Bryz wasn't bad this year...The length of his contract sucks and I hope they buy him out, but don't think they will...
- Flyfreaky

If they do buy him out who starts in goal?

If they do buy him out who starts in goal?
- Oilfan19

Anyone else...Maybe go after Lu with a cap friendly deal...

Anyone else...Maybe go after Lu with a cap friendly deal...
- Flyfreaky

Easier said then done I think.

Easier said then done I think.
- Oilfan19

My gut says they keep Bryz for one more year and then buy him out...

Burke for creating depth as Carlisle said you have to be deep to go deep into the play-offs. Considering the draft picks were not plentiful. Versteeg was a bad trade, Cliff Fletcher moving Steen and Coliacovo for Stempniak bad trade as we could have had even more depth. Again blaming Cliff for bringing Wilson who was terrible with everyone the players first and foremost as he threw to the wolves constantly he really sucked.

Second though would Dallas as he has really taught some tough lessons to these guys and it's very consistent given what they do with the Leafs great job and work ethics starts there!

Thirdly and maybe most importantly it's got to be Carlisle with his wealth of experience and success he really knew how to nurture a really young group of guys and reign them in or unleash them with precision and frankly engineer like savvy.

As the play-offs unfold the better the Leafs do the more important the coach will be in the summation but in the final analysis Nonis has to be given the top prize as it was he and Burke that brought the core of players in and it was Nonis that moved a few pieces out or to the minors to allow guys to come and prove themselves like Kadri, Kostka, Fraser just to name a few.

The Leafs if they get it going can do some real damage this play-off year.

Agreed, IMO its a win win trade. Leafs give up alot but get a guy who impacted the team immediately. Gotta see how Kessel handles playoff pressure now.
- Oilfan19

Kessel is going to do what he has always done under pressure; fold.

Kessel is going to do what he has always done under pressure; fold.
- Seabass2012

Explain further please.

Me neither after all these first rounders I think they will have to rebuild again.. once they can't afford all these young players... with the salary cap..
- DoctorNHL

I disagree, with some clever cap managment they will be fine. Hall and ebs are locked up at 6 per, which is fine, especially seeing some of the guys in the league being paid in that neighbourhood. Unless Nuge and schultz breakout with a monster season, they shouldnt be making that much. I think they will be fine

Burke for creating depth as Carlisle said you have to be deep to go deep into the play-offs. Considering the draft picks were not plentiful. Versteeg was a bad trade, Cliff Fletcher moving Steen and Coliacovo for Stempniak bad trade as we could have had even more depth. Again blaming Cliff for bringing Wilson who was terrible with everyone the players first and foremost as he threw to the wolves constantly he really sucked.

Second though would Dallas as he has really taught some tough lessons to these guys and it's very consistent given what they do with the Leafs great job and work ethics starts there!

Thirdly and maybe most importantly it's got to be Carlisle with his wealth of experience and success he really knew how to nurture a really young group of guys and reign them in or unleash them with precision and frankly engineer like savvy.

As the play-offs unfold the better the Leafs do the more important the coach will be in the summation but in the final analysis Nonis has to be given the top prize as it was he and Burke that brought the core of players in and it was Nonis that moved a few pieces out or to the minors to allow guys to come and prove themselves like Kadri, Kostka, Fraser just to name a few.

The Leafs if they get it going can do some real damage this play-off year.
- Snowmanonfire

This could be said for any team in the playoffs... At this point even a first round knockout will be a huge boost for this team going forward. Playoff experience will do wonders for the young guys.

another 10 years?

good god
- robin_steele264

lol to get a good measure of it. think seguin and hamilton will only be like 30. But thats if you want to accurately decide. I mean, who cares, its done, nothing to talk about anymore. We have kessel and they have those guys, end of story.

JFJ does not any deserve any credit, any positive picks he may have made are cancelled out by his Rask for Raycroft deal, one of the biggest blunders ever in recent Leafs history. Also be sure not to forget the Vesa Toskala trade JFJ made, also pretty terrible.

