The Brian Burke Thread

[Optimus Reimer]

Burke is looking for a way to fend the players off from the media, but this will not work.  Does he think that Simmons, Cox, Dreger etc. will just simply stop putting trade rumours out there just because Burke has a no trade period?  Some of the media guys are like ravenous wolves, stalking, waiting to get a scoop or making one up; blowing something out of proportion just to make a story or spread a rumour.  Some of the media guys are very fair and accurate with their reports, others aren't.  What Burke wants to do will not work.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I'm starting to really dislike Burke. He sure talks big and backs it up with mediocrity.His shtick is starting to get tiresome.

Starting to dislike Burke?  Judging from your posts I assumed there wasn't any part of the organization you liked.

 

[Peter D.]

What does everyone think about Burke potentially introducing 7 day roster freeze prior to trade deadline?

Delusions of grandeur? I think he is totally losing it if he wants to hamper his team like that.

I just heard about this on the radio.

I think Burke should just shut up and go about his business instead of blowing hot steam out of his mouth all the time.  Enough with the moving target.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

I'm starting to really dislike Burke. He sure talks big and backs it up with mediocrity.His shtick is starting to get tiresome.

Starting to dislike Burke?  Judging from your posts I assumed there wasn't any part of the organization you liked.

Mob mentality during the 3 week skid.

 

[avatarx51]

Burke is full of crap if you ask me.

Talking about pressure on his team during the deadline and that its murder for players in toronto are you friggin kidding me?  This is the biggest joke i have heard

 

[Redleaf]

Burke is full of crap if you ask me.

Talking about pressure on his team during the deadline and that its murder for players in toronto are you friggin kidding me?  This is the biggest joke i have heard

Based on what, A fan looking into the fishbowl?

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

Just want to add, does he not flung how awesome we were post all-star game last year? Doesn't that include the trade deadline?

 

[rdowdall]

I don't think it's a like/dislike situation at this point.  If prices were high yesterday, then Burke should have sold to build for the future.  At some point spots have to be opened up for guys like Frattin, Kadri and Colborne.  IF you don't think they can play in the NHL, then deal them for something else.  Not moving guys like MacArthur and Kulemin yesterday does seem a bit weird.  I might understand not trading Kulemin, because it may be hard to draft a guy like him even in the first round, but MacArthur I don't get.  You signed this guy for nothing, if you can turn him in to a 2nd or a late first rounder, then why not do it? 

 

[Corn Flake]

Burke is full of crap if you ask me.

Talking about pressure on his team during the deadline and that its murder for players in toronto are you friggin kidding me?  This is the biggest joke i have heard

How is it a joke?

There are 3 sports TV networks, two sports radio stations, four major newspapers, two weekly magazines and 5 billion blogs out there covering this team.  Are your expectations that these players should have some sort of super-human powers, capable of not hearing or being at all distracted by trade talk, rumors, all sorts of vile opinions on their performances, etc etc etc?

Please don't give us this "they are millionaires paid to be under the microscope" stuff because it's hogwash. 

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

Burke is full of crap if you ask me.

Talking about pressure on his team during the deadline and that its murder for players in toronto are you friggin kidding me?  This is the biggest joke i have heard

How is it a joke?

There are 3 sports TV networks, two sports radio stations, four major newspapers, two weekly magazines and 5 billion blogs out there covering this team.  Are your expectations that these players should have some sort of super-human powers, capable of not hearing or being at all distracted by trade talk, rumors, all sorts of vile opinions on their performances, etc etc etc?

Please don't give us this "they are millionaires paid to be under the microscope" stuff because it's hogwash.

The NYR where right in the middle of the Nash rumors too yet they managed to be perfectly fine. Or is New York a smaller media market than Toronto?

 

[bustaheims]

The NYR where right in the middle of the Nash rumors too yet they managed to be perfectly fine. Or is New York a smaller media market than Toronto?

When it comes to hockey, yes. The Rangers are never the #1 draw in NYC. They're always behind the Knicks, the Giants, the Yankees, etc. When it comes to media coverage, that Rangers are more like a mid-market team in a big market city.

 

[Corn Flake]

Burke is full of crap if you ask me.

Talking about pressure on his team during the deadline and that its murder for players in toronto are you friggin kidding me?  This is the biggest joke i have heard

How is it a joke?

There are 3 sports TV networks, two sports radio stations, four major newspapers, two weekly magazines and 5 billion blogs out there covering this team.  Are your expectations that these players should have some sort of super-human powers, capable of not hearing or being at all distracted by trade talk, rumors, all sorts of vile opinions on their performances, etc etc etc?

Please don't give us this "they are millionaires paid to be under the microscope" stuff because it's hogwash.

The NYR where right into the middle of the Nash rumors too yet they managed to be perfectly fine. Or is New York a smaller media market than Toronto?

Oh come now, you can do better than that.  At a very general level, its the difference between a mature, older team and a young and relatively inexperienced one being able to handle the pressure, attention, rumors, etc.  also a team running at the top of the standings and about as confident as they can get... to hear a rumor is going to naturally be far less concerning to them as  players than a struggling team trying to finally get into the post season and end a 7-year drought in a playoff starved city.

