All quiet on the Leaf front. But why?

[Scrif]

This seems to be a trend, and it may be the cone of silence by Burke et al, but Im seeing multiple teams make moves and signings and seeing nothing from Leafland. When I say 'trend' Im referring to the 'no we're not going to pay that' speech we get when there is a Super Duper RFA/UFA available. For Burke, THIS IS THE YEAR. None of this 'Im not going to pay that salary'. NY did for Brad Richards, and they did pretty well this year. If the Leafs don't make the playoffs in 2013, Burke is done. And rightly so.

Seriously - trade Luke Schenn while you can. He is an OK defenseman, and if he turns out to be the next Pronger (notice I didnt say Lindstrom) then so be it. The Leafs would get some very capable assets in return.

If the Leafs don't make any MAJOR moves, and DO make the playoffs, I'll eat a pair of my boxers -it wont be that tuff tho, they're all thin and worn anyway - like the Leafs.

 

[Kin]

Because it's the middle of June?

 

[jdh1]

This seems to be a trend, and it may be the cone of silence by Burke et al, but Im seeing multiple teams make moves and signings and seeing nothing from Leafland. When I say 'trend' Im referring to the 'no we're not going to pay that' speech we get when there is a Super Duper RFA/UFA available. For Burke, THIS IS THE YEAR. None of this 'Im not going to pay that salary'. NY did for Brad Richards, and they did pretty well this year. If the Leafs don't make the playoffs in 2013, Burke is done. And rightly so.

Seriously - trade Luke Schenn while you can. He is an OK defenseman, and if he turns out to be the next Pronger (notice I didnt say Lindstrom) then so be it. The Leafs would get some very capable assets in return.

If the Leafs don't make any MAJOR moves, and DO make the playoffs, I'll eat a pair of my boxers -it wont be that tuff tho, they're all thin and worn anyway - like the Leafs.

I would like to get some real assets for Schenn...but I'm afraid he'll be traded at his lowest value..so I'm tempted to hold on to him and see if Carlyle can get his game back.

 

[cw]

but Im seeing multiple teams make moves and signings and seeing nothing from Leafland.

Aside from UFAs Vokoun and Stuart being traded basically for negotiating rights and teams signing their own FAs/draft picks (Leafs signed some of their picks), can you list all this activity that's been going on?

It's typically a quiet time of year.

As we get closer to the draft, things may pick up. But usually not lots.

Recently, Leafs re-signed Eakins & his staff. Decided to keep the NHL assistant coaches. Signed picks Carrick, Komarov, Granberg.

 

[crazyperfectdevil]

i'm kind of torn ..as much as i want the leafs to make the playoffs...and as much as i agree if they don't make it this year ..burke is probably done ..i also tend to think that this is probably the wrong time to make any kind of drastic moves that would help immediately ...this team still needs more talent in the system ..more youth ..more prospects

 

[Madferret]

Reality?

 

[bustaheims]

Because it's the middle of June?

This. The Cup was just awarded a few days ago and we're just over a week away from the draft. We're in that awkward period where it feels like a lot might be about to happen, but, isn't there yet.

 

[Redleaf]

Because it's the middle of June?

This. The Cup was just awarded a few days ago and we're just over a week away from the draft. We're in that awkward period where it feels like a lot might be about to happen, but, isn't there yet.

Expect deluge of news/tweets starting Monday, which begins busiest 2-week period for "stories" in NHL yr. #trades #hirings #draft #signings
-Bob McKenzie

 

[maplesyrup]

One more week and it'll be bonkers. Enjoy the calm.

 

[Corn Flake]

Yes too quiet. I propose 11 more new threads opened to talk about trading Luke Schenn.


*wanders off into forest*

 

[Zee]

I don't see a flurry of activity with other teams, the Leafs are no different.  I expect stuff to start happening next week leading up to the draft, and then the ever fantastic July 1.

 

[Champ Kind]

I work in higher education and I like the down time once semesters end.  Lets me catch up on stuff.  I'd assume people in the hockey industry feel the same.

 

[princedpw]

Because the Leafs are up against the cap with a heap of under-performing players relative to their salary and because the free agent pool is so shallow, there isn't a lot Burke can do, I don't think, without compromising the future.  It would be great if the leafs signed Shultz, but that isn't really in their control.  They don't really have the cap space to give Parise the $8+ million it will take to get him (again, even then, not under their control).

My "best case" scenario is really that we tank this year, sell off Connolly, Lombardi, Armstrong at the deadline, obtain another top 5 pick and reload with the 2014 free agents (hoping there are many).  Maybe by 2016, we will have a decent team.

 

[Champ Kind]

Because the Leafs are up against the cap with a heap of under-performing players relative to their salary and because the free agent pool is so shallow, there isn't a lot Burke can do, I don't think, without compromising the future.  It would be great if the leafs signed Shultz, but that isn't really in their control.  They don't really have the cap space to give Parise the $8+ million it will take to get him (again, even then, not under their control).

My "best case" scenario is really that we tank this year, sell off Connolly, Lombardi, Armstrong at the deadline, obtain another top 5 pick and reload with the 2014 free agents (hoping there are many).  Maybe by 2016, we will have a decent team.

I'd hate to wait that long but that's probably one of the most realistic and pragmatic approaches I've seen lately.

 

[Bender]

Because the Leafs are up against the cap with a heap of under-performing players relative to their salary and because the free agent pool is so shallow, there isn't a lot Burke can do, I don't think, without compromising the future.  It would be great if the leafs signed Shultz, but that isn't really in their control.  They don't really have the cap space to give Parise the $8+ million it will take to get him (again, even then, not under their control).

