what was it then?

the patient thing to do would have to been to draft with the picks he gave up.

seguin and hamilton in toronto means burke would be too.
- Fountain-San

The Seguin in Toronto is not the same Seguin in Boston.

I think he made big mistakes with early signings like Komasarek when he thought he could turn it around quicker...but the Kessel signing was not a quick fix.
- Eklund

The Kessel TRADE (not signing) was the definition of a quick fix. Given, Kessel is a good player, but he is the type of player who NEEDS a strong supporting cast in order to get the most out of him. Did Burke have this when he made the trade? Nope. So he brought in a sharp shooter with no support at all and expected this combined with his amazing D (sarcasm) would push the leafs into the playoffs...that is a quick fix attempt right there...I am not an avid blogger on this site, I am new, but when I see a post like this and how far from accuracy it is, it makes me laugh and have to respond...

Burke has brought in some talent that wasn't there before because of JFJ, but he still didn't deliver on what he promised. 1. build from the net out, 2. Truculence, etc, etc, etc....I have no problem with the firing of Burke, but the timing and reasoning behind the firing done by the board (rogers/bell/tanebaum) is ridiculous and makes me embarrassed to be a leaf fan

If Kessel got 6th in league scoring, and revitalized Lupol's career by playing with Kessel, isn't he the best player. When was the last time a leaf was in the top ten - and no Sundin wasn't there ever. I just don't understand, any other guy gets at least 2 first rounders if he's at that level, I'm not saying I wouldn't want Sequin cause I would, but this calibre of player from any other team would garner that type of return. If Sundin - who never cracked the top ten as a leaf - was traded for anything less than 2 first rounders people would freak in Toronto. Kessel will likely score at least 400 goals in his careers maybe more if he stays healthy and go down as one of the best American born shooters in history, but he isn't worth 2 first rounders? I'm a little baffled, plus, agian, look at how he lifted Lupol. Just saying.

Hey Ek,

I really do appreciate you engaging in the back and forth on here, thanks for that.

I love Kessel, I bought a beauty jersey with his name on it last season and he is one of my fav players, the kid is electric. But BB still doesnt get a pass for that move. It may not have been done as a quick fix BUT in my opinion after that season went off the rails he scrambled and changed his game plan.
- xxCHRISTOFIRExx

How do you figure acquiring a 21-22yr old 30 goal scorer is a quick fix?

Not a chance. He signs an extension before it comes to that. Trading him would be a step backwards and Nonis has no plan of blowing it up
- Trejetta

And you think Kessel would be tempted to sign in Toronto if they still fail to make the playoffs?

I have doubts.

Hey Ek,

I really do appreciate you engaging in the back and forth on here, thanks for that.

I love Kessel, I bought a beauty jersey with his name on it last season and he is one of my fav players, the kid is electric. But BB still doesnt get a pass for that move. It may not have been done as a quick fix BUT in my opinion after that season went off the rails he scrambled and changed his game plan.
- xxCHRISTOFIRExx

Over the last three season Jonathan Toews has scored 85 goals in 215 games playing with Kane, Hossa, Keith...

Over the last three seasons Kessel has scored 99 goals in 234 game for the Leafs playing with Lupul and ?????

Kessel is only now turning 25 and he has 165 NHL Goals and almost 400 points? Will Seguin be there at 25? We will see. Kessel was a quick fix, but ALSO a long term one.
- Eklund

Kessel and HAMILTON...much rather those 2 over Kessel every day of the week

Kessel is only now turning 25 and he has 165 NHL Goals and almost 400 points? Will Seguin be there at 25? We will see. Kessel was a quick fix, but ALSO a long term one.
- Eklund

THIS!

For others to sit here and suggest Kessel was just a quick fix is blind! The kid was a 30 goal scorer by the age of 21.

How many 21yr olds in the NHL produce that kind of offence? You can count them on one hand.

If Kessel got 6th in league scoring, and revitalized Lupol's career by playing with Kessel, isn't he the best player. When was the last time a leaf was in the top ten - and no Sundin wasn't there ever. I just don't understand, any other guy gets at least 2 first rounders if he's at that level, I'm not saying I wouldn't want Sequin cause I would, but this calibre of player from any other team would garner that type of return. If Sundin - who never cracked the top ten as a leaf - was traded for anything less than 2 first rounders people would freak in Toronto. Kessel will likely score at least 400 goals in his careers maybe more if he stays healthy and go down as one of the best American born shooters in history, but he isn't worth 2 first rounders? I'm a little baffled, plus, agian, look at how he lifted Lupol. Just saying.
- aminnes

Kessel is a perimeter player, definitely not someone to build your team around (which Burke did). Seguin is a player to build around.

Nuff said'.

what was it then?

the patient thing to do would have to been to draft with the picks he gave up.

seguin and hamilton in toronto means burke would be too.
- Fountain-San

No the new Board of MLSE were trying to givehim advice and told them to (frank) off.

They want a yes man.

Over the last three season Jonathan Toews has scored 85 goals in 215 games playing with Kane, Hossa, Keith...

Over the last three seasons Kessel has scored 99 goals in 234 game for the Leafs playing with Lupul and ?????
- Eklund

He also won a Stanley Cup while the Leafs are still bottom feeders.

