i just hope this thread deletes itself soon

What do you mean? The leafs are stuck with their current core players because they all are signed to long term untradable contracts.They will have a tough time retaining all the UFAs and RFAs on their roster for next season as they have essentially zero cap space to re-sign them all. As for signing another saviour UFA like Clarkson, many UFAs are not attracted to the circus like atmosphere that surrounds the leafs.


Ottawa has a wealth of young talent that are getting better game by game, and have tonnes of cap space for next season and will be able to retain anyone they want.








http://www.ottawasun.com/...lt-in-a-complete-overhaul



Think about it: A handful of players on the current roster have now endured four disastrous collapses. It started with the 2012 debacle that led to Ron Wilson’s firing, followed by the Game 7 collapse in Boston the following spring, last year’s painful slide from playoff contention in March and on to the current decline that is reaching historic lows.






Summer will also bring free agency, another massive challenge for Shanahan — as it has been for Nonis and Burke before him.

The crazier the sideshow around the Leafs becomes and the further they move away from contention, the less attractive Toronto becomes as a destination.

The noise surrounding the Leafs makes news around the league, from Salute-gate to Jersey-gate to whatever the later crisis might be. Players notice and many of them want no part of it.
- Doppleganger

I'd say it's a wealth of young players.

There really isn't much talent in there.

Worse yet, your top prospect has a ceiling of a third line plug.

Hope? You're a long long long way from having anything that constitutes meaningful hope. You can hope your over priced roster of underachieving, overpaid losers can barely outperform a team $15m under the cap.
- Cape Breton Bruins

Hope? You're a long long long way from having anything that constitutes meaningful hope. You can hope your over priced roster of underachieving, overpaid losers can barely outperform a team $15m under the cap.
- Cape Breton Bruins

And yet, I'm still glad I don't cheer for that budget team.

And yet, I'm still glad I don't cheer for that budget team.
- Feeling Glucky?

instead, you cheer for a team that constantly finishes behind them in the standings......

instead of cheering for a budget team, you cheer for an incompetent team.

And yet, I'm still glad I don't cheer for that budget team.
- Feeling Glucky?

Look at what kind of fan you've become.

Your team has not won anything, other than one Divisional Championship (1990 00) since the NHL expanded to 12 teams.

So in lieu of wining anything, you have to focus on things like sellouts, money earned by the owner, outrageous spending by the owner and the enormous fan-base as "things", to laud over fans of of other teams.


I guess when a provincial and or a divisional rival, constantly finishes ahead of your team in the standings, makes the playoffs many more times than your team...........then I guess all you have left is off ice things that don't really count for anything.

If you look in the record books, is there a ranking for the most fans, the most sellouts, the most viewers, the most money spent etc etc???



The Senators have dominated the leafs, in all on ice categories that count, for the past decade ..............all you have is non hockey related stuff.


See what kind of fan you've become?

Look at what kind of fan you've become.

Your team has not won anything, other than one Divisional Championship (1990 00) since the NHL expanded to 12 teams.

So in lieu of wining anything, you have to focus on things like sellouts, money earned by the owner, outrageous spending by the owner and the enormous fan-base as "things", to laud over fans of of other teams.


I guess when a provincial and or a divisional rival, constantly finishes ahead of your team in the standings, makes the playoffs many more times than your team...........then I guess all you have left is off ice things that don't really count for anything.

If you look in the record books, is there a ranking for the most fans, the most sellouts, the most viewers, the most money spent etc etc???



The Senators have dominated the leafs, in all on ice categories that count, for the past decade ..............all you have is non hockey related stuff.


See what kind of fan you've become?
- Doppleganger

The fan of a relevant team?

instead, you cheer for a team that constantly finishes behind them in the standings......

instead of cheering for a budget team, you cheer for an incompetent team.
- sensarmy_11

yes, but the incompetence is easier to fix than the budget.

yes, but the incompetence is easier to fix than the budget.
- Feeling Glucky?

