so is Burke finished..

[cw]

Brian Burke confidently taking heat
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/adrian_dater/07/12/brian.burke.maple.leafs/
What word would Burke bring to a table full of critics who want him to explain why he has been too quiet for their liking on the trade and free agent markets this summer?

"One word: Dion," he replies.

....

In a word, Brian Burke's attitude can be summed up as confident.

Watters interview with the author of the above article
http://emedia.640toronto.com/Podcasts/1064/11_0712_adrian_dater.mp3

Talks Liles, Varlamov trade, Avs news and eventually Burke.

Not a fan of the Rangers deal "in three years, Richards won't be much - not an impact/dominant player" (paraphrased)

"I think Brian Burke is going about it the right way with rebuild-2 and blowing dough on Richards wasn't the answer."

 

[buds50]

he def.missed the boat on carter or richards from philly.to think we were so close to carter a cpl times last cpl of years,thnx sundin and kaberle.if he was the great wheeler dealer he thinks he is he should have been able to get one of the above or both.look what he gave up for kessel?? he may have outscored the draft picks now but wait till all their careers are over then count them up and see.

 

[Scot4bz]

I only wish that it hadn't taken Burke so long to get to the true rebuilding position he is in now (patience isn't my strong suit).  I do like the direction we are headed in and I'm glad Burke didn't get sucked into the July 1st frenzy that I think some teams may end up regretting in the long run.

I still however think that Wilson is not the man to get the best out of the players Burke has provided him with (I miss the fire Ron Wilson thread!)

 

[Britishbulldog]

I was hoping that the major trade would be something like Stastny not wanting to be in Colorado and sending Grabovski + the amazing Komisarek to them to help them with their Cap issues. Throw in a top prospect who hasn't played in the NHL yet and we got a deal.

Then flip MacArthur and Blacker + ?? for Parise.

Ok...ok...I don't know what Burke will/should do or even how.  I was just hoping the Leafs lineup would look something like:

Kulemin / Stastny / Kessel

Parise / Connolly / Lupul

Kadri / Bozak / Armstrong

Caputi / Colborne / Brown

Fight night 4th line:

Brown / Boyce(Ziggy) / Orr

Colborne would be groomed for the 2nd Center spot in 3 years after Connolly's contract runs out, Frattin should then be ready to replace Lupul and Biggs should be close to replacing Armstrong.

On D, with Komisarek gone and Franson in, next summer Gardiner might be ready to replace Liles.

After that have the new kids competing with the team for a spot.

Does that answer the 4th line center question or was that an Armchair GM 2011/12 answer?

You are missing Stamkos, Nash and Bobby Ryan.

....they would put us over the cap and possibly wreck the team's chemistry...

 

[nutman]

I only wish that it hadn't taken Burke so long to get to the true rebuilding position he is in now (patience isn't my strong suit).  I do like the direction we are headed in and I'm glad Burke didn't get sucked into the July 1st frenzy that I think some teams may end up regretting in the long run.

I still however think that Wilson is not the man to get the best out of the players Burke has provided him with (I miss the fire Ron Wilson thread!)

i would give him the chance with this group and if he is sucking at the half mark we replace him. i like this team and think if the pp and pk improve were a team on the rapid climb.

 

[buds50]

Has BB done enough to turn this around here yet. he has stockpiled the cubbards with high end talent or at least on paper he has.aquired some extra draft picks although not sure if they are very high end yet. once shenn is signed they will be pretty close to the limit , he will have to shed some money to improve if they come out of the gate flat. i really think he missed the boat on carter or richards ,he should have gone all out for one of them somehow but instead signed a pretty weak imatation of a front line centre ,with an injury prone connelly. both sundin and kaberle screwed us out of carter and some high picks and what not by not dropping the ntc , this team doesnt look much stronger now then at the end of last season.

 

[Fletch]

... this team doesnt look much stronger now then at the end of last season.

I'll take that.  We finished strong last season.  If this team is as competitive as the team that finished last year, we've got reason for hope.

Ha Burke done enough?  It's frustrating to hear people complain about every big name guy who doesn't come to Toronto, and blame Burke.  Not everyone wants to come here, and not everyone can come here, with salary caps and other rules.

Burke has strengthened the team, while sticking to his beliefs (no offer sheets, no front-loaded UFA contracts) and I commend that. 

Will Connelly be the answer?  Who knows.  If he stays healthy, he might be.  If he stays heathy, he's an upgrade.

Is Cody Franson the answer?  Nope, but he's an upgrade over Lebda, so we're a better team for that. 

Hase Burke done enough?  Next June, there will be only one GM who has "done enough", assuming the goal is the Stanley Cup.  Has he made the team better?  I think so.  Has he done this while sticking to his beliefs?  Yes. 

And as an aside, I am tired of hearing people criticizing Sundin and Kaberle (and anyone for that matter) for loyalty.  There's not enough loyalty in the world anymore, but I think that topic has been discussed to death (Kaberle/Sundin NTC).

Go Leafs.  LEt's hope they start 2011-2012 as strongly as they finished 2010-2011.

 

[maplesyrup]

To get us in to the playoffs? I doubt it but I think all areas of the organization have improved (albeit at a snail's pace) since Burke's arrival. The prospect pool is deep but lacks a true blue-chip prospect. 

 

[Kin]

both sundin and kaberle screwed us out of carter and some high picks and what not by not dropping the ntc ,

Wow, really? Bringing up something from that long ago and still being wrong about it? Want to complain about the Courtnall trade? Keon's feud with Ballard? All these new fangled horseless carriages?

