bustaheims said:Mostar said:Not so sure. I don't think the Leafs were a goalie away from being an upper tier team. I remember other issues with the team at that time...although I do remember there was a large focus on goaltending.
I do agree that goaltending was a problem though.
Personally I was extremely disappointed the Leafs didn't start a full rebuild at that time, WAY more so than a goalie change. They had some assets that were rated pretty highly at that time and the prospect cupboard was pretty bare.
Who said anything about being an upper tier team? All I said that Rask would have been enough of an upgrade in net to keep them out of the basement. They still wouldn't have been a good team. They still would have had other issues. They just wouldn't have been the 2nd worst team in the league.
Yes, you did not say they would have been an upper tier team otherwise. My apologies. However, the amount of focus (around here anyway) on that particular issue was not justifiable IMO considering the big picture of the organization of the time.
Some good people here argued (for 60 pages) how much better the team would be without him and how he was holding them back. While I agree to a certain extent, I felt (strongly, I'm emotional about the Leafs) there were some assets that could have been moved for picks. A few years of pain, with or without Raycroft - doesn't matter - and the Leafs are a much different club today.
PQ took an admirable shot, he iced a great looking lineup for a playoff run (pre-Raycroft), it didn't pan out, and they have just disintegrated ever since. Raycroft was just a bit player in the overall downward spiral of the club.
I fully agree with Bender. Not recognizing the need for a rebuild at the time was a massive mistake.