Coming last in the standings only gaurantees a 20% odds for picking 1st isn't all that great.A one in five chance for Matthews isn't worth watching for the tank.I,m going to be rooting for the team to win,instead of seeing a losing mentality like the Oilers having cultivated on their team.
Tank Nation: Matthews Edition
- Thread starter LuncheonMeat
- Start date
McGarnagle
New member
Bill_Berg said:
Meh. I don't think there'll be enough relevant players on the current team going forward to worry about team culture at this point. Besides, up to about a month ago, they were putting out a pretty decent effort considering the talent pool.
I'll worry about a culture of losing affecting the base after we draft more than couple times in the top 3.
Bill_Berg
Active member
McGarnagle said:
For me, it's more that losing doesn't have the same appeal it once did. I used to watch and think, well they lost, that's at last good for the tank, maybe we'll get Matthews. Now I just pray they get a top three pick, and finishing last is no guarantee of that, so losing isn't as comforting as it once was. Now it's more of a waiting game for future seasons. This season, and the next however many, are less interesting than they were to me before I realized just how much the lottery makes losing not beneficial.
Kin
New member
It's not like the Leafs are good enough to climb out of the cellar anyway. So aren't you just rooting for the Leafs to finish, like, 6th worst as opposed to dead last and getting not only the best chancee at #1 but also the best chance of a top 2 pick, a top 3 and a guarantee of a top 4 pick.
I guess I don't see a really great alternative.
I guess I don't see a really great alternative.
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
When I watch the games I'm not disappointed if they lose because I know long term it's likely to be good for the team.
I also find though that I'm rarely disappointed if this incarnation wins, mainly because they play a style that's easy to cheer for. When they have success; it's usually a byproduct of them outworking their opponent.
I also find though that I'm rarely disappointed if this incarnation wins, mainly because they play a style that's easy to cheer for. When they have success; it's usually a byproduct of them outworking their opponent.
McGarnagle
New member
Bill_Berg said:
You're right, there's no guarantee of the 1st overall, but I think people fed up already with the process are in that state of mind because this is probably the worst stage of it. There's very little talent on the roster, the endgame seems farthest away, and the point of the season simply seems to be to outlast the negativity until the draft. And because of all the poor decisions to keep chasing wildcards since the sundin era, there's not anything approaching franchise success to fall back on in recent memory to tide people over.
I think that although they'll likely be pretty bad in the standings over the next few years, we can at least watch the next few seasons with the perspective of watching truly talented prospects hone their NHL game - and at least enjoy flashes of things to come, rather than the current futility of the on-ice product that comes from a present day teardown. We might not see anything approaching success, but being able to watch, comment, and debate on progress will be fun.
bustaheims
Active member
jdh1 said:
Coming in last also comes with a 100% guarantee of a top 4 pick. It's not all about Matthews, he's just the top prize. What the Leafs need to is add as much talent as possible, and the best talent is found at the top of the draft. They're not going to be able to build to anything more than a mediocre, playoff bubble team without adding a few players from the very top of the draft. The whole idea of a losing mentally is really overblown. The Oilers aren't bad because they're a team full of guys used to losing. They're bad because they've built their team terribly. They have no depth, no defence, and no goaltending. Their management team has done an awful job at everything other than ending up with high picks. They haven't acquired quality prospects, they haven't drafted well outside the first round (and, a couple of their 1st overall picks were questionable decisions, too). The team winning now will really only lead to them not winning the big prize.
The flip side to the lottery is that even if the Leafs come second last they still will have a good shot at getting the #1 overall pick. It's going to be interesting to see how long they tank for. Next season they could actually be a decent team if some of the prospects turn out and start playing for the big club.
Your making a good point, I was mainly talking about getting Matthews was a long shot.I guess tanking will net us a high 2nd rounder as well,plus hopefully Pittsburg gets in so we can get their 1st.That,s three picks in the first 35 choices or so....not bad at all.bustaheims said:
herman said:
That depends on who replaces them. I mean losing Spaling is addition by subtraction really. It likely means that even when Bozak returns Arcobello will stay with the big club.
Polak though, for all we sometimes ragged on him, will be tough to replace in the short term though.
herman
Well-known member
CarltonTheBear said:
My reasoning is that Spaling was the cannon fodder we threw up against the other team's top lines, so now it'll have to be Arcobello (ha), or Bozak, which pulls them off from more offensive opportunities. Carrick probably gets the next call up at center, and I can see either Percy or Campbell coming in to sit in the box on the backend.
herman said:
When Spaling was hurt the Kadri line generally took that responsibility, and I think the Leafs were a better team during that period of time. Although JVR would have been on that unit too so not having him there would have a negative effect.
I've cooled on Percy quite a bit, but the Leafs may as well give him a shot here. He'll be eligible for waivers next season. And while I doubt he'd have a hard time clearing, it'd be nice to go into next season with a better idea of where he stands.
herman
Well-known member
CarltonTheBear said:
Oh yeah, you're right, it was mostly Kadri's line. While that made the team play better (because Kadri is awesome), I think it still bodes well for the Tank.
I think Percy and Carrick are filler at this point, either on the call-up squad or rounding out a trade.
L K
Active member
As much as we talk about getting one of the very good players in the top 4, getting Matthews is just so important at this point.
43 points in 33 games in the Swiss league. The only other player that is outperforming him is Pierre Marc Bouchard who is lapping the league with 63 points in 46 games.
43 points in 33 games in the Swiss league. The only other player that is outperforming him is Pierre Marc Bouchard who is lapping the league with 63 points in 46 games.