Kessel is a complimentary player to a team on the verge of winning, not a guy to build around. IMHO.

In Burkes tenure who are you bummed about?
The signings of Komisarek and Beauchemin didn't pan out but I certainly didn't see many in these forums cursing the signings when they were made. i remember everybody being pretty excited about the hard hitting D-Man they aquired. How about a little bit of anger being directed at the players for failng.
Not to mention being coached by a guy he didn't hire and employing a system that wasn't designed for the team he wanted to ice. (Burke is guilty of being to loyal to Wilson)
In closing he turned a complete mess of a hockey team and has set the team up with decent propects in the system. He also set Toronto up Salary Cap wise for the new impending CBA. If you look to how the Leafs were set up for Fergie coming out of the last CBA it's been 7 years and never able to recover.
Brian Burke put the Leafs in a good position in his time with the Leafs.
- tmlfan17

On the contrary.

Beauchamin landed us Lupul & Gardiner in one of the most lopsided trades in the past decade.

Kessel and HAMILTON...much rather those 2 over Kessel every day of the week
- JR1417

hmm

If Kessel got 6th in league scoring, and revitalized Lupol's career by playing with Kessel, isn't he the best player. When was the last time a leaf was in the top ten - and no Sundin wasn't there ever. I just don't understand, any other guy gets at least 2 first rounders if he's at that level, I'm not saying I wouldn't want Sequin cause I would, but this calibre of player from any other team would garner that type of return. If Sundin - who never cracked the top ten as a leaf - was traded for anything less than 2 first rounders people would freak in Toronto. Kessel will likely score at least 400 goals in his careers maybe more if he stays healthy and go down as one of the best American born shooters in history, but he isn't worth 2 first rounders? I'm a little baffled, plus, agian, look at how he lifted Lupol. Just saying.
- aminnes

Im actually 1 of the people that think the trade wasn't all that bad, however the Leafs would have been better off with Seguin and Hamilton in the long run IMO. if the Leafs would have been a contender over the last 3 seasons no one would be talking about this trade, but the Bruins won a cup without Kessel and have 2 good prospects to go along with it

Kessel is a perimeter player, definitely not someone to build your team around (which Burke did). Seguin is a player to build around.

Nuff said'.
- Scooby_Doo

So the issue is he's a winger?

THIS!

For others to sit here and suggest Kessel was just a quick fix is blind! The kid was a 30 goal scorer by the age of 21.

How many 21yr olds in the NHL produce that kind of offence? You can count them on one hand.
- Pen15

That was funny, and not true by the way.

Keesel was 22 years old when he was aquired by a team that had just signed $9 million in defenceman. Burke didn't see his team as the second last place team in the league. Not many did after the moves that made in the summer. The problem was Vesa Toskala couldn't stop anything, (Fergie) Hard to win a hockey game when Vesa Toskala is letting in 200 foot shots and inspires 0 confidence.

Kessel is a perimeter player, definitely not someone to build your team around (which Burke did). Seguin is a player to build around.

Nuff said'.
- Scooby_Doo

So the issue is he's a winger? Would Sequin score 30 plus playing with Bozak and whatever nobody came around before lupol?

Luongo, Raymond + Ballard for Couturier, Briere + 1st.
- Scooby_Doo

Solid troll effort.

Kessel is only now turning 25 and he has 165 NHL Goals and almost 400 points? Will Seguin be there at 25? We will see. Kessel was a quick fix, but ALSO a long term one.
- Eklund

this isn't a kessel bash. but he is not someone to build a team around let alone give up two firsts and a second. lets not forget jared knight could at least be a marlie.


and seguin at 25 will be a far greater player then kessel.

kessel's first 2 years: 152 games, 30 goals, 36 assists, 66 points

seguin's first 2 years :155 games, 40 goals, 49 assists, 89 points

Over the last three season Jonathan Toews has scored 85 goals in 215 games playing with Kane, Hossa, Keith...

Over the last three seasons Kessel has scored 99 goals in 234 game for the Leafs playing with Lupul and ?????
- Eklund

The kid oozes talent and it is scary to think about what he would do with a legit center.

So the issue is he's a winger?
- aminnes

Plays a part to it, but there are wingers teams can build around. More of the issue is he's soft, doesn't go to the net, doesn't make players around him better, is streaky as hell and doesn't play defense.

Keesel was 22 years old when he was aquired by a team that had just signed $9 million in defenceman. Burke didn't see his team as the second last place team in the league. Not many did after the moves that made in the summer. The problem was Vesa Toskala couldn't stop anything, (Fergie) Hard to win a hockey game when Vesa Toskala is letting in 200 foot shots and inspires 0 confidence.
- tmlfan17

Exactly.

That was funny, and not true by the way.
- Scooby_Doo

almsot as funny as you seriously thinking the nucks are getting gardiner or coutourier in a luongo deal

Plays a part to it, but there are wingers teams can build around. More of the issue is he's soft, doesn't go to the net, doesn't make players around him better, is streaky as hell and doesn't play defense.
- Scooby_Doo

He turned Lupol into a point a game player.