Stop listening to the mob. You are better than that.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

Burke is full of crap if you ask me.

Talking about pressure on his team during the deadline and that its murder for players in toronto are you friggin kidding me?  This is the biggest joke i have heard

How is it a joke?

There are 3 sports TV networks, two sports radio stations, four major newspapers, two weekly magazines and 5 billion blogs out there covering this team.  Are your expectations that these players should have some sort of super-human powers, capable of not hearing or being at all distracted by trade talk, rumors, all sorts of vile opinions on their performances, etc etc etc?

Please don't give us this "they are millionaires paid to be under the microscope" stuff because it's hogwash.

The NYR where right into the middle of the Nash rumors too yet they managed to be perfectly fine. Or is New York a smaller media market than Toronto?

Oh come now, you can do better than that.  At a very general level, its the difference between a mature, older team and a young and relatively inexperienced one being able to handle the pressure, attention, rumors, etc.  also a team running at the top of the standings and about as confident as they can get... to hear a rumor is going to naturally be far less concerning to them as  players than a struggling team trying to finally get into the post season and end a 7-year drought in a playoff starved city.

Stop listening to the mob. You are better than that.

Ok, then how come the trade deadline was not a problem last year when they went on a tear post all-star? Nothing you said above has changed.

 

[rdowdall]

Burke is full of crap if you ask me.

Talking about pressure on his team during the deadline and that its murder for players in toronto are you friggin kidding me?  This is the biggest joke i have heard

How is it a joke?

There are 3 sports TV networks, two sports radio stations, four major newspapers, two weekly magazines and 5 billion blogs out there covering this team.  Are your expectations that these players should have some sort of super-human powers, capable of not hearing or being at all distracted by trade talk, rumors, all sorts of vile opinions on their performances, etc etc etc?

Please don't give us this "they are millionaires paid to be under the microscope" stuff because it's hogwash.

The NYR where right into the middle of the Nash rumors too yet they managed to be perfectly fine. Or is New York a smaller media market than Toronto?

Oh come now, you can do better than that.  At a very general level, its the difference between a mature, older team and a young and relatively inexperienced one being able to handle the pressure, attention, rumors, etc.  also a team running at the top of the standings and about as confident as they can get... to hear a rumor is going to naturally be far less concerning to them as  players than a struggling team trying to finally get into the post season and end a 7-year drought in a playoff starved city.

Stop listening to the mob. You are better than that.

Ok, then how come the trade deadline was not a problem last year when they went on a tear post all-star? Nothing you said above has changed.

They had no expectations last year.  And a large part of that tear was that Reimer was Tebow-ing it up in the net.

 

[applecheeks]

What does everyone think about Burke potentially introducing 7 day roster freeze prior to trade deadline?

Delusions of grandeur? I think he is totally losing it if he wants to hamper his team like that.

I don't think it will ever happen, even he said that if he got a trade that he couldn't refuse it would be hard to follow that. But I think it just shows you that he cares about his players, I love that about Burke and I think his players do also. Schenn was talking a lot about how much Burke is respected. I think a few of the other players were talking about things like this also.

I totally agree with BB?s  loyalty to his coach, players and the other GM?s in the league. He even defends Mr. Furguson with stating his picks are still there because they are worth keeping. This group is still developing and growing together. They still are the youngest team in the league and as they develop and bond together they will be stronger and a better chance at competing for a cup. I know i?m stating the obvious but something I have to state once again. This is the way Leaf management has decided to build this team. There are some things I don?t agree with but i?m not a brilliant hockey mind as the four or five GM?s that are employed by our team. IMO, not many F/A players wanted to come to this team in the past years as it was too flip/flop no direction. BB hasn?t had too many F/A to choose from because of the teams that sign them to rediculous contracts or they get taken off the market because they sign a home town discount to stay.

Aulie was an expendable player, as big and strong as he is, we just have too many good D men in the stable and not enough grit type players in the forward ranks. Carter Ashton will be a fan fav in a couple of years,imo, right about the time we are starting to compete. Nobody has a chrystal ball but we do need to have patience and faith in the guys that are building this team. The media are just always looking for negatives and rarely look for positives. sad. It?s almost like they want the leafs to fail. cause if they start winning, they are out of a job. I?m not talking of all of the scribes in that city, just the really sad ones that most of you shun on this blog.

TML fans is a great place to read about my leafs, and enjoy reading the odd debate that goes on here. I don?t do that well, and a lot seem to do it well or just like to argue a lot...For me, I just want to see a winning team and know it won?t be this year or next. but there is always hope.
fan in waiting........

 

[applecheeks]

Burke is full of crap if you ask me.

Talking about pressure on his team during the deadline and that its murder for players in toronto are you friggin kidding me?  This is the biggest joke i have heard

How is it a joke?

There are 3 sports TV networks, two sports radio stations, four major newspapers, two weekly magazines and 5 billion blogs out there covering this team.  Are your expectations that these players should have some sort of super-human powers, capable of not hearing or being at all distracted by trade talk, rumors, all sorts of vile opinions on their performances, etc etc etc?