 

[nutman]

well it seems Burke may well be done untill camp. i think we look very good for the start of the season, and if there is a big deal out there i dont see it.

 

[ZBBM]

Brian Burke confidently taking heat
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/adrian_dater/07/12/brian.burke.maple.leafs/
What word would Burke bring to a table full of critics who want him to explain why he has been too quiet for their liking on the trade and free agent markets this summer?

"One word: Dion," he replies.

Further defined, Dion is Dion Phaneuf, the Leafs' captain and defenseman, who was acquired late in 2009-10 by Burke from Calgary.

"We're 45-36-11 since the trade in games he has dressed," Burke says.

Just saw this,  Seriously, Brian?  As someone pointed out, 45-36-11 is 101 points in 92 games, or 1.1 points/game, or 90 points over a season.  It seems BB is supremely confident in his ability to achieve mediocrity.

 

[ZBBM]

both sundin and kaberle screwed us out of carter and some high picks and what not by not dropping the ntc ,

Wow, really? Bringing up something from that long ago and still being wrong about it? Want to complain about the Courtnall trade? Keon's feud with Ballard? All these new fangled horseless carriages?

It's a BS argument anyway, refuted a thousand times.  But there will always be some "fans" who find ways to denigrate the two best and most loyal players in recent Leafs history.  I'll let other guess at the motives.

 

[Damian]

both sundin and kaberle screwed us out of carter and some high picks and what not by not dropping the ntc ,

Wow, really? Bringing up something from that long ago and still being wrong about it? Want to complain about the Courtnall trade? Keon's feud with Ballard? All these new fangled horseless carriages?

I agree, thats all old useless fodder. If we look at who is done vs who is there now, I'll disagree that we arent any better... Bozak vs a healthy (gulp) Connolly in the 1 slot? No contest. Same on D... Liles or Fransen vs Lebda? Better yes, even if marginally on paper... but better nonetheless... with at least 6-8 solid NHL prospects. When was the last time we saw that here? I'm positive on next years Leafs

ps... apologies for the crappy spelling this AM.... the net is broken here and my page is all jumpy

 

[Bender]

both sundin and kaberle screwed us out of carter and some high picks and what not by not dropping the ntc ,

Wow, really? Bringing up something from that long ago and still being wrong about it? Want to complain about the Courtnall trade? Keon's feud with Ballard? All these new fangled horseless carriages?

I agree, thats all old useless fodder. If we look at who is done vs who is there now, I'll disagree that we arent any better... Bozak vs a healthy (gulp) Connolly in the 1 slot? No contest. Same on D... Liles or Fransen vs Lebda? Better yes, even if marginally on paper... but better nonetheless... with at least 6-8 solid NHL prospects. When was the last time we saw that here? I'm positive on next years Leafs

ps... apologies for the crappy spelling this AM.... the net is broken here and my page is all jumpy

I would argue adding Franson is more than a marginal upgrade over Lebda.

 

[Bender]

Brian Burke confidently taking heat
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/adrian_dater/07/12/brian.burke.maple.leafs/
What word would Burke bring to a table full of critics who want him to explain why he has been too quiet for their liking on the trade and free agent markets this summer?

"One word: Dion," he replies.

Further defined, Dion is Dion Phaneuf, the Leafs' captain and defenseman, who was acquired late in 2009-10 by Burke from Calgary.

"We're 45-36-11 since the trade in games he has dressed," Burke says.

Just saw this,  Seriously, Brian?  As someone pointed out, 45-36-11 is 101 points in 92 games, or 1.1 points/game, or 90 points over a season.  It seems BB is supremely confident in his ability to achieve mediocrity.

I think he means his presence alone changed the fortunes of the team for the better more often than not, even with an unfinished first line that had Bozak and Crabb for a time. If Connolly can be healthy and Reimer is lights out I think we've got a pretty good shot, and will likely have a higher points total.

 

[Kin]

I would argue adding Franson is more than a marginal upgrade over Lebda.

I think it's tough to make that argument until we get a better sense of how the team looks on a game to day basis. Franson may be a better player than Lebda but any upgrade in the #7 defensive spot is a marginal upgrade.

 

[nutman]

I think he is doing the right thing sitting in a holding pattern until the season gets going.

 

[maplesyrup]

I think he is doing the right thing sitting in a holding pattern until the season gets going.

Didn't he say he'd jump any any opportunity to improve the team? I'm not sure I want a GM with a "holding pattern" feature.

 

[CaptainObvious]

I think he is doing the right thing sitting in a holding pattern until the season gets going.

Didn't he say he'd jump any any opportunity to improve the team? I'm not sure I want a GM with a "holding pattern" feature.

I would think he wants to the see players fight for  that spot in camp then the chemistry factor before he pulls the trigger again.

 

[Bender]

I would argue adding Franson is more than a marginal upgrade over Lebda.

I think it's tough to make that argument until we get a better sense of how the team looks on a game to day basis. Franson may be a better player than Lebda but any upgrade in the #7 defensive spot is a marginal upgrade.

Dudley stated he's a top 4. Someone else is getting pushed out of the top 6. So I would say that since Franson isn't a #7 replacement, and by all accounts he's going to push someone like Komisarek or even Gunnarson out then I don't see that as insignificant or marginal. Granted it's not a major upgrade either, but probably lies somewhere in the middle.