Draft Day

Maple Leaf fans have reason to hope today and tomorrow will signify positive, new beginnings for their favourite hockey team.

The Leafs have the No. 7 pick in tonight's draft, and by 9 p.m. or so there will be a new teenager with "saviour" tattooed on his forehead. There are all kinds of trade rumours, including some linking Pavel Kubina to San Jose when Kubina's trade window opens this weekend. There's an intent to at least try again to move veterans Darcy Tucker and Bryan McCabe, whose only professional aspirations currently seem to be to live in Toronto, whether the hockey club wants them or not.

So lots of intrigue, many possibilities.

And what a strange little move with which to see the hockey club start off.

After resourcefully picking up a third round pick, 70th overall, from Florida at the trade deadline for Chad Kilger, Fletcher peddled that moderately useful pick to St. Louis last night for 33-year-old winger Jamal Mayers.

Mayers is a local fellow, a big, grinding winger who again played for Canada at the recent world championships in Quebec City and Halifax. The Leafs have been eyeballing him for years as a useful third or fourth line player. Mayers is under contract for the next two seasons at the very affordable $1.4 million.

The question, however, would be why is the team selling off newly acquired picks, even third rounders, for aging veterans who can at best play supporting roles?

It's not a big deal, that's for sure. But isn't this where the Leafs want to be hoarding as many young prospects as possible, not dealing off picks? Or is the plan here to patch together a lineup that can qualify for that exalted eighth and final playoff berth in the east?

While first and second rounders are obviously the most useful, any pick in the top 100 has value. The idea was to move Kilger to start the rebuilding process, yet the pick acquired in exchange for him has now been flipped to land another older player.

Curious. Let's see what the rest of the weekend brings.

Comments

[Mel]

On the other hand, Mayers is the kind of guy who is often over-payed for his points due to "intangibles". From what i've seen of him, he provides energy on a more consistant basis than most of the Leafs so called grinders. Plus, if the leafs will be fielding a team of youngsters, they'll need someone to keep them from getting bullied.

[Simon S-G]

Not surprising at all, the Leafs are just doing what they always do -- mortgaging thier future for no reason. Real Leaf fans will stay away from supporting this club and its greedy clueless owners until the mess is fixed.

[Rob S.]

*DEEP SIGH* This team just couldn't sit back and draft 10 young kids. They had to deal a pick. *DEEP SIGH*

[guelphdad]

Not only do the top 100 picks have useful qualities, all of them do if the clubs do their homework. Look where Zetteberg and Datsyuk were drafted!

8th place here they come.

[Kevin Fauth]

Hi Damien,

I agree about the Mayers move. I don't quite understand it either. The only possible rationale was that they traded Kilger because of his "personal problems" and now wanted to replace that "depth" in the line-up when the opportunity arose. I guess the fact that Mayers played for Team Canada should be an indication that he is a better player than Kilger; however, I really don't see how he will make a difference in the direction of the team. Perhaps he fits well with the system that Wilson will go with [assuming it is a defence first, forechecking approach].

[bradkc]

Unfortunately, this deal looks too much like all the others the Leafs have made over the last several seasons. It's all about chasing the Holy Grail of 8th place in the conference rather than retooling for a long-term run as a serious contender.

[Jon K.]

Amazing. When I heard this trade on TV last night I was shocked. I hope this means that some of the 3rd/4th line players that the Leafs have are moving today/tomorrow as part of a package. Mayers is a decent role player, but like so many people have noted, the Leafs need more talent, not grinders.

[OddyOh]

Draft Schmaft!

[Andrew]

I have to admit, my thoughts are the same.
Trading a draft pick for a marginal scoring winger, who is in his early 30s, and is a "good character guy". I think we have heard this before.

[Jim]

C'mon Damien, they had eight picks in the first five rounds and five in the first 100. They still have a couple of third rounders.
Mayers showed at last year's worlds he can chip in with offence and doesn't seem to be having the "issues" the other player apparently is.

[leaflover]

I have to say that I like the addition of Jamal Mayers.

For a few years now I think the Leafs have lost the accountability and passion that is needed in the dressing room. Remember Gary Roberts and Tie Domi, I couldn't imagine them allowing any of the Leafs current players to take nights off without suffering the consequences. I think they need this kind of presence in the dressing room and I don't believe that Mats Sundin brings this kind of presence judging by his demeanor during interviews. Just my opinion, I can't say for sure as obviously I have never been in the Toronto Maple Leaf dressing room.

With Jamal Mayers obviously being a "character" player, hopefully he can inject this kind of presence into the locker room. The only negative is that he doesn't bring the history with him that a Gary Roberts or Tie Domi brought with them.

[Bill Laidlaw]

I understand the concern that the Leafs are picking Mayers up to "shoot for eigth" but I would argue this was good use of an asset. 270 kids will be selected in the draft this weekend and maybe 20 will be legitimate NHL players. I like Mayers, I like where his career has gone the last several years, and, while rebuilding is nice, you still have games to play. I find it odd when people say the Penguins suffered to build through the draft. The Penguins bought the lucky ping pong ball or they would still essentially be rebuilding bottom feeders. As an added bonus rumors are swirling around the rest of their rebuilding process (Malkin and fleury)as well so there are no guaruntees. Mayers will show up, will take a third or fourth line role, and may help toughen a very soft Leaf lineup. Good useful pickup that can help now so why not?

