Long Story Short
May 27th, 2009 by SteveOk, I’m going to apologise for the lengthy, play-by-play, dissection of the Sharks rise from the dregs of the NHL to the top. You guys probably don’t feel like reading 3500 word essays on-line.
So what the hell was my point again? Oh right - the Sharks. What did they do to revive the moribund franchise, and what can the Leafs learn from it.
A few things really, not the least of which is the buy and hold philosophy. Made popular in finance by Warren Buffett, the same sentiment is logical when cultivating a deep and varied Hockey Talent Portfolio. The Leafs have for years relied on ridiculously high rates of turnover for most of their lower end talent, and rarely allow prospects to develop to their full ability within their system.
Consider the fact that on the Maple Leafs 2006-07 roster, the Leafs had 12 players play for them that they drafted themselves. Of those 12, only Tomas Kaberle, Alexei Ponikarovsky, and Kyle Wellwood produced over 40 points. 8 of those players were 24 or younger.
This past season, the Leafs had 19 players play for them that they drafted or signed as undrafted free agents. Of those 19, Ponikarovsky, Stajan, and Antropov were the only ones to gain over 40 points, but 6 of them were rookies, and 12 of them were 24 or younger. Obviously the Leafs are heading in the right direction in terms of bringing along their own young talent.
As far as next season goes, that number should jump again, possibly as high as 20 players who were drafted or signed by the Leafs… with another 12 to 15 being 24 or younger.
If the Leafs hope to make inroads as a championship contender, they need to cultivate solid play from their youngsters, by developing them slowly. Patrick Marleau didn’t break the 60 point or 30 goal plateaus until his 8th year in the NHL. They need to be patient with players drafted out of junior.
Bringing in veteran talent to show your younger players the right way to play is NOT a bad thing, especially if they aren’t chewing up development time that the younger players could use. For that reason alone, I am entirely in favour of the Leafs bringing in secondary role players from winning organizations. If the Leafs can sign free agents that have played in New Jersey, Detroit, Colorado, Anaheim, San Jose, Dallas, etc. and they can contribute in a solid manner to the learning environment for the club, then I’m all in favour.
For that reason, I won’t be shocked if the Leafs go after ex-Canucks, Ducks, or Sharks this off-season. Players that know Wilson and his coaches, or Burke and Nonis, will be more likely to play for people they’re familiar with if they were happy in those environments. Most players speak highly of Burke and Nonis, and they probably know they’ll win playing with Wilson eventually. Plus, if they’re from the Toronto area, it wouldn’t hurt much to play closer to home.
Those are all reasons I think the Leafs might be a bit of a destination as time goes forward.
Trades can be valuable but don’t expect them to always improve the club. Obviously the Stempniak deal is an example of that. Colaiacovo and Steen might have needed greener pastures to develop, but Stempniak didn’t really do much to improve the play of the Leafs. In the end they likely lose that trade, but looking forward is the only way to move on… I’m still working on that by the way.
Lastly, I think a key thing Burke needs to do is try and obtain as many first round and high second round draft picks as possible. Trading away an asset like Kaberle is not going to destroy the Leafs in the long run if it garners you a team mainstay through the draft. Rather than moving the 7th overall pick, if the Leafs could pick up a pick in the mid-range of the first round, that would be superior in my eyes… I’m not sure if Burke sees things the same way - in fact I’m pretty sure he doesn’t - but that’s what I’m hoping for.
Posted in Prospects
13 Responses to “Long Story Short”
By finlan
on May 27, 2009
i think there’s too much media attention or fans pressure on some young players, e.g justin pogge? burke also did a good job in signing college players, it’s a another way to add depth.
By eyebleaf
on May 27, 2009
Trade Kaberle for a mid-range first round pick? Hmmm. My perma-boner for Kaberle is inclined to say, “let’s keep him.”
He and Kubina will be free agents at the deadline. I wonder what the market for those guys will be like …
By Tom Cat on May 27, 2009
I think both Kaberle and Kubina’s time has come. The team is moving in a new direction and they are old guard. I see Kaberle going by draft day. He is a well respected defenceman with a good contract and is really the only bargaining chip Burke really has of any real value. Kubina’s contract will prohibit him from being traded until the next trade deadline when teams woun’t mind taking it on and the point man on the power play is usually something teams are looking for then.
WHat I think the Leafs should do is to agressively go after Boumeaster this year. WIth the hopes that Vessa can rebound next year and hopefully Jonas Gustavsson can be signed and is NHL ready. With Boumeaster, Scheen, Finger, Van Ryan (if healthy, Kaberle (if still around), and Kubina they don’t have a bad defense. Leave the forward ranks and hopefully develop some guys. Kulemin played pretty good last year and should improve. Scoring goals wasn’t the big problem last year. Let Blake earn his dough. Young Dale Mitchell may be able to step in. The following year maybe Nash will be a free agent and target him then. Now then you would have a team.
PLEASE PLEASE DON’T SIGN THE SEDINS. That would be like having two Sundins. Big and strong but soft and passionless. Collect the paycheck and come playoff time go winging back home to the Swedish country clubs. BLECK I’ve seen enought of that in Sundin’s time to last a lifetime.
By James K
on May 27, 2009
Tom Cat,
The Sedins are “big and strong but soft and passionless”?????
I won’t waste my energy putting forth a rebuttal regarding Sundin, but it’s safe to conclude that you’ve either been watching a different player that you think is Sundin, or your “hockey analysis” skills need some sharpening. (perhaps both)
By James K
on May 27, 2009
Steve,
Trying to grab a middle first-rounder would be tremendous for the hockey club going forward.
It would take the pressure off of the 7th overall pick first of all.