Burke swings for the fences, he hits some out of the park and strikes out badly on others. I think the value he placed on loyalty and giving guys a second chance was a double-edged sword. For example he bet big on Lupul and that paid off in a big way. But on the other hand he gambled on Connolly and Komi and I don't know if he would have been as quick to waive them as Nonis was, because they are vets and Komi at least is supposedly a solid guy. Or if he had fired Wilson and Allaire much earlier he probably would still have a job.

Then you have a guy like Versteeg, I got the sense Burke was quick to undo that move because of Versteeg's attitude more than anything else. And yeah, insisting on character is a good principle for a team, but as rough-edged as Burke's persona can be, I think he could have been more ruthless with guys like Komi and Wilson.

At the end of the day, when Burke got here the Leafs were up poops creek with a turd for a paddle, now they have quite a bit going for them. Look at Kadri, JVR, Lupul, Franson, Phaneuf, Reimer, Marlies and prospects etc....it's pretty amazing he got some of the guys that he did with what he started with....

And never forget, Burke somehow got someone to take Toskala and Jason Blake. I mean, you say that sentence to yourself and it still doesn't even make any sense.

Explain further please.
- LeafsFan64

The guys panics like a bag of nerves. He has no creativity or puck sense, and always rushes his decisions - so they usually turn out bad. Watch him on the left point on the PP - he will always either throw the puck to the low post (nearest team mate), or throw a low percentage shot at the net, with his feet shuffling nervously. The guy needs to gain enough self confidence to actually take a deep breath, stop moving his feet, slow the play down (the way Gretzky used to), look around, and actually make a smart decision rather than forcing an ill conceived play out of sheer panic. The guy is way too easy to read, and definitely not a team player. If he was, he'd be more concerned about his extremely low goals to shots ratio.

Kessel is going to do what he has always done under pressure; fold.
- Seabass2012

um..PPG in the playoff.

Burke for creating depth as Carlisle said you have to be deep to go deep into the play-offs. Considering the draft picks were not plentiful. Versteeg was a bad trade, Cliff Fletcher moving Steen and Coliacovo for Stempniak bad trade as we could have had even more depth. Again blaming Cliff for bringing Wilson who was terrible with everyone the players first and foremost as he threw to the wolves constantly he really sucked.

Second though would Dallas as he has really taught some tough lessons to these guys and it's very consistent given what they do with the Leafs great job and work ethics starts there!

Thirdly and maybe most importantly it's got to be Carlisle with his wealth of experience and success he really knew how to nurture a really young group of guys and reign them in or unleash them with precision and frankly engineer like savvy.

As the play-offs unfold the better the Leafs do the more important the coach will be in the summation but in the final analysis Nonis has to be given the top prize as it was he and Burke that brought the core of players in and it was Nonis that moved a few pieces out or to the minors to allow guys to come and prove themselves like Kadri, Kostka, Fraser just to name a few.

The Leafs if they get it going can do some real damage this play-off year.
- Snowmanonfire

Although I agree with you on most..

Dallas Eakins has done a great job playing Wilson's system and moving along the Marlies... yet players were sent down to learn Carlyle's system and scored points and learned nothing.

Kadri had to be re-taught.. smart boy he figured it out.. Gardiner went down for a long period of time.. and learned nothing. There is a big disconnect from the Leafs to the Marlies.. it isn't even the same system. Dallas with all his accolades has done his own thing.

He is wearing out his welcome.. he was very upset he didn't get the Leafs reins.. and thinks he is an NHL manager.. with his own system.. he is not.. and if he doesn't get into line.. behind Carlyle's system.. he should be axed...

Gardiner has regressed if anything.. he thinks he is Gretzky and not a defender.. which is what he was sent down to learn.. most of the guys Eakins had are weak in the D end... not surprising.

I wanted Burke early.. he talked a good game.. truculence etc.. Muskoka 5 yet he brought in players that were much softer than those he replaced.

If it was not for Nonis.. douche bags like Connolly, Lombardi etc.. would still be on the team.. because to send them to the minors or trade them for nothing would've undermined Burke's own moves.

