 Conn Smythe instituted a major rebuilding campaign for the 1946 – 47 . Gone from the team was Sweeney Schriner , Lorne Carr , Bob Davidson , Mel Hill , Elwin Morris , Babe Pratt , Billy Taylor and new additions were Harry Watson , Jimmy Thomson , Gus Mortson , Garth Boesch , Joe Klukay , Don Metz , Vic Lynn and Howie Meeker . The team was very young , with six rookies in the lineup , and was felt to be two years away from challenging for the championship . However , some of those rookies , such as Boesch and Meeker , had just returned from the war and were more mature than most . As Hap Day observed , " They 'd been through real battles . " 