My "best case" scenario is really that we tank this year, sell off Connolly, Lombardi, Armstrong at the deadline, obtain another top 5 pick and reload with the 2014 free agents (hoping there are many).  Maybe by 2016, we will have a decent team.

How do you sell a perpetual loser to free agents? You have to show some semblence of success before free agents start flocking to your team. This is basically a redux of what Burke hoped to do after he traded for Kessel.

 

[jonlleafs]

This seems to be a trend, and it may be the cone of silence by Burke et al, but Im seeing multiple teams make moves and signings and seeing nothing from Leafland. When I say 'trend' Im referring to the 'no we're not going to pay that' speech we get when there is a Super Duper RFA/UFA available. For Burke, THIS IS THE YEAR. None of this 'Im not going to pay that salary'. NY did for Brad Richards, and they did pretty well this year. If the Leafs don't make the playoffs in 2013, Burke is done. And rightly so.

Seriously - trade Luke Schenn while you can. He is an OK defenseman, and if he turns out to be the next Pronger (notice I didnt say Lindstrom) then so be it. The Leafs would get some very capable assets in return.

If the Leafs don't make any MAJOR moves, and DO make the playoffs, I'll eat a pair of my boxers -it wont be that tuff tho, they're all thin and worn anyway - like the Leafs.

Impatience is why we haven't been to the Final in 45 or whatever it is years now.  This sounds like desperation.  I'm willing to give Burke more rope to see if his prospects pan out.

 

[princedpw]

Because the Leafs are up against the cap with a heap of under-performing players relative to their salary and because the free agent pool is so shallow, there isn't a lot Burke can do, I don't think, without compromising the future.  It would be great if the leafs signed Shultz, but that isn't really in their control.  They don't really have the cap space to give Parise the $8+ million it will take to get him (again, even then, not under their control).

My "best case" scenario is really that we tank this year, sell off Connolly, Lombardi, Armstrong at the deadline, obtain another top 5 pick and reload with the 2014 free agents (hoping there are many).  Maybe by 2016, we will have a decent team.

How do you sell a perpetual loser to free agents? You have to show some semblence of success before free agents start flocking to your team.

That is a legit question.  I would simply observe that the leafs have very little to sell to them this year in particular, having missed the playoffs for N years and being the worst team in the league (more or less) over the last portion of last year, and having no cap space.  Given the shallowness of the UFA pool, you will see even more crazy UFA prices this year I think so this year is not a year to buy UFAs.

I will certainly not object to Burke pulling off another Beauchemin for Lupul/Gardiner trade, I just dont expect it to happen.  I will also not be unhappy if youngsters like schenn, gardiner, frattin and kadri show growth and we improve our team that way.  what i dont want to see are buyouts or quickfix deals that harm us capwise in the future.

(By the way, when i said 2014, i meant 2013 -- the year after this one could well be a great ufa year).

(also, in terms of attracting ufas, toronto does always have an edge with certain canadian players simply by being toronto.)

 

[#1PilarFan]

Impatience is why we haven't been to the Final in 45 or whatever it is years now.  This sounds like desperation.  I'm willing to give Burke more rope to see if his prospects pan out.

I think it's more a combination of managerial incompetence and poor luck that has resulted in the Leafs Stanley Cup drought. I really cannot accept that a lack of patience has contributed in anyway to the Leafs lack of success.

 

[jonlleafs]

Impatience is why we haven't been to the Final in 45 or whatever it is years now.  This sounds like desperation.  I'm willing to give Burke more rope to see if his prospects pan out.

I think it's more a combination of managerial incompetence and poor luck that has resulted in the Leafs Stanley Cup drought. I really cannot accept that a lack of patience has contributed in anyway to the Leafs lack of success.

Right, but the influences on the people in charge have cause them to do stupid things (i.e. trading away prospects and 1st round draft picks) to get better sooner and that is where the impatience lies.  We can say we've been patient after the fact because we've already endured 45+yrs of not getting to the Cup, but in the moment people are always wanting the quick fix.  Even the pulse of this forum right now by some are to make big moves to improve now to get into the playoffs next year.  Even if it means trading away prospects and draft picks. 

Burke's trend thus far has been to build up the farm system which everyone can agree he's done and to add productive players (i.e. Lupul).  I strongly believe that we were a goaltender away from making the playoffs this past season.  The rest of the team was good enough to do the job.  Were they a contender, heck no, but they could have made the playoffs with a competent netminder. 

So, if Burke only adds a quality netminder and maybe some small pieces here and there while drafting well and not giving up any quality prospects that we have, I would be ok with that for now.  I think we could make the playoffs with what we have moving forward while allowing the kids to continue to develop.

 

[#1PilarFan]

I'll say this regarding the Leafs; they are the ONLY team not to make the playoffs since the lockout. I know that fact might be over-quoted, but I really do believe it is a great example of Toronto's futility.

That has very little to do with external factors (which exist in all Canadian cities) and more to do with how the Leafs management, and not just Burke, have chosen to operate.

I personally believe that Toronto fans have a right to be impatient and demand success from their hockey team. We're not asking for a cure for aids here. We're asking a hockey executive who gets paid millions of dollars to do his job and do it well.

EDIT: To add some more thoughts, Burke screwed up majorly with his rebuild mostly because he underestimated how long it would take. He believed he had a playoff team in his first year, and every subsequent year after that. He hasn't been aggressive enough in building a competitive team nor has he been aggressive in rebuilding. He had ample opportunities to either strip the team of NHL-caliber assets in return for younger players to speed up the rebuild or sacrificing assets in order to acquire players that would make this team competitive. He wants to have it both ways, which would be fine if he could do it without building a 10th place team every single year.