If you were an NHLer, would you sign with the Leafs?

[BrownRolo]

I know I wouldn't. A prick coach, clueless management, and a weak team that seems to be in steady decline.

I think that's why the only players the Leafs are able to sign are the old, broken types or these mediocre never-beens coming back for a second time. Even the crap players we had from last season wouldn't re-sign and I'm sure Nonis was ready to overpay for them. If the Leafs hadn't re-signed Bozak I doubt Kessel would have been back.

All in all a depressing time to be a Leaf fan.

 

[moon111]

Taxes, overly critical fans, traffic, etc... yeah I would sign with the Leafs.

 

[jdh1]

Yes I would sign...best team in the world.

 

[Redleaf]

You know, I think it's a personality thing. Put aside all the other things and think about the passion towards hockey in Toronto for a second. Are you the type that enjoys attention, or not? Would the attention you get by winning the cup as a Leaf motivate you to play your best? Could you rise above the negative media attention when the team is playing poorly and still play hockey at a high level?

That's the type of player I believe they are trying to bring in. Unfortunately you just can't identify and go out and sign all those guys at once. So, it's a slow agonizing process with a ton of luck involved, just on that level alone.

Now getting back to the other stuff like front office ineptitude and a disbelief in the management team. I truly believe once this team starts making the playoffs regularly, and they will, the management team will look a lot better in the public eye, and free agents will be more willing to sign in Toronto.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Keep in mind that players also have their own, non-Leaf related reasons also. Take Brian Boyle for example, apparently the Leafs were there, but it was his desire to make his family happy that he chose another place to play, not because he didn't want to play in Toronto.

While the media has something to do with it I think, fit on the team, where they are in their careers, what role they will have, who they know on that team and lots of little things are more important. I will admit though, there are some players (case sensitive) that avoid the spotlight, Nathan Horton is one off the top of my head.

Toronto certainly isn't for everyone, but I don't think it's as big an issue for NHL players as some let on.

 

[Redleaf]

Keep in mind that players also have their own, non-Leaf related reasons also. Take Brian Boyle for example, apparently the Leafs were there, but it was his desire to make his family happy that he chose another place to play, not because he didn't want to play in Toronto.

That's a good point and it can also be a factor that works the other way around, as many, many players are from Ontario and may consider that when deciding whether or not to wear the blue and white. (Having lots of family and friends around could also act as a deterrent to joining a team in some cases).

 

[Zee]

I know I wouldn't. A prick coach, clueless management, and a weak team that seems to be in steady decline.

I think that's why the only players the Leafs are able to sign are the old, broken types or these mediocre never-beens coming back for a second time. Even the crap players we had from last season wouldn't re-sign and I'm sure Nonis was ready to overpay for them. If the Leafs hadn't re-signed Bozak I doubt Kessel would have been back.

All in all a depressing time to be a Leaf fan.

Yeah, Kessel just signed an 8 year extension, but the Leafs can only attract "old, broken types or these mediocre never-beens"

 

[freer]

As I have stated many time over the years. UFA's are not going to sign in TO because they can't the pressure of playing in the hockey mega. New york is a totally different thing, the city is 11 mil people and they have the Yankee's and Mets.

 

[BrownRolo]

I know I wouldn't. A prick coach, clueless management, and a weak team that seems to be in steady decline.

I think that's why the only players the Leafs are able to sign are the old, broken types or these mediocre never-beens coming back for a second time.Even the crap players we had from last season wouldn't re-sign and I'm sure Nonis was ready to overpay for them. If the Leafs hadn't re-signed Bozak I doubt Kessel would have been back.

All in all a depressing time to be a Leaf fan.

Yeah, Kessel just signed an 8 year extension, but the Leafs can only attract "old, broken types or these mediocre never-beens"

That's why I said the bolded part. Basically Kessel is an outlier because he just wanted to stay with his roomy and he is comfortable here. I think he's great but he doesn't strike me as the kind of player who thinks winning is the most important thing when choosing a team.

Anyways, I was optimistic about this team even after the epic collapse in the playoffs. But after last season and how it has been handled, I don't see anything positive happening.

 

[Optimus Reimer]

Most NHLers who want to win a cup are signing with the Ducks, Kings, Blackhawks, Blues, Stars, Redwings etc.  The Leafs organization never enters into that conversation...

If I were a decent UFA NHLer (20+ goals, 80+ points) I would sign with the Leafs for 2 seasons at the minimum level + a player option to give the GM the time and capability of attracting and signing other pieces of the puzzle that would enable the team to become a cup contender.         

 

[Bender]

As I have stated many time over the years. UFA's are not going to sign in TO because they can't the pressure of playing in the hockey mega. New york is a totally different thing, the city is 11 mil people and they have the Yankee's and Mets.

This is so nonsensical that it hurts. I'm tired of hearing this cop-out reason. Yeah, not everyone wants to be under the media spotlight, but how is that a consistent reason? People sign with teams that have clear direction and good management, something we haven't had since PQ as GM.

People still sign in Montreal, even if they don't speak French for god sakes! Players still go out and sign with the Yankees! Football players still sign with Manchester! Why are NHL players pansies who can't deal with the media? We're not the only team in the world that has pressure from the media, so stop acting like we are!

 

[Bender]

I know I wouldn't. A prick coach, clueless management, and a weak team that seems to be in steady decline.

