and our other first rounder… and our 2nd rounder…

I still like you, eyebleaf

sure but how many vets do you want to sign?
Though I would agree, Hanson and Stalberg would probably benefit from more AHL time, I would be fine with sending them down.

Preach it brother

Man I hope we can trade for a first rounder next year and we can cheer like fucking crazy for that team to completely tank!

/not holding my breath

and I thought I heard rumours that the Wild wanted him back?

Yeah crazy, eh?
He won’t ever be coming back to Toronto, though.
(Wouldn’t want him, either)

Unless he stops growing as a player and starts developing bad habits.

I think I’d rather him being challenged at the next level, and getting developed by Toronto personnel on a daily basis.

How about 195lbs?

Can we really delay another year of his ELC by an overage season? I thought you could only slide the ELC by one year. If you go to capgeek you’ll see that next to Kadri’s name you have “SR”, meaning his contract can slide if he doesn’t play 11 NHL games. Stefanovich however—drafted one year earlier—doesn’t have SR even though he played in the Q this year. In other words, we burned a year of Stefanovich’s ELC this year and will presumably do the same with Kadri next year no matter where he plays.

I don’t think Kadri has more to learn in the O and should be with the Marlies next year (with maybe spot appearances with the Leafs since he’s waiver exempt and could learn what he needs to work on from a game here or there).

Kadri isn’t eligible for another year of Junior, if I recall correctly.

Excellent. This is why I love you, Steve.

at least another year, he’s a rookie this year and apparently plans on finishing his degree.

I posted below…

you’ll see the Leafs don’t have as big a problem with top line scoring as we thought we would.

The Leafs current top line is scoring at the same pace as Downie, Stamkos, and St. Louis, and they’re better defensively.

That’s at the same rate as the 3rd leading goal scorer and a former NHL MVP… let’s relax on our concerns with point production and worry more about goaltending and whether or not to keep Komisarek.

so are 20+ other franchises.

There’s more than one way to build a team, and employing a blanket statement/sound bite as the go-to slogan is simple minded.

Sign the best players available, at the right price. If it’s a 22 year old NCAA FA, or a 34 yr old UFA, shouldn’t matter. If they can play in the NHL, let them play. Nowhere in there does it say “rush the kids.”

There’s a difference between asking 23 year olds to play in your top 6 and asking 19 year olds to do it.

Everyone we’re debating whether they belong in the NHL or AHL next season is in their 20s and has at least 1 full season of pro hockey. At this point, we’re not “rushing talent”, we’re seeing what talent we have.

“Rushing talent” would be pencilling Kadri and D’Amigo into the lineup next year, which nobody is doing.

and that doesn’t mean the Leafs have to move players down to the Marlies because that’s what Detroit does.

If Stalberg, Hanson or even Kadri shows up to camp and proves they belong in the NHL, then so be it. There’s just as much of a danger in stunting a players development by having him play lesser competition as there is if he’s rushed.

By the replies I’m getting, it appears you all think this is a big deal to me, but for the record it’s not, just my two cents. Doesn’t matter either way, just don’t think Kenny Holland is the be-all-end-all of GMs. For every Datsyuk and Zetterberg there’s a Butsaeyev and McGillis. I’d rather see the Leafs develop players at whatever level is needed for them is all…