More clueless spouting. You're making. Career out of this.

Matt gilroy
Blake wheeler


There are examples every year.

You ever get tired of being wrong?
- burn

More clueless defending a piss poor manager ,you dont spend and push the cap when you are rebuilding .Connelly,Komi,Liles,Grabo etc.He blew wads of cash and finished in the bottom 10 every year he was GM.He added some decent pieces through trade ill give him that ,but not enough to offset the thin prospect pool and overall mid level expensive team that he left behind .He isnt a good manager at all

As an observer BB is not to blame for any of the cap issues that the Leafs are facing - Nonis is responsible for taking on/signing the following 5 contracts

Burke had nothing to do with

1. Clarkson UFA signing
2. Bolland Trade
3. Bernier Trade and new contract
4. Bozak Re-Signing
5. Gunnerson Re-Signing

Thats $19M in new signings that Burke had nothing to do with
- MTL1

It all correlates to BB .With all the high priced tallent BB aquired this was the eventual result.Phaneuf,Kessel,Lupul are all good players.But they are not really what rebuilding teams look to build around .Most teams that rebuild look for shorter team veterans that can help smooth the transition into the nhl of its younger tallent.

BB prefers to go with high priced younger established players ,that are on the upward curve of their earning potential.This handicaps the rebuild in two ways ,it hurts the cap when younger priced tallent comes knocking for a raise ,and usually takes away from the decent prospect pool to aquire such tallent

As an observer BB is not to blame for any of the cap issues that the Leafs are facing - Nonis is responsible for taking on/signing the following 5 contracts

Burke had nothing to do with

1. Clarkson UFA signing
2. Bolland Trade
3. Bernier Trade and new contract
4. Bozak Re-Signing
5. Gunnerson Re-Signing

Thats $19M in new signings that Burke had nothing to do with
- MTL1

Yeah but Burke signed bozak out of college 5 years ago.... That (frank)ed up thief cap this year.

Yeah but Burke signed bozak out of college 5 years ago.... That (frank)ed up thief cap this year.




- burn

Keep laughing ,but i guess him being fired by one of the worst managed teams in the last decade makes you right

Keep laughing ,but i guess him being fired by one of the worst managed teams in the last decade makes you right
- top shelf 15

The facts make me right, something you keep swinging and missing on.

The facts make me right, something you keep swinging and missing on.
- burn

Tell me something how long do you think Toronto will be able to hold this high priced team together???

Yeah but Burke signed bozak out of college 5 years ago.... That (frank)ed up thief cap this year.




- burn

yeah, it has nothing to do with the nhl dropping the cap by 9million...

it hink BB is responsible for philly, boston, pittsburgh, san jose, detroit and the kings currently being over the cap as well.... that or clearly those teams have poopty gm's as well

Tell me something how long do you think Toronto will be able to hold this high priced team together???
- top shelf 15

considering most of the core is signed through to 2017/18, and next year they'll have about 38-40 million to sign phaneuf, kessel and 7 other supporting players.... it looks pretty good.

Tell me something how long do you think Toronto will be able to hold this high priced team together???
- top shelf 15

Cap is going up next year, not an issue.

yeah, it has nothing to do with the nhl dropping the cap by 9million...

it hink BB is responsible for philly, boston, pittsburgh, san jose, detroit and the kings currently being over the cap as well.... that or clearly those teams have poopty gm's as well
- Rockhead_37

Point made thank you does toronto,s current roster look like any of those teams

considering most of the core is signed through to 2017/18, and next year they'll have about 38-40 million to sign phaneuf, kessel and 7 other supporting players.... it looks pretty good.
- Rockhead_37

Kadri??Franson??,what about how Toronto will look to improve upon its current roster,i guess its more overspending on UFA,s to try and make this core look like a contender.Or they can try to draft the couple of elite level pieces they are lacking at around 15th or so.Because in reality thats what this team is built to be as it stands right now,decent but nothing special

Point made thank you does toronto,s current roster look like any of those teams
- top shelf 15

those teams are over the cap... toronto is not. you are suggesting they have a cap problem, they have over 5million in cap space, hardly a problem... and next year that turns to approx 40million in cap space for 10 players.

i think that proves your pointLESS not your point. i dont think you know what your point is because you havent argued one successfully yet.

those teams are over the cap... toronto is not. you are suggesting they have a cap problem, they have over 5million in cap space, hardly a problem... and next year that turns to approx 40million in cap space for 10 players.

i think that proves your pointLESS not your point. i dont think you know what your point is because you havent argued one successfully yet.
- Rockhead_37

Two pretty big pieces still are not signed in Toronto ,this is my point you and burn are thinking this is just leaf hating but it isnt.BB is a piss poor manager and botched Toronto,s much needed rebuild while adding high priced tallent that ranks them no where near to contender status,while hampering the teams ability to retain and its youth now and moving forward.