Please don't give us this "they are millionaires paid to be under the microscope" stuff because it's hogwash.

Thankyou CF.  way too much of this negative vibe.

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

What does everyone think about Burke potentially introducing 7 day roster freeze prior to trade deadline?

Delusions of grandeur? I think he is totally losing it if he wants to hamper his team like that.

I don't think it will ever happen, even he said that if he got a trade that he couldn't refuse it would be hard to follow that. But I think it just shows you that he cares about his players, I love that about Burke and I think his players do also. Schenn was talking a lot about how much Burke is respected. I think a few of the other players were talking about things like this also.

They still are the youngest team in the league

No they are not

http://nhlnumbers.com/teams?sort=average_age&order=asc&year=2012

 

[Corn Flake]

Burke is full of crap if you ask me.

Talking about pressure on his team during the deadline and that its murder for players in toronto are you friggin kidding me?  This is the biggest joke i have heard

How is it a joke?

There are 3 sports TV networks, two sports radio stations, four major newspapers, two weekly magazines and 5 billion blogs out there covering this team.  Are your expectations that these players should have some sort of super-human powers, capable of not hearing or being at all distracted by trade talk, rumors, all sorts of vile opinions on their performances, etc etc etc?

Please don't give us this "they are millionaires paid to be under the microscope" stuff because it's hogwash.

The NYR where right into the middle of the Nash rumors too yet they managed to be perfectly fine. Or is New York a smaller media market than Toronto?

Oh come now, you can do better than that.  At a very general level, its the difference between a mature, older team and a young and relatively inexperienced one being able to handle the pressure, attention, rumors, etc.  also a team running at the top of the standings and about as confident as they can get... to hear a rumor is going to naturally be far less concerning to them as  players than a struggling team trying to finally get into the post season and end a 7-year drought in a playoff starved city.

Stop listening to the mob. You are better than that.

Ok, then how come the trade deadline was not a problem last year when they went on a tear post all-star? Nothing you said above has changed.

They had no expectations last year.  And a large part of that tear was that Reimer was Tebow-ing it up in the net.

Pressure was off, big trade was already completed, no mega star players available being tied to the Leafs, etc. etc.

Look, this isn't black and white stuff here. You can't look at a few clear factors and say yes or no that they should have struggled under pressure.  These guys are human, most are very very young and not experienced in dealing with crazy trade rumors AND the kind of on-ice struggles they need to battle through during tough times, all at the same time.

Remember the year when Lindros was going to be traded here?  That soap opera went on for months and the team completely sank like a stone in the standings and was a total mess and it was about as obvious as it could be that it was a massive distraction.  They made it in on the 2nd last game of the season that year.  And that was a team with plenty of veterans.

 

[Corn Flake]

What does everyone think about Burke potentially introducing 7 day roster freeze prior to trade deadline?

Delusions of grandeur? I think he is totally losing it if he wants to hamper his team like that.

I don't think it will ever happen, even he said that if he got a trade that he couldn't refuse it would be hard to follow that. But I think it just shows you that he cares about his players, I love that about Burke and I think his players do also. Schenn was talking a lot about how much Burke is respected. I think a few of the other players were talking about things like this also.

Remier said a lot about Burke's faith in him last night.

Burke was just sharing an idea that was thrown out in their discussions as a Mgmt team today.. just an idea that hasn't gone anywhere yet... yet the proclamations that this will happen seem to be in full effect when you read the reactions to it.

They are looking at ways to try and ease the distractions for the players around this time... some might be good some might not be... but that is how ideas work.

Of course his mistake is saying anything public... the exact case and point as to why they are trying to come up with this type of idea in the first place.... media and hyper active fans jumping on tidbits of info and running around with it like naked drunk frat boys.

 

[proteus2000]

What does everyone think about Burke potentially introducing 7 day roster freeze prior to trade deadline?

Delusions of grandeur? I think he is totally losing it if he wants to hamper his team like that.

I don't think it will ever happen, even he said that if he got a trade that he couldn't refuse it would be hard to follow that. But I think it just shows you that he cares about his players, I love that about Burke and I think his players do also. Schenn was talking a lot about how much Burke is respected. I think a few of the other players were talking about things like this also.

Remier said a lot about Burke's faith in him last night.

Burke was just sharing an idea that was thrown out in their discussions as a Mgmt team today.. just an idea that hasn't gone anywhere yet... yet the proclamations that this will happen seem to be in full effect when you read the reactions to it.

They are looking at ways to try and ease the distractions for the players around this time... some might be good some might not be... but that is how ideas work.

Of course his mistake is saying anything public... the exact case and point as to why they are trying to come up with this type of idea in the first place.... media and hyper active fans jumping on tidbits of info and running around with it like naked drunk frat boys.

That's definitely true. But, it also creates HUGE pressure on the squad to perform now if the TD pressure was the reason they have faltered. The Leafs are 5 points behind FLA who also has one game in hand, if they lose tonite they won't be catching the Panthers and that leaves them needing to jump over the caps and jets without getting past to get in.