It seems like the Leafs sign someone in their early to mid 30's, and as soon as they stop playing for the Leafs, they're careers plummit. Jeff O'Neill, Jason Allison, Eric Lindros, Alexander Mogilny, Owen Nolan. Some of you will say its because they sign old guys, but look at Joseph, he wasn't old when he left the Leafs, and he's retired a few years later.
So what is it?
2007-11-21 16:19:13 · 10 answers · asked by Brandon C 2 in Sports ➔ Hockey
dan_jame........Relax buddy, I know Oneill's brother died, I know Nolan is still playing, and I know Joseph was greedy and went to Detroit for the cup. I was more getting at the fact that a lot of players seem to suffer career ending injuries, they can't handle the media spotlight..........and yes, they are grabbed by TO on the downslope. I wasn't visciously blaming players. I was just wondering what it is. For instance, it seems only few players have thrived under the media spotlight......no player has been able to grab the co-spotlight with Mats Sundin. Most players who come to Toronto don't perform to their potential Owen Nolan, Pavel Kubina, to name a few.
2007-11-22 05:56:48 · update #1
The media here in T.O. are just horrible. They are like little maggots. Everyone of them think they know the game more than the next guy and want to be the next manager.Ownership is dysfunctional and try to run the team on public opinion and like a fantasy team. I feel sorry for the GM and coach because they are getting ripped everyday by the self serving media. I mean everyday 365 days out of the year at least one media person will come out with the well the Leafs haven't won a cup since 1967, well how insightful I have never heard that before. OK my rant is almost over, concerning Cujo, he left here as a free agent he and his agent tried to make a power play (through the media) against then coach and GM Pat Quinn (Leafs offered more money) .Cujo didn't like it that Quinn started another goalie at the Salt Lake City games and all Canada did was win Gold!! In my opinion Cujo and his agent spit on the jersey and even now his agent through the media have been lobbying to get him back to the Leafs the last couple of years. All I can say is if he was so valuable why isn't there some other team out there wanting this guy. The Coyotes please they are just a bad club, sorry Wayne
2007-11-22 01:50:32 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jeff O'neills brother died a year before he signed with the Leafs. O'neill was going to just retire from hockey after that, but the Leafs, being O'neills hometown, convinced him to come play. I'm sure if your sibling died you'd have troubles playing again.
Allison played 1 season with the Leafs, after coming off a concussion injury the season before with the Kings and is now a f/a. He was a risky player to sign, but the Leafs took a chance. The one season he did played with T.O. he got 60 points in 66 games and was on pace to score 20 goals until he broke a finger. I'd say that's a pretty good year considering he had a concussion the year before.
Lindros was another risky sign the same year the Leafs got Allison and unfortunately he didn't pay off. The thiing is he was already on the decline when he came to the Leafs. In the 2 previous season with the NYR he only played on full one and barely managed to crack the 50 point mark. So his career was already over and most people knew that, the Leafs decided to give him a second chance and it didn't work oot. He moved onto Dallas after that so he didn't fifnish his career with the Leafs.
Mogilny had 2 very good seasons with the Leafs, but we all know those foreign players are injury proned and he has still yet to put in a full 82 game season. He actually moved back to the Devils in 05-06 and had an injury there and the NHL hasn't seen of him since. So hmmmm, so far it doesn't look like it's the Leafs you should be after.
His best season was in 99-00 when he scored 84 points with SJ. Every since that he has been on the decline like most players who age and loose their skill and speed to younger players, take Fedorov for example. Nolan had an ok 1 and like a 6th season with the Leafs and actually moved on to Phoenix than Calgary, so he's actually still playing bud, no career ender there.
Joseph decied he would get selfish and wanted a cup so he left for Detroit, which made many Leafs fans resent him. Of course they didn't win the cup that year and moved on so Cujo had to as well. He moved on to Phoenix where he didn'y play that well with and ended up end his career there. I bet you if he had have stayed with the Leafs he would have been better of in the long run. So really it was his fault and selfishness that ended his career.
Anyone else you'd like to mention??
2007-11-22 08:19:39 · answer #2 · answered by dan_james6_6 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the "Laughs" always pick up players on the downslope. And they also make it a hard place to shine. The scrutiny and criticism over every little mistake makes players either underperform from the pressure or they take off. I also think they have had lousy management for the better part of 40 years. The priority of the ownership has long been to fill seats over win cups. And since they are pre-sold out for the next century the motivation to win just isn't there.
2007-11-22 04:38:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't claim to be any expert on the Leafs, I don't live anywhere near Toronto. But it seems to me that there is no rhyme or reason to how they build a team. I made a comment several times a few weeks ago about the Rangers being a bunch of stars on a team rather than a team of stars. Its been my observation that just because you get star players doesn't mean that you are guaranteed a Stanley Cup. A team concept is important. Unfortunately, it seems to me that the management is more interested in selling all the tickets and merchandise. They are taking advantage of loyalty.
2007-11-22 01:25:33 · answer #4 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Technically, Cujo (who was playing for the Coyotes last season), O'Neill and Allison are still in the league; they're just free agents and haven't retired. Lindros' career was over the moment he got his ninth concussion, and Mogilny suffered a hip injury over time. Owen Nolan plays for the Flames. So...how does playing for the Leafs end someone's career? I'm sure there are lots of other NHLers who has had their careers ended playing hockey. Matt Barnaby comes to mind.
2007-11-22 00:42:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Bad scouting by the Leafs, so they sign those who are over-rated. Also, they like big name players for the spotlight / media as you putted, but only those who are on the decline not those on the rise, the Leafs are able to sign.
2007-11-22 22:06:56 · answer #6 · answered by baypae 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought it was that Leafs get players who are at the end of their careers. The end is inevitable. Being a Leaf only hastens it.
Kind of like a bunch of guys that won the 67 Cup don't you think? Mostly over the hill.
The ghosts of Punch and King still haunt that club.
2007-11-22 02:48:29 · answer #7 · answered by PuckDat 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It seems that way because Leafs management brings in players that have been good in the past and believe that fans will want to see them now even though they're past their prime. Cujo's best years were in St. Louis and partially in Edmonton. T.O is also hard on tenders because of they lack any kind of defensive mentality, they wore out Potvin long before he should have, and then did the same to Cujo
2007-11-22 01:56:19 · answer #8 · answered by scab52 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Leafs don't seem to have much luck drafting and developing young players, so they have to go the free-agent route and thus end up with older (if not old) players.
2007-11-22 10:20:36 · answer #9 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they get overachievers who are not as good as their hype.
2007-11-22 00:23:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