[Mire Ritchie]

I wonder if any would trade Chad Kilger for Jamal Mayers and think it will have a major impact on your team. Don't the Leafs have more than enought 3rd or 4th line players?

[Jeff]

Kilger for Mayers...anybody would take that trade. But my thinking is that Mayer's roll will be to protect the younger players that the Leafs will have next year while being able to play everyday, something enforcers usually cant do. Good enough skill and heart to play for Canada, sounds like another role will be gritty rolemodel to which the leafs have NONE!

[Scott Summers]

Hi Damine,
"The pick acquired in exchange for Kilger has now been flipped to land another older player Jamal Mayers".

If you are supprised by this....you don't know the Leafs.

I was expecting more of this. Long as Pedie is in-charge, bone head move like this will always happen. They have alrady planned to compete for the 8th and final spot for next years playoffs.

LOL

[Vic]

Have to agree with you on this one Damien, I don't understand how Jamal helps them, unless as you say, they are trying to pull a fast one on us and resume their pursuit of Peddie's Holy Grail of 8th place. Having said that, I'm not sour on Cliff as you are. I think he still has the ability to get some good things done here, and contrary to him just hiring "old friends" as you stated in another article, it would seem to me the addition of Al Coates, is a step in strengthening the hockey intelligence of the Leafs management (yeah, yeah, insert loud guffaws here! lol). Anyway, hope the rest of draft weekend brings some encouraging results.

[Doug]

it's jus ta 3rd round pick and the Leafs have 10 picks..plus the AHL is full of 3rd round picks...just Damien being Damien rattling on just for the sake of rattling on...will Burke and Wilson have a blast with Simmons and yourself....can't wait....Damien couldn't stand Quinn as Quinn called him out more then once...

[Subman879]

I couldn't agree more. this is a rebuilding phase with the "management team for the ages". Now trading a 3rd rounder for a role player, when we are not expecting to compete for a few years is senseless combined with old friends in management and I am seeing "draft shmaft" all over again.

[Cam of Toronto]

I agree Damien. Collect as many picks as possible. Like it or not, every seat at the ACC will be paid for regardless of won / loss record. Who cares if nobody shows up and / or the team puts on a show trying to squeak into the playoffs.

I think you have to look at what might happen five years down the line, with about one out of every 20 picks cracking the lineup.

[steve]

Damien - it's always a balance. No team can completely dismantle themselves and make no effort to compete. A 3rd round draft pick has about a 10% - 15% chance of having an NHL career longer than a full season (dont worry I did the math for you). Mayers is an established NHL veteran. He won't pile up points, he's not a game changer, he is not the difference between making the playoffs and not. But he is an experienced NHL player - He is a known quantity. And like it or not, every NHL team has to have a certain number of known quantities. And he only makes 1.4 million dollars - a bargain by todays standards.

As much as we would all love to be stockpiling young talent to increase the probability of finding a diamond in the rough.. or at least building a warchest of assets to work with when the team is good enough to make a run for the cup, we can't sit here and scrutinize every minor move with that typical only-in-toronto cynical attitude of "what-ifs" and 20-20 hindsight. We could spend all day and list the players that we (or 28 other NHL teams) "could" have had in entry drafts (Henrik zetterberg anyone?). But that is a fools past time.

[Peter Lynn]

Any rebuilding team is going to need a veteran presence, and Mayers also brings some toughness missing from the soft current squad, which should help keep the kids from being pushed around. Further, Mayers has the added virtue that he hasn't been infected with the country-club attitude pervasive in the Leafs' dressing room, and he won't be a negative influence in that regard.

[Steve]

Me thinks Dick Peddie got mixed up and thinks he just got Jamal Magloire for his basketball team. Now, let's see if we can confirm that Mayers and Brian Burke were in the same terminal at O'Hare on November 23, 2004.

[kenny d]

Mayers is a player with grit. Something the Leafs are sadly lacking. To get a guy who grew up in Toronto playing for the hometown Leafs and a guy who plays with grit is a positive move for the Leafs. They can sure use a winger who doesn't mind getting his nose dirty. Maybe he can help wipe the powder off a couple of other Leaf noses and we can get on to having a good hockey club.

[Paul]

What a surprise. They couldnt even take one step forward before taking two steps back with this moronic "trade."

[conn smythe]

Damien doesn't think this was a good trade? Wow, I'm really surprised.

Please.

Damien was the same guy who said Wilson was a 'good' coach - and then amazingly (in the same sentence) said that Maurice was also a 'good' coach as well. There's no comparison, but good try.

Which is it Damien - you rip on Maurice, but when the Leafs get a better coach in Wilson, you are suddenly nostalgic for Maurice?

What's the big problem? The Leafs identify a need and they traded for it...Oh no, they used a draft pick. Heaven forbid.

I think its a good trade - finally we have some toughness on this team (real toughness, not Darcy Tucker pretend toughness).

God, the way some of you nancy boys prattle on, it was as if Cliff traded our 1st round pick and Sundin for this guy.