Two pretty big pieces still are not signed in Toronto ,this is my point you and burn are thinking this is just leaf hating but it isnt.BB is a piss poor manager and botched Toronto,s much needed rebuild while adding high priced tallent that ranks them no where near to contender status,while hampering the teams ability to retain and its youth now and moving forward.
- top shelf 15

We believe you. You know so much about hockey and the leafs and such. I had no idea signing bozak for 800k 5 years ago out of college messed up their cap this year.


You are full of wisdom. Please share more of your knowledge.

We believe you. You know so much about hockey and the leafs and such. I had no idea signing bozak for 800k 5 years ago out of college messed up their cap this year.


You are full of wisdom. Please share more of your knowledge.
- burn

So giving that much bonus money wouldnt be, in anyway part of pointing out how much BB doesnt have a clue how to build a team. Unless he throws gobs of cash at unproven or mediocre players.Lets see 5 mil left to sign to young players ,two core pieces to resign next season to raises over 6 mil per season .One blue chip defense propsect on the come in Reilly,Otherwise a pretty meh prospect pool .BB should be on a aircraft carrier with a banner reading MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ,with the awesome team of elite level tallent he has aquired

Brian Burke is the most overrated hockey man in the NHL.

He did well to get the twins in Van but never realized that you need a goalie to win a cup.

He was handed a Stanley cup winner in Anaheim. Sure he added Neidermayer (but he wanted to go there anyways and play with his bro - a monkey could have made that signing) and Pronger, but other than that, the Ducks were Bryan Murray's team.

He set the Leafs back by at least 2-3 years. Sure, the Leafs finally made the playoffs last season and he was the one who built that team. With that said, any average GM could have eventually done that with the money and high draft picks the Leafs have had over the past decade.

I'm not saying he is going to hurt in Calgary (and to be honest, if there's one guy he's better than, it's probably Feaster), but I wouldn't be getting too excited if I'm a flames fan. Now instead of having just the worst GM in the league, you have the worst GM in the league with the most overrated hockey guy sitting beside him.
- Charliebox

LOL. What? Did you see the roster he was handed in Anaheim? It was terrible. I think people forget how bad that team and roster was in Anaheim when he took over. They were a very bad, non-playoff team. He changed 100% of the defense. 100%! But yet Murray built everything. Huh?

And let's be honest here. He didn't build a contender in Toronto.

He tried to fast track the rebuild and instead of building a contender, he built a team that will struggle to make the playoffs every season for the forseeable future.

On top of that, they have next to no prospects whatsoever. In pretty much every publication they are constantly ranked in the bottom 1/3 of the league when it comes to prospects.

Ok, he 'built' a playoff team. A playoff team with next to no cap space and no prospects.
- Charliebox

This is just wrong.

The guy started with nothing and now the Leafs have Kessel, Phaneuf, JVR, Kadri, RiellyLupul etc.
The guy has built a very solid team indeed.

Burke didn't draft Schenn, Fletcher did.

Burke also didn't hire Wilson, that was a Fletcher senior moment as well
- claude1971

And made a great trade getting JVR for Schenn.

LOL. What? Did you see the roster he was handed in Anaheim? It was terrible. I think people forget how bad that team and roster was in Anaheim when he took over. They were a very bad, non-playoff team. He changed 100% of the defense. 100%! But yet Murray built everything. Huh?
- RogerRoeper

Umm. No

Umm. No
- scubasteve

Umm. No
- scubasteve

Umm. Yes. It was a terrible team he took over.

