CanadianRugby Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 http://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/ed-willes-leafs-reno-on-pace-while-canucks-lagging-behind#comments For an early December game between a pair of 12th-placed teams, the Saturday night special between the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks served up any number of ready-made storylines. There was revenge factor, which led to a bruising heavyweight fight between the Canucks’ Erik Gudbrandson and the Leafs’ Matt Martin, the kind of scrap that used to be an integral part of the game but is no more, even if it can bring 18,000 fans to their feet. There was a sublime goaltending performance by the Canucks’ Ryan Miller, who turned aside 38 of 40 shots as the Canucks squeaked out a 3-2 shootout win. There was even the predictable drama created by the legion of Leafs’ fans in attendance, full-throated and fully invested, creating a charged atmosphere in a building which is usually flatter than pee on a plate. So you can take your choice of those topics as you contemplate the events in and around a noteworthy night at The Rog. But if you were looking for something not quite as obvious; something subtler but more meaningful, we call your attention to the two lineups and what that says about the direction of the Leafs, the Canucks, and the NHL for that matter. It’s like this. Between the two teams, there were 10 players aged 22 or under and three more aged 23. These included the dazzling Auston Matthews, the Leafs’ 19-year-old superstar in the making who scored the tying goal, 19-year-old Mitch Marner, who dominated the game for stretches, and the Canucks’ 21-year-old Bo Horvat, who scored the shootout winner while logging 20:40 of ice time. Gudbrandson, by way of comparison, is just 24, but in this brave new world, he sometimes feels like Grampa Simpson. “The game has changed and it’s happened really quickly,” Gudbrandson said. “I’ve seen huge changes since I came into the league and it’s only been six years.” Horvat, who’s in his third year, was asked if he’s now a grizzled veteran. “It feels like it,” he said, before adding, “Every team has some young skilled guys who are going to be around the league for a long time. This is just the beginning. They’re going to be the stars. They already seem to be the stars now.” But where does that leave the Canucks? That’s just one of the questions that’s going to be answered this season as they continue their makeover, but the images from Saturday night were telling. There were long stretches in the nationally televised tilt in which the Canucks were simply overmatched. True, they had things under control for the first half of the game, opening a 2-0 lead with some tidy work. But after the Leafs’ James van Riemsdyk scored on a power play midway through the second frame, the ice was tilted to an illogical degree. Over the third period and overtime the Canucks were outshot 18-5. Matthews had five shots, including the tying goal. Marner had four. JVR had six. And there were another 20 shots that missed the net. “We had lots of open nets,” said Leafs head coach Mike Babcock. “We just didn’t shoot it in.” Oh. “We have a lot of good young players who are starting to come,” Babcock continued. “We have eight rookies. That’s a lot of rookies. We’re trying to hold them accountable, catching them doing it right and make sure they know they right way to do it.” The Leafs, moreover, are just a couple of years down this path, but already look to be far ahead of the Canucks. OK, this year’s draft lottery helped their rebuild immeasurably, and you’re invited to contemplate the role blind luck plays in these endeavours. The Leafs’ went into the lotto with a 20 per cent chance of drawing the first pick. The Canucks were 11.5 for first overall and 11.4 for second. Put Matthews or Patrik Laine in their lineup today and it changes everything for this franchise. But it’s the Leafs with the Golden Child while the Canucks try to hammer away at their renovation; hoping they can make incremental gains throughout the lineup, hoping they can get get lucky with a couple of big things. It’s possible, one supposes, and there are some encouraging signs this year. Troy Stecher has been a revelation. Nikita Tryamkin has solidified his place in the lineup. Those two players change the entire look of the blueline, which isn’t a bad place to start. But it’s not enough, not based on what we saw on Saturday night, not based on what’s going on in so many cities around the NHL. After a half century, it finally looks like the Leafs’ day is coming. In Vancouver, we wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 They're in 12th place but their rebuild is "on pace"? Lol, let me know when they accomplish anything other than having the most hyped players. Before media and fans start praising the Leafs lets wait and see if they can actually build a team like the Hawks rather than a team like the stage 1 rebuild Oilers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 Just now, DeNiro said: They're in 12th place but their rebuild is "on pace"? Lol, let me know when they accomplish anything other than having the most hyped players. Before media and fans start praising the Leafs lets wait and see if they can actually build a team like the Hawks rather than a team like the stage 1 rebuild Oilers. Oh I agree. The Leafs have some very skilled offence minded forwards, but their defence is horrible. They are building backwards. I like how JB has established an excellent you d d corpse for us first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Am.Ironman Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 "you’re invited to contemplate the role blind luck plays in these endeavours. The Leafs’ went into the lotto with a 20 per cent chance of drawing the first pick. The Canucks were 11.5 for first overall and 11.4 for second. Put Matthews or Patrik Laine in their lineup today and it changes everything for this franchise" ^^^That is really what it boils down to. Give the leafs Juolevi, us Matthews or Laine and everybody is talking about how the Canucks have managed to rebuild in 3 years. Juolevi and Boeser are also out of sight and out of mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katobaron Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 The leafs aren't doing it the "right way", they're trying to cheat the system and at the end of the day they'll end up like the Oilers in tanking purgatory. Losing for a high draft pick and essentially claiming talent bankruptcy isn't a sound business strategy. People can point to the sustained success of the Blackhawks, the Penguins and to some extend the LA Kings but what has set those teams apart isn't just the players they've drafted, it's the culture of accountability and competition they bring to their organization and if your head office is intentionally throwing away years of your career on a crapshoot lottery of young talent that doesn't exactly breed a winning mentality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam126 Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 So a team that started their rebuild earlier than another team is ahead in their rebuild? How could this be?! Fire the Sedins!