Could Reilly be the first GOOD player the Leaf's drafted?

Homer Jay · Post #1 » by **Homer Jay** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 2:44 am

That stayed with the team and had an impact since at least Potvin? I mean we had some average players like Schenn, Antropov, and Kulemin come through, and guys like Jonsson and Rask emerged elsewhere after being traded. Could we finally have drafted, if not an elite player, at least a top player for the first time in two decades? He looks like the real deal so far.

UN-Owen · Post #2 » by **UN-Owen** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:53 am

Let's hope so

The Leafs have the worst draft record over the last 25 years -- with Potvin likely being the best of the best

whysoserious · Post #3 » by **whysoserious** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:21 pm

Reilly definitely looks like he could be huge for this franchise. Let's hope he stays healthy.

The problem with the Leafs though goes beyond drafting. They've been horrible at assessing prospects to draft, but they make things worse because they overvalue their own guys and keep some of their bad picks longer than they should while moving other guys that we should have kept.

Brad Boyes comes to mind. Has been a solid NHL'er with some ups and downs. With the Leafs (and the Raps are the same) we always end up overpaying in trades when teams ask for our top guys or draft picks but when we look to move guys out and get prospects/picks we end up taking back no high end prospects off other teams.

UN-Owen · Post #4 » by **UN-Owen** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 11:07 pm

whysoserious wrote:Reilly definitely looks like he could be huge for this franchise. Let's hope he stays healthy.

The problem with the Leafs though goes beyond drafting. They've been horrible at assessing prospects to draft, but they make things worse because they overvalue their own guys and keep some of their bad picks longer than they should while moving other guys that we should have kept.

Brad Boyes comes to mind. Has been a solid NHL'er with some ups and downs. With the Leafs (and the Raps are the same) we always end up overpaying in trades when teams ask for our top guys or draft picks but when we look to move guys out and get prospects/picks we end up taking back no high end prospects off other teams.

Boyes was traded for Owen Nolan, if I remember correctly. Depending on whether or not the Leafs were a contender that season, it may have been a decent gamble at the time. (I have a vague recollection of Nolan getting hurt almost immediately after joining the Leafs though)

Although I wasn't impressed with him during his time in Toronto, Alex Steen has become a very dependable player with St. Louis

Trading Rask was a mistake too