I think that's why the only players the Leafs are able to sign are the old, broken types or these mediocre never-beens coming back for a second time. Even the crap players we had from last season wouldn't re-sign and I'm sure Nonis was ready to overpay for them. If the Leafs hadn't re-signed Bozak I doubt Kessel would have been back.

All in all a depressing time to be a Leaf fan.

I would, but basically only out of nostalgia and pride, and because I come from the area. I don't really believe this team has a direction and consistently relies on non-quantifiable things like "compete level" as analysis for why things went wrong last year. To me this strikes me as a management team that's stuck in the stone age of analytics and are being left behind as far as methods of how to build a team are concerned.

Combine that with the fact that I'd probably be playing with plugs, there's no chance in hell I'd sign here unless it was for over market value.

 

[Stickytape]

I'd play for the Leafs for room and board.  I mean, no money, just feed me and put me up somewhere, maybe with some bonuses in my contract, like a bag of gummi bears for every point or something.

And they'd be like "Don't you want millions of dollars? We give everyone else millions of dollars."

And I'd be like "Nah, man, spend them bringing in an awesome teammate. Then our team will be that much stronger."

And they'd be like "Are you sure?"

And I'd be like "Go for it, I'm that loyal."

And then they would re-sign Orr for $8 x 7 and I'd burn my jersey and refuse to show up to camp.

Which is probably why I'm not in the NHL.  That, and because I haven't played hockey since I was 13, and even then I wasn't that good.

Serious answer: I really would leave a lot of money on the table to play for the Leafs. If it really came down to "spend entire career in Toronto and never win the cup" vs "bounce around a bit, never in Toronto, but win a cup", I don't know what I'd choose.  Probably still the Leafs.  God, I feel stupid just typing that, but it's true.

 

[crazyperfectdevil]

what is this crap about nobody wanting to play in toronto?  like really?  one day of free agency and toronto is a deadzone for attracting players?  I think you should walk a mile in Edmonton's shoes to see how that really goes. 

I think obviously if your team is doing really well..there are more likely people that are going to want to play there.  there is definitely a pull to play of a team that has a legitimate shot at the cup..so the penguins and the blackhawks et al are definitely going to benefit from that for the time being...

but do i believe that toronto is some kind of pariah now in the hockey world?  No..there will always be people that want to come to toronto or montreal based on just what it would mean to win the cup there.  until you can tell me that there would be the same passion, insanity of say the florida panthers winning the cup as there would be in toronto ..there's always going to be a certain type that wants to play in TO...Hell the leafs have sucked for a decade and they still have a packed house.

it means something different to be a hockey player in TO ..and while I can understand some would just rather collect a paycheck quietly and fade into the background noise...i don't believe that's the only type of player there is. 

bring the leafs a cup and they'd write a song about you.  the tragically hip would play it and it would be played Ad nauseam til the end of time.  but no..nobody would want that.

 

[wnc096]

As I have stated many time over the years. UFA's are not going to sign in TO because they can't the pressure of playing in the hockey mega. New york is a totally different thing, the city is 11 mil people and they have the Yankee's and Mets.

I was in New York for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.  I bet you 85% of the people there didn't even know the Rangers were even playing.  100% baseball town

 

[freer]

You may off not liked my previous post, I dont really care, Clarkson signed here wow, a mistake for us. Name another big name free agent other then Sundin who signed here in the last ten years.

Richards, lacavalier, Nash or St Louis, all good canadian boy who would not play in Canada or Toronto. Good Canadian boys dont want to play in Canada IMO because they dont want to deal with the press pressure.

 

[Joe S.]

You may off not liked my previous post, I dont really care, Clarkson signed here wow, a mistake for us. Name another big name free agent other then Sundin who signed here in the last ten years.

Richards, lacavalier, Nash or St Louis, all good canadian boy who would not play in Canada or Toronto. Good Canadian boys dont want to play in Canada IMO because they dont want to deal with the press pressure.

First of all how do you know they didn't specifically want to play in Canada?

Second of all, when was Sundin signed as a free agent by Toronto?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

You may off not liked my previous post, I dont really care, Clarkson signed here wow, a mistake for us. Name another big name free agent other then Sundin who signed here in the last ten years.

Richards, lacavalier, Nash or St Louis, all good canadian boy who would not play in Canada or Toronto. Good Canadian boys dont want to play in Canada IMO because they dont want to deal with the press pressure.

How many big name free agents have there been in the last 10 years?

 

[Kin]

I think the only thing a question like this does is highlight the difference between the people who are interested in hockey as a pastime and those who are into it as a profession. I'm mature enough to know that the people in hockey view the game primarily as a business and as a result they make their decisions based on lots of factors. Money, how they fit into the roster, what team goals they have...those things are going to come into play for everyone. It's pointless to say "I'd definitely sign with the Leafs" or "I wouldn't" because we don't have any of the actual information players use to make those decisions. I wouldn't sign with the Leafs if I were someone who wanted to be a #1 goalie but that has nothing to do with the coach or the city or the media. These are people's careers we're talking about, they're not going to look at it like fans.

The Leafs aren't in a position where they'll win on players, or convince players to take discounts, based on the likelihood of them winning a title. Anyone who needed yesterday to tell them that must have slept through the season.

 

[Kin]

Name another big name free agent other then Sundin who signed here in the last ten years.

The Leafs have also been a bad team for the last 10 years. If they weren't able to sign any FA's despite being in the playoffs year after year and a great core to build around, then I'd start taking talk of "media pressure" or something else keeping free agents away seriously.