The Leafs in 5 Years

by samspade on Mar 4, 2010 8:16 PM EST

The youth movement is now in full swing. We got a pretty decent collection of young players and the quest is to develop those kids to their peak potential. Question is, what is that potential? So here's an interesting little exercise that may help to relieve some of the depression at having to hear about the Leafs giving away their top pick this year which is probably gonna be a lottery pick (YOU STILL CHEER THE LAFFS? DID YOU KNOW THE LAFFS TRADED THE FIRST OVRALL PICK FOR PHIL NOLAN WHO HAS LIKE ONLY 10 GOALS ZOMG LAFFS SUCK TAYLOR HALL TAYLOR HALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)...

Well, maybe Im exagerating. I hope im exaggerating. Anyway, heres the game: We take a look at all our youth and hypothesize their ceiling, specifically what can of player the kid can become? Lets get started:

Dion Phaneuf - Chris Pronger (this is what ive heard people say, though I think a better description of DPs ceiling is how he played his first two seasons in the leauge)

Luke Schenn - Adam Foote, Scott Stevens (OK I am aware thats a serious long shot but you get the idea. I do think we should be realistic in this exercise)

Nazem Kadri - Ryan Getzlaf

Jonas Gustavvson - Hiller or Giguere in his glory days

So what do you all think? What mid 90's to present all stars will make up the hopefully Stanley Cup winning Toronto Maple Leafs of 2015-16? And try to make some serious contributions to the discussion (in addition to the comedy that will no doubt follow).

PensionPlanPuppets.com is a fan community that allows members to post their own thoughts and opinions on the Toronto Maple Leafs and hockey in general. These views and thoughts may not be shared by the editor of PensionPlanPuppets.com.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I would kill for Kadri to be as good as Getzlaf. That guy was a beast at the Olympics. I don’t think Kadri will have the size necessary but his hands could get close.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.

by PPP on Mar 4, 2010 8:46 PM EST reply actions

TruKulence

We require, as a team, proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence.
DION F*****G PHANEUF

by Belligerent Burkie on Mar 4, 2010 11:42 PM EST up reply actions

Kadri seems closer to Marc Savard with his speed, passing skills, and underrated shot. Savard is also quite feisty with a bit of a reputation for being a dirty player, much like Kadri. Ryan Getzlaf is a 22+ minute kingpin of a player. I would constantly fall down in my own euphoria if Kadri turns out like Getzlaf. Like PPP said above, Kadri doesn’t have the size to completely dominate other player physically as Getzlaf can do.

As for Schenn, I’m still holding out hope for Scott Stevens, but you’re right in that it’s very unlikely. The thing is, I think Schenn has a better upside than Foote simply because he has better foot speed and an emerging slapshot. But I don’t know what the Leafs have in Schenn because he doesn’t play often on the power play, nor did he get enough time in juniors to hone his offensive skills, existent or no.

Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell

by bkblades on Mar 4, 2010 11:42 PM EST reply actions

Schenn won’t ever have Stevens’ offense.

Leaf, the universe and everything.

by 1967ers on Mar 9, 2010 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

I’m hoping for the best but I think Luke will turn out like recent LotD, Bob Rouse. And there is nothing wrong with that, being a hard hitting, stay at home guy. Keep it smart, keep it tough, know your role and we’ll all continue to love you here in Toronto, Luke.

Warning: Grammar and spell checking is foreign concepts to me...

by Peanut Butter Rally Time on Mar 9, 2010 6:28 PM EST up reply actions

Stalberg = Poni

I’d like to think Gunnar could be a 40 pt/season d-man. I’m not sure who to compare him too, though.

I’d like to think Hanson could a be 20/20 or 40pt guy playing on the third line, with some spot duty on the 2nd and PP. Again not sure who to compare him too.

Bozak is interesting – he could max out at Stajan numbers, or be a 75 -80pt guy. No clue yet/

Kessel = Kessel

Wendel Killer Joseph

by MapleLeafMole on Mar 5, 2010 1:06 PM EST reply actions

This isnt necessarily my opinion, but others have compared:

Gunnar = Rafalski
Kessel = Bondra

You guys are right on the Getzlaf comparison. I was thinking the offensive skills combined with the aggression, but yeah Kadri is small. Maybe a super skilled Darcy Tucker?
Dougie? Trottier? Kessel becomes Mike Bossy? Phaneuf becomes Denis Potvin? (yah i know i know but we can always dream)

by samspade on Mar 5, 2010 1:51 PM EST reply actions

Dougie… undersized, feisty, skilled… don’t get us excited like that. I’m putting that comparison out of my mind.

by The '67 Sound on Mar 5, 2010 8:17 PM EST up reply actions

YEAH, NO KIDDING MAN!

When I made this post I went out of my way to compare him to Getzlaf, because the more obvious ceiling / comparison scared the shit out of me. Shivers, man, shivers. I WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT AGAIN

by samspade on Mar 6, 2010 12:26 AM EST up reply actions