This sucks - Burke is fiddling while Rome burns

[Bill_Berg]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

Yeah, there's no way they're trying to build a winner. They spend near the cap to fool us. And as long as there are butts in the seats, the GM is safe.

 

[bustaheims]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

Hmm... I want to say "and fans like you who have been impatient wanting a winner now that have caused us to trade away all prospects and picks for over-the-hill veterans, but still resulting in getting bounced early in the first couple of rounds", but I won't. 

That's funny, because it's exactly what I was going to say.

 

[Hampreacher]

Burke needs to recognize the reality of long term contracts if we are to compete in the league. We cannot compete if he does not accept that reality. We can trade three of our stockpiled prospects for a Getzlaf only to lose them to free agency because they were offered a long term contract by someone else. If he refuses to do that then Burke must be let go. But right now we need to be patient a deal is coming down the road. Burke is a great poker player. He keeps his cards close to his vest.

 

[bustaheims]

Burke needs to recognize the reality of long term contracts if we are to compete in the league.

He probably doesn't really, because the likelihood is that they won't be a reality in the next CBA.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I don't understand where this "if Burke doesn't do what the fans say he should do, he should be canned" stuff. Only in Toronto do the fans think they have more than the owners say in what goes on with everything the Leafs do.

Burke shifted gears like 2 years ago into a longer term rebuild when he realized that the players he wanted weren't available to him. People need to accept that and just wait until our prospects mature and develop. You can't force a contender by just throwing money all over the place on any decent player that is available, they have to fit into what we're doing and want to come to a young team.

You also have to realize that the Leafs are not the only team in the league that is trying to sign a lot of these available players, not to mention what those players in question have to say about their future. Most of the established stars are not going to run over to the Leafs and expect to wait for the contending years. It's the young players that need a new team that are going to be the ones that we pick up, much like van Riemsdyk types, not the Shane Doan types.

Oddly enough, that is what Burke is doing, he's trading for and drafting young players, and eventually, they mature and develop into really good players. I know it's foreign in Toronto to do this, but now that it's happening, you're just going to have to wait.

Maybe try supporting the effort, rather than slamming it at every turn, you may just feel better.

 

[applecheeks]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

....and it?s guys like you that have a hate on for a GM, imo who is doing the job. give it a rest, he?ll build the best he can. For now, he?s driving this bus, and like 29 other teams, there are only so many super stars that go around. chill-axe.

 

[Bender]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

I haven't paid for a Leafs ticket ever actually. And I next to never buy merchandise. And I don't have cable. Soooo......

 

[Bender]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

Hmm... I want to say "and fans like you who have been impatient wanting a winner now that have caused us to trade away all prospects and picks for over-the-hill veterans, but still resulting in getting bounced early in the first couple of rounds", but I won't. 

Yeah man, I miss the days of JFJ when we were wheeling and dealing picks and prospects for less than mediocrity.

 

[drummond]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

Oh boy... I am not buying everything Burke says but there is one thing I am absolutely positive that he is sincere about, which is his claim that he hates loosing more than anything. I also believe that he is smart and capable enough to build a winning team. Which leads me to the conclusion that if he could significantly improve the team he certainly would. The management assesment is that giving guy like Parise 13years long contract worth of 100M is not the way. I for one agree with him. These contracts are simply insane. With Eberle and Hall available (RFA) next year, what the contracts would be? 15 to 18 years woth of 150M?

 

[sickbeast]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

Hmm... I want to say "and fans like you who have been impatient wanting a winner now that have caused us to trade away all prospects and picks for over-the-hill veterans, but still resulting in getting bounced early in the first couple of rounds", but I won't. 

That's funny, because it's exactly what I was going to say.

Where did I say I wanted a winner right now?

This team has needs that are going unfilled.  We need a goalie and we need a center.  We need much much more than just that but really we're not going to get there by Burke just sitting on his hands.  He could start trading guys like Kessel for picks like the ones he gave up to get him.  Do a proper rebuild.  His quick method was an obvious recipe for disaster.  Now he's just sitting there for God knows why.  He either doesn't know what to do, is afraid to do anything, or is having serious personal problems which I alluded to in my OP.

 

[Jalili]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

Oh boy... I am not buying everything Burke says but there is one thing I am absolutely positive that he is sincere about, which is his claim that he hates loosing more than anything. I also believe that he is smart and capable enough to build a winning team. Which leads me to the conclusion that if he could significantly improve the team he certainly would. The management assesment is that giving guy like Parise 13years long contract worth of 100M is not the way. I for one agree with him. These contracts are simply insane. With Eberle and Hall available (RFA) next year, what the contracts would be? 15 to 18 years woth of 150M?

Eberle and Hall will be RFA's and not UFA's, so it's more likely their contracts will be in the 5 year range.

