then trying to get a bunch of kids to do the same. I'm guessing that for most of Mitch Marner's career the system he's played in has been "get the puck to Marner".

So we'll probably see quite a bit of learning curve on top of that.

 

[rdowdall]

Honestly, I think it's already started - and really started to get hammered home after the Phaneuf deal. Over the past few weeks, there's been a lot more inconsistency in their performances. They don't seem to be working as hard to being able to stick to their structure as well. Part of that is teams now know what to expect when they play the Leafs, and they've adjusted, but some of it certainly has to do with the direction the team has been heading all season.

Yeah, the other thing, and this is maybe more about why I think the team's march to respectability might be slower than others do is that there is something to be said for the relative ease of getting a bunch of seasoned NHL veterans who are used to the grind of a season and playing in different systems and then trying to get a bunch of kids to do the same. I'm guessing that for most of Mitch Marner's career the system he's played in has been "get the puck to Marner".

So we'll probably see quite a bit of learning curve on top of that.

That's right.  They'll need to avoid that endless loop of "Get the puck to Marner", "Get the puck to Nylander" where the two of them just give and go with each other, but neither ever shoots.