Okay, as the final nails are being driven into the Leaf's coffin, (1.9% chance of making the playoffs as of this date), and with their future pretty much out of their hands.... its time to keep track of the real race.... the race for lottery draft picks. NOTE: This is NOT condoning or encouraging tanking... this is merely a thread to track the lottery draft pick standings.... and the number of Andrew Raycroft starts!

Mar.16 AM:
30: Los Angeles Kings 62 pts
29: Tampa Bay 66 pts
28: St. Louis 69 pts
27: Atlanta 70 pts
26: Islanders 71 pts
25: Columbus 73 pts
24: Toronto 74 pts
23: Chicago 75 pts
22: Edmonton 75 pts
21: Florida 76 pts

Right now, LA looks pretty tough to beat in the race downwards. That would give them the max 3 chances at 1st overall. TB is sucking it up pretty badly, so they should end up in 2nd. After that, the race is pretty wide open. Remember, the most you can move up in the draft if they select your ping pong ball is 4 places, making the last potential first overall team 26th place overall.
This draft looks really good, with the top ten picks all likely being NHL calibre, but the real prizes seem to be the top four, with the top two (Stamkos and Doughty) being consensus. With one a forward and one a defenseman, there is no loser in the 1/2 slots.
Edmonton's pick is owned by Anaheim.

One interesting note: no one yet in the media has really discussed the possibility of trading up for the first overall pick. If, say, Toronto wanted to gamble a little, they could trade their first round pick and a player to LA for their first pick, and hope that LA's ball gets selected. Or, wait until after the draft lottery, and trade to the actual first overall...... should be quite interesting, no matter what...

go **** a slurpee machine...seriously..this thread blows

Serge in all seriousness would you not like to see the Leafs get a top 3 pick. THe season is done the only thing the Leafs can accomplish this year is get a high draft pick so lets cheer for it. There's nothing wrong with cheering for the top pick in a very good draft year think of the draft not the playoffs.

You're one testy Canadian come playoffs time, aren't ya?

as sad as it may be for serge, and for mats, but sundin's injury was probably a huge blessing in disguise, without him the leafs really have no chance of playing .500 hockey for the rest of the year let alone anything better (in spite of how well toskela plays).

Draft picks are nice, but are supposed to be discussed after the season is over..You dont PLAY for draft picks..its just wrong..Only losers play for draft picks....

Hellooooooooooooooo ASSTRICH.....

wanna fight??

For ninth?

nh...

I am really getting tired of this LONG hockey season this year...Its been very tough..

Cant wait till the Jays come in to town...

I think the jays have a legit chance this year, although losing a starting pitcher hurts a little..

they have a very good shot, but they need to stay healthy...

Maybe they will get more attention in April and May this year with the problems of the Leafs

Hope the umps aren't against them too!

I'm torn.

I need Toskala to keep playing and winning for my fantasy team. But as a Torontonian, I'd love to see the Leafs finally get themselves an uber prospect that everyone could talk about, like a Stamkos or Doughty. Sick and tired of the second and third rate prospects that go nowhere.

Anyway, the real chase is next year. I say make sure you finish #30 next year and hope the ping pong balls don't screw you out of Tavares.

Serge, you always argue that Toronto deserves a winner and the fans deserve more for being so loyal....so wouldn't it be nice to have a guy who could possibly be the next player to be considered one of the best in the NHL, if not the best? You don't usually trade or sign those kind of guys, so I say be happy and consider the possibility of Stamkos or if they are truly lucky, Tavares. Cheer up, let the sun shine in.

It wasn't a starter, he was pegged as bullpen help. There was a chance he would start if needed, but they were slotting him in for middle relief I believe.

(assume your talking about Casey Janssen)

Yeah, sorry, I was under the impression that he was competing for a starter's spot this season....

it would be nice...but not at the risk of going against the integrity of the game...If it happens it would be great..

After a stirring come from behind victory last night over the Islanders, the leafs managed to make up absolutely no ground on the Flyers, and still find themselves 6 points out of the last playoff spot with just 8 games to go...
But where do they stand in the REAL race for the prize... the chase for the top draft pick...

30) LA KINGS 62 pts
29) Tampa 66 pts
28) Atlanta 70 pts
27) Isles 71 pts
26) Blues 71 pts
25) Chicago 75 pts
24) Leafs 76 pts
23) Phoenix 77 pts
22) Columbus 77 pts
21) Florida 78 pts
20) Oilers 79 pts

The leafs still remain one spot out of a potential lottery pick. However, this week's road trip does hold some promise for Toronto to sink back into at least the fifth pick, and get a shot, however small, at first overall.... stay tuned...

seriously this is just ludicrous, and a disgrace to the integrity of the game.

At least Toskila gets the idea! but the rest of the team couldn't figure it out last night

21 Florida Panthers 81
22 Chicago Blackhawks 80
23 Toronto Maple Leafs 80
24 Phoenix Coyotes 78
25 Columbus Blue Jackets 77
26 New York Islanders 73
27 St Louis Blues 75
28 Atlanta Thrashers 70
29 Tampa Bay Lightning 66
30 Los Angeles Kings 66

An update: While playing great hockey the Toronto Maple Leafs have managed to move from 13th in the conference all the way up to 12th, and are still well out of the playoff positions.

In the real race, Toronto has managed to slip from 6th worst in the league to 8th worst, further distancing themselves from that priceless lottery pick. In the meantime, the ice cold Islanders, riding a sub par Wade Dubliewicz, have managed to bring themselves right into the thick of the lottery fever, and now officially stand in a lottery pick position at 5th worst. Islander coach Ted Nolan had this to say, "We've taken the opportunity to test out some young talent to see who will be part of this team moving forward. And playing Wade has allowed us to have a better look at what we may or may not need to do with our goaltending situation moving forward." Yes, Ted gets it. congrats, Isles, I hope you pick Bogosyan......

You sir are a disgrace to the media...If you need me to expand further on that I will, however until then this topic is done