 

[Hampreacher]

If the next CBA does not restrict contracts to 5-6 years then to compete he willhave to accept that long term contracts are the way to go or he will lose the Kessels, the Gardiners, the Lupol and their better players.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

The ol' blame the fans (other than yourself) routine.  Always a classic.

 

[jonlleafs]

I don't understand where this "if Burke doesn't do what the fans say he should do, he should be canned" stuff. Only in Toronto do the fans think they have more than the owners say in what goes on with everything the Leafs do.

Burke shifted gears like 2 years ago into a longer term rebuild when he realized that the players he wanted weren't available to him. People need to accept that and just wait until our prospects mature and develop. You can't force a contender by just throwing money all over the place on any decent player that is available, they have to fit into what we're doing and want to come to a young team.

You also have to realize that the Leafs are not the only team in the league that is trying to sign a lot of these available players, not to mention what those players in question have to say about their future. Most of the established stars are not going to run over to the Leafs and expect to wait for the contending years. It's the young players that need a new team that are going to be the ones that we pick up, much like van Riemsdyk types, not the Shane Doan types.

Oddly enough, that is what Burke is doing, he's trading for and drafting young players, and eventually, they mature and develop into really good players. I know it's foreign in Toronto to do this, but now that it's happening, you're just going to have to wait.

Maybe try supporting the effort, rather than slamming it at every turn, you may just feel better.

Wish I could "Like" this comment.

 

[jonlleafs]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

I haven't paid for a Leafs ticket ever actually. And I next to never buy merchandise. And I don't have cable. Soooo......

Freeloader... pffffft...

 

[jonlleafs]

*cries*



Honestly it's fans like you guys that just accept this nonsense and pay for Leafs tickets that keep our team in a constant state of mediocrity.

Hmm... I want to say "and fans like you who have been impatient wanting a winner now that have caused us to trade away all prospects and picks for over-the-hill veterans, but still resulting in getting bounced early in the first couple of rounds", but I won't. 

That's funny, because it's exactly what I was going to say.

Where did I say I wanted a winner right now?

This team has needs that are going unfilled.  We need a goalie and we need a center.  We need much much more than just that but really we're not going to get there by Burke just sitting on his hands.  He could start trading guys like Kessel for picks like the ones he gave up to get him.  Do a proper rebuild.  His quick method was an obvious recipe for disaster.  Now he's just sitting there for God knows why.  He either doesn't know what to do, is afraid to do anything, or is having serious personal problems which I alluded to in my OP.

Wait, so your solution is to tear down the whole team again and rebuild from scratch?  What do you think we've been doing for the last 3-4yrs?  In 2yrs, when we finish bottom 5 again, are you going to complain that we suck and Burke hasn't done anything again and trade player X for picks and prospects?  This makes absolutely no sense.  We have some good key pieces.  We need to add more talent to it to make it more competitive.  Not strip it down again.

Also, you think it's SO easy to just go get a goalie and #1 center.  Please make a suggestion as to who he should get and for what?  Without ripping out everything he's done so far restocking the prospect pool, he can't just go and get these 2 players easily.

 

[Kin]

I don't understand where this "if Burke doesn't do what the fans say he should do, he should be canned" stuff. Only in Toronto do the fans think they have more than the owners say in what goes on with everything the Leafs do.

I actually think that's a pretty common thing in the sporting world if you let go of specifics and just read "Do what the fans say he should do" as "win".

 

[Bonsixx]

I don't think it's unreasonable at all for fans to be fed up with what's gone on the last eight years, especially with those horrid slumps every season that destroy an otherwise half-decent year. That being said, I like this team much better than the one Burke inherited.

That being said, I don't think they'll be making the playoffs this season either, barring a trade for Luongo or something. This rebuild is nowhere near completion. Unfortunately, if Burke just kept his mouth shut (numerous times) and went about his business, he could have made this a whole lot easier on himself.

 

[Kin]

Yeah man, I miss the days of JFJ when we were wheeling and dealing picks and prospects for less than mediocrity.

I swear, JFJ has turned a lot of Leafs fans into the girl whose last boyfriend cheated on her with such abandon that just showing up on time for a date makes you marriage material.

 

[jonlleafs]

I don't think it's unreasonable at all for fans to be fed up with what's gone on the last eight years, especially with those horrid slumps every season that destroy an otherwise half-decent year. That being said, I like this team much better than the one Burke inherited.

That being said, I don't think they'll be making the playoffs this season either, barring a trade for Luongo or something. This rebuild is nowhere near completion. Unfortunately, if Burke just kept his mouth shut (numerous times) and went about his business, he could have made this a whole lot easier on himself.

I tend to agree with you.  You didn't hear a peep out of him when he was in Anaheim regarding transactions other than the famous offer sheet for Penner.  He just needs to learn to keep to himself and let his actions speak for itself.  No more going on about how he wants a big bruising team or whatever.  Just build the team and shut up.