Judging by the past 11 years this is not the case.

Judging by the past 11 years this is not the case.
- Cape Breton Bruins

The fact that they're finally trying to get on the analytics side of things rather than the still trying to build a pre-2005 lockout team is a good sign.

The fact that they're finally trying to get on the analytics side of things rather than the still trying to build a pre-2005 lockout team is a good sign.
- Feeling Glucky?

Well I admire your unwavering support of this incompetent enterprise even if it borders on delusional.

Well I admire your unwavering support of this incompetent enterprise even if it borders on delusional.
- Cape Breton Bruins

We're called "fans" for a reason.

Judging by the past 47 years this is not the case.
- Cape Breton Bruins

fixed that for you

We're called "fans" for a reason.



- Feeling Glucky?

I've spent 90% of my life in the same boat.

The fan of a relevant team?
- Feeling Glucky?

In terms of on ice play you cheer for probably the least relevant team in the league over the last 10 years or so. The budget team you make fun of constantly has a better team.

The fan of a relevant team?
- Feeling Glucky?

How are the the leafs a relevant team, other than off the ice, for the past decade?

They've won a single divisional title since expansion began in the sixties, the last time they made an appearance in the Stanley cup finals.


The leafs have been a joke this season, first Stickgate, then Jerseygate and then the NHL all star players mocking the leafs this past weekend making the leaf organization a the butt of jokes.


Don't take my word for it, just listen to local leafs radio hosts.

I've spent 90% of my life in the same boat.
- Cape Breton Bruins

At least the Bruins have been to the finals a few times since the NHL expanded to 12 teams.

Honestly, when WE make fun of Kessel it's one thing - but for some reason it bugs me when the other players do it. Kessel tries to be a good sport about it, but at some point hopefully they'll start spreading the jokes around a little more. He's still just a dude who plays hockey, right?

Ah well, in any case, I'm glad the All Star circus is over and we'll see where our two teams go from here. By all logic Toronto should end up ahead of Ottawa, but we shall see...

Honestly, when WE make fun of Kessel it's one thing - but for some reason it bugs me when the other players do it. Kessel tries to be a good sport about it, but at some point hopefully they'll start spreading the jokes around a little more. He's still just a dude who plays hockey, right?

Ah well, in any case, I'm glad the All Star circus is over and we'll see where our two teams go from here. By all logic Toronto should end up ahead of Ottawa, but we shall see...
- Mr_Squeaks

I kind of agree with you.


But you have to wonder, maybe Kessel is.... an ass?

. By all logic Toronto should end up ahead of Ottawa, but we shall see...
- Mr_Squeaks

I'm not sure I but I might not exactly agree with your logic.

The leafs have played 5 more home games than the Sens (at this point) and Ottawa has played 2 less games (overall) than the leafs. Both are advantages in Ottawas' favour, no matter how slightly but still advantages.

Also Ottawas' goal-tending has been better than the leafs so far, so don't see why Ottawa can't finish ahead of the leafs.

Yes, Ottawa has still to go on the tough California road trip, that the leafs have already done, and as the deadline approaches one or perhaps both teams could trade away enough talent to affect their ability to win down the stretch.


One thing I can say though is that neither team will make the playoffs, as neither team will be able to catch, pass and finish ahead of one of the Rangers, Bruins or Capitals.

I kind of agree with you.


But you have to wonder, maybe Kessel is.... an ass?
- Pecafan Fan

maybe he is just awkward and not comfortable in social situations.

maybe he is just awkward and not comfortable in social situations.
- senstroll

yup, seems like an easy guy to make fun of. pretty weird personality for a pro athlete

maybe he is just awkward and not comfortable in social situations.
- senstroll

Oh I know. It's inconceivable that he's an ass.

http://www.pensionplanpup...s-a-balrog-he-cannot-pass

That's incredibly depressing even if you're not a Leafs fan.

Holy poop!

Oh I know. It's inconceivable that he's an ass.
- Pecafan Fan

what are you basing this off of?