It can go either way.

If you look at thier on ice guys now, I would give the edge to Ottawa.No one on the Leafs comes close to Alfredsson + Heatly + Spezza.


If you look at the future, I would go with the leafs. They have more tradeable assets at the deadline. Kaberle to start with. They will get themselves alot of good young prospects and some picks.

Ottawa doesn't need to rebuild.
- sens rock

They don't have to blow the team up but buying at the deadline accomplishes absolutely nothing for them.

They don't have to blow the team up but buying at the deadline accomplishes absolutely nothing for them.
- Leafy_84

They will not be buyers at the deadline..................you are correct.

Sens have Spezza and Heatley, so Sens.

I think what Melnyk was saying is that you do not blow up the roster and trade guys 25 (spez) and 27 (heater) years old who could put up 100 points each. They also have no intrest in trading their 35 year old captain who has a cap hit of just over 5 mil and can still put up point with the best of em. Teams that need to blow up their rosters don't have these guys and need to draft them because you just cannot trade for them.

the moves that we can expect from the Sens is going to be on the back end. Rebuild the bottom 4 D and do some fliping of the bottom 6 forwards and maybe pick up goaltender. NOthing that could not be done on an active off-season. These changes do not require that the Sens have to bottom feed for a year or two, so there will not be any "rebuild" anytime soon.
- brewstir

Well said, i agree fully and completely.

Tlusty is going crazy the last while with the Marlies. He had a 5 goal game tonight, and has 15 points his last 8 games and is +11.

Tlusty is going crazy the last while with the Marlies. He had a 5 goal game tonight, and has 15 points his last 8 games and is +11.
- RogerRoeper

Let's start the parade!

Let's start the parade!
- wisenheimer

Why not!

Tlusty is going crazy the last while with the Marlies. He had a 5 goal game tonight, and has 15 points his last 8 games and is +11.
- RogerRoeper

i say keep him down there, if not the whole year
let him dominate a year, get his confidence up, learn the little things in hockey that make a difference like defensive positioning,
then next year seewhat hes capable of

i say keep him down there, if not the whole year
let him dominate a year, get his confidence up, learn the little things in hockey that make a difference like defensive positioning,
then next year seewhat hes capable of
- nightmare3020

I agree. The guy has lots of talent, but, imo, was rushed into the NHL too soon by the Leafs.

Let the guy be a dominant forward for the Marlies. It's nothing but good for him.

you sure you arent buyers? comrie and campoli for a 1st? even tho its sanjoses(i assume) thats bad

you sure you arent buyers? comrie and campoli for a 1st? even tho its sanjoses(i assume) thats bad
- nightmare3020

Yeah im not sure what to make of that one. Hopefully Campoli develops into at least a 2nd paring defenseman, but i really don't know anything about him. Apparently Murray and his scouts are pretty high on him.

Unless Murray hopes to sign Comrie next season for a fair amount less than his 4mill salary, he better trade him for a 2nd or something at the deadline.

Leafs management has said all along this year not to get excited about this season, as it would be a long rebuilding phase. Ottawa on the other hand was supposed to be a good team and contend for the cup. Who's in a better spot right now?
- Jay Gulley

Right now, today.........the Senators are in a better situation.

Right now, today.........the Senators are in a better situation.
- Doppleganger

By far, better goaltending , better youth, better core experienced players.

Right now, today.........the Senators are in a better situation.
- Doppleganger

Holy crap Doppleganger, just go away already.

And the Leafs have a better cap situation, better management, better coaching and more prefered destination for UFA's.

And the Leafs have a better cap situation, better management, better coaching and more prefered destination for UFA's.
- RogerRoeper

lets give Burke a couple of years before passing judgment on him.

preferred destination???? I don't know haw you can judge that...............whats the track record for big name UFA's who've expressed interest in either City?

lets give Burke a couple of years before passing judgment on him.

preferred destination???? I don't know haw you can judge that...............whats the track record for big name UFA's who've expressed interest in either City?
- Doppleganger

Well just a few days ago the Leafs beat out two dozen other teams (including Ottawa) for Tyler Bozak.

Well just a few days ago the Leafs beat out two dozen other teams (including Ottawa) for Tyler Bozak.
- RogerRoeper

Bozak is hardly a big name UFA... Big name is the Cammalerri/Jbo types

Bozak is hardly a big name UFA... Big name is the Cammalerri/Jbo types
- keslover17

If 25 teams wanted him, then yes, he is a big name.

If 25 teams wanted him, then yes, he is a big name.
- RogerRoeper

Good college prospects that you can get for free will be highly sought after.

Being a big name UFA and being a highly sought after UFA are two different things. Big name infers the very best players in the league, while highly sought after are players that the whole damn league and his poor brother want.

Good college prospects that you can get for free will be highly sought after.

Being a big name UFA and being a highly sought after UFA are two different things. Big name infers the very best players in the league, while highly sought after are players that the whole damn league and his poor brother want.
- keslover17

Remember, this was just a comparrison between Toronto/Ottawa. The Leafs have signed more quality UFA's than Ottawa, and more than any Canadian team.

Remember, this was just a comparrison between Toronto/Ottawa. The Leafs have signed more quality UFA's than Ottawa, and more than any Canadian team.
- RogerRoeper

All Canadian teams have a very poor record of signing big name UFA's. The two highest profile impact players signed in the last few years are Souray and Kubina. Not that they are bad players, just not top talents.

This is a joke. Good chance the Leafs will be even weaker next year than this year. I do like the direction they have taken and I think they are wise to rebuild. On the other hand, I think the Senators have made some very clever changes over the second half of the season and I think they will return next year as an elite team. I don't think anybody doubts that Ottawa will be much stronger in goal than they have ever been. They have played very good hockey since changing coaches. They will be a major force in the J.Bo sweepstakes and they will either sign him or make it very expensive for anyone else in the bidding. Ottawa can play head to head with any team in the league if they get the goaltending and an elite offensive D-man.

Well just a few days ago the Leafs beat out two dozen other teams (including Ottawa) for Tyler Bozak.
- RogerRoeper

I asked ....."BIG NAME UFA"..........Bozak had not played a game in the NHL when signed.

Hardly a big name UFA............like say Sundin.