It is not coincidence that Burke got canned.. younger players got moved up.. and we are where we are.

His assembled mass is not perfect yet.. but Nonis is on the way to making this team what Burke envisioned.. and as a friend he didn't want to tinker too much.. over the next few seasons under Nonis & Carlyle.. Burke's softies will be eradicated.. and we will be in a much better position at the top of the table.

Does Burke deserve some praise... a little maybe 25%.. but this team is better.. because he is gone.
- DoctorNHL

He got softies because all the other FRANKS signed on to different teams.
I'm sure if Ott/Gaustad were available for less than a 1st rounder..he would have grabbed 1 or both!!!! IMHO.

The guys panics like a bag of nerves. He has no creativity or puck sense, and always rushes his decisions - so they usually turn out bad. Watch him on the left point on the PP - he will always either throw the puck to the low post (nearest team mate), or throw a low percentage shot at the net, with his feet shuffling nervously. The guy needs to gain enough self confidence to actually take a deep breath, stop moving his feet, slow the play down (the way Gretzky used to), look around, and actually make a smart decision rather than forcing an ill conceived play out of sheer panic. The guy is way too easy to read, and definitely not a team player. If he was, he'd be more concerned about his extremely low goals to shots ratio.
- Seabass2012

And yet despite all this, he is fifth overall in NHL scoring since 2010/2011. The rest of the NHL must REALLY suck

I disagree, with some clever cap managment they will be fine. Hall and ebs are locked up at 6 per, which is fine, especially seeing some of the guys in the league being paid in that neighbourhood. Unless Nuge and schultz breakout with a monster season, they shouldnt be making that much. I think they will be fine
- pbrsimps

I think they will never make the playoffs and will have to rebuild again.

UG would be turning in his shallow grave.. but it is true...

Tank Nation breeds losers.. unless you are going out of business like the Pens were and Gary floats you some of the best picks ever.

This could be said for any team in the playoffs... At this point even a first round knockout will be a huge boost for this team going forward. Playoff experience will do wonders for the young guys.
- Oilfan19

I agree, any team that makes the playoffs can do some damage. Any goalie can get hot, any role player can chip in unexpectedly, that whats so amazing about the playoffs, the unpredictable. But I really think the Leafs can take a first round series, especially against the Habs.

Kadri would still be in the minors if Burke was still around.
- Seabass2012

What makes you think that? If Carlyle wanted Kadri on the roster Burke would have him on the roster. Wilson didn't want Kadri on the roster hence why he spent so much time in the AHL. Generally the GM gets the players and the coach chooses the team.

The guys panics like a bag of nerves. He has no creativity or puck sense, and always rushes his decisions - so they usually turn out bad. Watch him on the left point on the PP - he will always either throw the puck to the low post (nearest team mate), or throw a low percentage shot at the net, with his feet shuffling nervously. The guy needs to gain enough self confidence to actually take a deep breath, stop moving his feet, slow the play down (the way Gretzky used to), look around, and actually make a smart decision rather than forcing an ill conceived play out of sheer panic. The guy is way too easy to read, and definitely not a team player. If he was, he'd be more concerned about his extremely low goals to shots ratio.
- Seabass2012

LOST IN SPACE!!!!

And yet despite all this, he is fifth overall in NHL scoring since 2010/2011. The rest of the NHL must REALLY suck
- Zezel

And still the last pick, amongst his peers, at the all-star game. Kessel isn't going to be a factor in the playoffs, at all.

And still the last pick, amongst his peers, at the all-star game. Kessel isn't going to be a factor in the playoffs, at all.
- Seabass2012

Ahhhh, The allstar draft. The true factor of whether or not your a playoff performer.

And still the last pick, amongst his peers, at the all-star game. Kessel isn't going to be a factor in the playoffs, at all.
- Seabass2012

That's not nice to say...

And yet despite all this, he is fifth overall in NHL scoring since 2010/2011. The rest of the NHL must REALLY suck
- Zezel

He's not a team player... with a handful of assists this year.