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaSwede Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 I swear the Leafs have been re-building for the better part of 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaBamba Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 9 minutes ago, DeNiro said: They're in 12th place but their rebuild is "on pace"? Lol, let me know when they accomplish anything other than having the most hyped players. Before media and fans start praising the Leafs lets wait and see if they can actually build a team like the Hawks rather than a team like the stage 1 rebuild Oilers. Id say they are closer to the Hawks than our sorry a$$es. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honky Cat Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 Good article by Willies...although,as he says..'blind luck' is the arbiter here..It also remains to be seen how the Leafs pan out...How many years were we saying the Oilers are going to 'break out this season'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 1 minute ago, DeltaSwede said: I swear the Leafs have been re-building for the better part of 10 years. The biggest x factor this time is Babcock. His ability to develop talent is a level above. However even if you have the right coach and a solid GM, alot still needs to go right including smart trades and signing good contracts. A rebuild involves more than just drafting after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaBamba Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 2 minutes ago, DeltaSwede said: I swear the Leafs have been re-building for the better part of 10 years. They spent 7 doing what we are doing now. Get use to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honky Cat Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 2 minutes ago, DeltaSwede said: I swear the Leafs have been re-building for the better part of 10 years. I thought it was 49 years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 1 minute ago, LaBamba said: Id say they are closer to the Hawks than our sorry a$$es. Being close to a team that wins the cup isn't winning the cup. I could care less if we're farther away than them, all I care about is that we build a complete team the right way with no shortcuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 1 minute ago, Katobaron said: The leafs aren't doing it the "right way", they're trying to cheat the system and at the end of the day they'll end up like the Oilers in tanking purgatory. Losing for a high draft pick and essentially claiming talent bankruptcy isn't a sound business strategy. People can point to the sustained success of the Blackhawks, the Penguins and to some extend the LA Kings but what has set those teams apart isn't just the players they've drafted, it's the culture of accountability and competition they bring to their organization and if your head office is intentionally throwing away years of your career on a crapshoot lottery of young talent that doesn't exactly breed a winning mentality. And the Leafs are giving the keys to young forwards, while forgetting about the need for defencemen. This article THREAD should be comparing the Oilers stupidity to the Leafs current stupidity. Both teams are building from the forwards back to the defence. THE LEAFS SUCK NOW, AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUCK. And their city stinks, and has smog days. Nice! Smog alert days. TO is a HOLE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanuck Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 What a joke. Take the Laffs 2 best/most experienced defensmen out of their lineup and get back to me on the long term results of that situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toyotasfan Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 1 minute ago, DeltaSwede said: I swear the Leafs have been re-building for the better part of 10 years. They have totally sucked for at least that long, their biggest accomplishment was choking against the Bruins in the first round after having a commanding lead. After dwelling in the basement longer than any other team , I'd say they're right on pace! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 Let's start another 5~7 articles/threads upon whether the yoyo's headin' up or down. After all, no game today. How would our society trudge on, if it weren't for sports journalism?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alflives Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 Just now, Fanuck said: What a joke. Take the Laffs 2 best/most experienced defensmen out of their lineup and get back to me on the long term results of that situation. They don't have two decent defencemen. They have Reilly, and then...crap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheOgRook Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 7 minutes ago, DeltaSwede said: I swear the Leafs have been re-building for the better part of 10 years. Think longer.. Way longer my friend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM_ Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 15 minutes ago, DeNiro said: They're in 12th place but their rebuild is "on pace"? Lol, let me know when they accomplish anything other than having the most hyped players. Before media and fans start praising the Leafs lets wait and see if they can actually build a team like the Hawks rather than a team like the stage 1 rebuild Oilers. Well, to be fair, Nylander certainly knows how to jump out of the way of a moving puck We're 1 point behind the Leaves, with superior D and goalie prospects. Yes we need top 6 help, which can come from the draft in the 1st round, later round draft luck/skilled scouting (like Benn e.g.,), trades and free agency. Only one option requires tanking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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