The top 10 is good enough this year that #7 will probably be dynamite.
I’d prefer to take Tavares, but I’d rather two first rounders than say, just Matt Duchesne.
By James K
on May 28, 2009
Steve,
Trying to grab a middle first-rounder would be tremendous for the hockey club going forward.
It would take the pressure off of the 7th overall pick first of all.
The top 10 is good enough this year that #7 will probably be dynamite.
I’d prefer to take Tavares, but I’d rather two first rounders than say, just Matt Duchesne.
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
By Tom Cat on May 28, 2009
James K,
The player the Leafs traded to get Sundin was a warrior. What did Sundin ever win or do for the Leafs? The only time in his tenure with the club that they ever went any distance in the playoffs it wasn’t with his leadership. Gilmour and Roberts. Wendel and Darcy. Now that’s passion. Sundin had all the size and skills but a heart the size of the grinch before he slid down that mountain. The Canucks discovered what he was all about.
PS Your comment about taking pressure off the 7th pick is brainless. These kids are susposed to be able to handle pressure. That’s what makes a winner. Sundin couldn’t take any pressure. He useed to choke over a personal milestone point. No wonder he’s your hero.
By Steve
on May 28, 2009
Tom,
Sundin bashing is a bit out of left field on this blog for a couple of reasons.
1. He is the Leafs all time point’s leader and was their captain for a decade.
2. He scored at a .901 point per game clip in the playoffs, and a point per game clip in the regular season over his ENTIRE CAREER.
3. Your assertion’s that Gilmour was superior basically boils down to 2 years with the Leafs… and he never won any more Cups with the Buds than Sundin did… or Clark for that matter. Gilmour scored 63 points in 39 games during the 93 and 94 playoff runs. That’s legendary, but he still couldn’t win a Cup.
4. Wendel Clark was never the scorer either Gilmour or Sundin was, but his production didn’t change much from the regular season to the playoffs. 0.71 regular season, 0.73 playoffs.
5. The idea that Gilmour and Clark had no talent is a bit misleading in comparison to Sundin - Clark was a 1st overall pick, and Gilmour scored 177 points in 68 games during his last season with the Cornwall Royals in the OHL, he wasn’t exactly a grinder. Gilmour played on the 1988 Canada Cup team - he wouldn’t make a squad like that if he wasn’t a solid talent guy.
6. Sundin did win an Olympic Gold medal, and he wasn’t the only reason the Leafs never won the Cup… let’s just leave it at that.
7. You aren’t swaying anyone with arguments about the Sedin’s “toughness”. Nobody expects them to be pugilists… just scorers.
By furcifer
on May 28, 2009
Well done Steve responding to the Sundin bashing!
As for your strategy I think the Burkian one is trying to pick up an extra first rounder. Have I mentioned how I can’t wait until draft day?
By Chemmy on May 28, 2009
I liked your long article about the Sharks.
By James K
on May 28, 2009
Thanks for backing me up Steve. “Tom Cat” probably won’t end up reading it though. He’ll be too busy misspelling the following names in a single post somewhere else on the internet:
“Scheen”
“Boumeaster”
“Van Ryan”
His name is in all likelihood actually Tim.
And yes Sundin is my hero. If you can remember October 14th 2006 you’ll know why.
By Tom Cat on May 28, 2009
Hallo Again,
Thomas P. Cat here,
No James, I wasn’t busy misspelling surnames on other sites … I have a job. Gotta feed the kittens you know.
I must say though that I liked the “Tim” crack. Very good, maybe your not brainless after all. Your a Leaf fan so you can’t be all bad. I’ll admit that I can’t spell most NHL surnames and I’ll not go looking them up either. I thought I had “Van Ryan” right. Oh well, if you have to resort to correct my spelling I guess you don’t have anything else of substance to add. So I’ll address Steve’s comments.
Steve, I gather that your a numbers guy but you can’t measure a players worth by stats alone. There are lots of very good games played by very good players where they don’t register a point. Go figure. I don’t think that there is a stat for toughness or grit. Penalty minutes isn’t it. I don’t think there is a stat for heart either. I’d take Gilmore, Clark, Roberts, and a host of others over Sundin there any day the week and I don’t think I’m alone. Mats picked up a point a game but he was paid very very well. I think that covers 1-5.
Oh Yeah! Sundin did win a gold medal. Maybe a Spendler Cup too? My apolozies if I’s misppelling any a this Jimmy Boy. Bottom line … who cares. Maybe they do in Sweden.
I have to agree that Sundin wasn’t the only reason that the Leafs never won a Cup during all his years but hey, he was the captain so sorry, yes he is accountable for that in a big way. I’m sure glad that Sundin’s county club teams are in the past. Wilson referenced that the club had no leadership when he took over. He WILL keep the players accountable. Maurice also said that his team didn’t have the “killer instinct” to put other teams away in the third when the Leafs had the lead. All reflective of Sundin’s follow-me-to-the-golf-course leadership.
I don’t expect the Sendin’s to be scrappers Steve. I think that for what you would have to pay them you could do much better. And yes, I think they are soft players.
And in closing, October 14th eh? Hmmm lets see. Does the season even start then? Would’ve hardly been a must win game. Not much pressure there. A real Sundin time to shine. Must have been a milestone then. First 100th million banked? 500th golf game? You and Mat’s first date?
By Steve
on May 29, 2009
All I’m going to repeat is - Clark and Gilmour didn’t win Cups with the Leafs either…
Sundin wasn’t absent in their attempts, and he produced what he was paid to - points on the score sheet.
I wouldn’t quote Paul Maurice if you’re looking for acknowledgment from this corner.
Keep on keepin’ it real.