Hmmmm…kinda sounds a lot the the Brian Burke blueprint too. I guess only time will tell if:

A.) Fletcher is laying the groundwork for Burke to step in once he’s able to leave Anaheim
B.) The (apparent) rebuilding plan works

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 06/23/08 at 10:33 AM ET

Wow… ok, I can think of another team that took character over skill, without doing any research at all into the draft picks: the Canucks.

Cox is a joke.  To make a such a wide sweeping statement as the one that’s posted above without researching into other teams (the Leafs and the Canucks are the only teams I follow, so if I can find that comparison that easy, shouldn’t Cox be able to find other teams as well?) is just irresponsible journalism.  Schenn is an excellent prospect, possibly ready to step into the lineup and I’m sorry, but how many NHL defensemen that were drafted on Friday are “the next Scott Niedermeyer”? 

Nearly everything that Cox writes is biased, baseless criticism, and he contradicts himself so much that unless it’s posted as a big headline like here, I completely ignore him.  But this kind of crap writing does nothing except cater to the Leaf hating minions who want to hear how the team is screwing up.

Posted by Karina on 06/23/08 at 10:40 AM ET

That’s kind of a crap argument. The Wings look for a balance of skill, character, and a willingness to self-improve as players physically and mentally mature.  Skill is of paramount importance, but if the Wings are choosing between a player with slightly more skill and a bad attitude and a player with slightly less skill who’s driven to become a better player, they’ll take the latter player. 

Cliff Fletcher is attempting to manage the Maple Leafs as a “Shock and Awe” GM, making controversial and possibly detrimental moves simply to make them.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 06/23/08 at 02:22 PM ET