No. Player Pos Age Ht Wt S/C Exp Birth Date Summary
41 Chris Armstrong D 28 6-0 205 L/- 1 June 26, 1975 0 G, 1 A, 1 P
30 Ilya Bryzgalov G 23 6-3 213 -/L 1 June 22, 1980 1-0-0, 2.00 GAA
55 Garrett Burnett LW 28 6-3 225 L/- R September 23, 1975 1 G, 2 A, 3 P
21 Dan Bylsma RW 33 6-2 212 L/- 8 September 19, 1970 0 G, 0 A, 0 P
3 Keith Carney D 33 6-1 207 L/- 12 February 3, 1970 2 G, 5 A, 7 P
23 Stanislav Chistov RW 20 5-10 200 R/- 1 April 17, 1983 2 G, 16 A, 18 P
91 Sergei Fedorov C 34 6-2 207 L/- 13 December 13, 1969 31 G, 34 A, 65 P
29 Martin Gerber G 29 6-0 205 -/L 1 September 3, 1974 11-12-4, 2.26 GAA
35 Jean-Sebastien Giguere G 26 6-1 202 -/L 6 May 16, 1977 17-31-6, 2.62 GAA
48 Casey Hankinson LW 27 6-1 187 L/- 2 May 8, 1976 0 G, 0 A, 0 P
28 Niclas Havelid D 30 6-0 200 L/- 4 April 12, 1973 6 G, 20 A, 26 P
18 Michael Holmqvist RW 24 6-3 205 L/- R June 8, 1979 2 G, 0 A, 2 P
27 Craig Johnson C 31 6-2 200 L/- 9 March 18, 1972 1 G, 2 A, 3 P
10 Jason Krog RW 28 5-11 185 R/- 4 October 9, 1975 6 G, 12 A, 18 P
38 Chris Kunitz LW 24 6-0 193 L/- R September 26, 1979 0 G, 6 A, 6 P
12 Mike Leclerc LW 27 6-2 208 L/- 7 November 10, 1976 1 G, 3 A, 4 P
15 Joffrey Lupul RW 20 6-1 206 R/- R September 23, 1983 13 G, 21 A, 34 P
46 Tony Martensson C 23 6-0 189 L/- R June 23, 1980 1 G, 1 A, 2 P
19 Andy McDonald LW 26 5-11 185 L/- 3 August 25, 1977 9 G, 21 A, 30 P
44 Rob Niedermayer LW 29 6-2 203 L/- 10 December 28, 1974 12 G, 16 A, 28 P
8 Sandis Ozolinsh D 31 6-3 215 L/- 11 August 3, 1972 5 G, 11 A, 16 P
26 Samuel Pahlsson C 26 6-0 202 L/- 3 December 17, 1977 8 G, 14 A, 22 P
33 Mark Popovic D 21 6-1 205 L/- R October 11, 1982 0 G, 0 A, 0 P
40 Vinny Prospal LW 28 6-2 191 L/- 7 February 17, 1975 19 G, 35 A, 54 P
20 Steve Rucchin C 32 6-2 210 L/- 9 July 4, 1971 20 G, 23 A, 43 P
24 Ruslan Salei D 29 6-1 212 L/- 7 November 2, 1974 4 G, 11 A, 15 P
34 Kurt Sauer D 23 6-4 222 L/- 1 January 16, 1981 1 G, 4 A, 5 P
27 Petr Schastlivy LW 24 6-1 204 L/- 4 April 18, 1979 2 G, 0 A, 2 P
14-17 Cam Severson LW 26 6-1 215 L/- 1 January 15, 1978 3 G, 0 A, 3 P
2 Todd Simpson D 30 6-3 218 L/- 8 May 28, 1973 4 G, 3 A, 7 P
14 Martin Skoula D 24 6-3 226 L/- 4 October 28, 1979 2 G, 7 A, 9 P
22 Alexei Smirnov RW 22 6-3 211 L/- 1 January 28, 1982 0 G, 1 A, 1 P
39 Petr Sykora RW 27 6-0 190 L/- 8 November 19, 1976 23 G, 29 A, 52 P
5 Vitaly Vishnevski D 23 6-2 215 L/- 4 March 18, 1980 6 G, 10 A, 16 P
4 Lance Ward D 25 6-3 210 L/- 3 June 2, 1978 0 G, 4 A, 4 P


Burke was handed this roster and a 76 point non-playoff team. It is odd how over the years history has changed. People saying Murray built the team honestly believe they were a contender before he took over.

No. Player Pos Age Ht Wt S/C Exp Birth Date Summary
41 Chris Armstrong D 28 6-0 205 L/- 1 June 26, 1975 0 G, 1 A, 1 P
30 Ilya Bryzgalov G 23 6-3 213 -/L 1 June 22, 1980 1-0-0, 2.00 GAA
55 Garrett Burnett LW 28 6-3 225 L/- R September 23, 1975 1 G, 2 A, 3 P
21 Dan Bylsma RW 33 6-2 212 L/- 8 September 19, 1970 0 G, 0 A, 0 P
3 Keith Carney D 33 6-1 207 L/- 12 February 3, 1970 2 G, 5 A, 7 P
23 Stanislav Chistov RW 20 5-10 200 R/- 1 April 17, 1983 2 G, 16 A, 18 P
91 Sergei Fedorov C 34 6-2 207 L/- 13 December 13, 1969 31 G, 34 A, 65 P
29 Martin Gerber G 29 6-0 205 -/L 1 September 3, 1974 11-12-4, 2.26 GAA
35 Jean-Sebastien Giguere G 26 6-1 202 -/L 6 May 16, 1977 17-31-6, 2.62 GAA
48 Casey Hankinson LW 27 6-1 187 L/- 2 May 8, 1976 0 G, 0 A, 0 P
28 Niclas Havelid D 30 6-0 200 L/- 4 April 12, 1973 6 G, 20 A, 26 P
18 Michael Holmqvist RW 24 6-3 205 L/- R June 8, 1979 2 G, 0 A, 2 P
27 Craig Johnson C 31 6-2 200 L/- 9 March 18, 1972 1 G, 2 A, 3 P
10 Jason Krog RW 28 5-11 185 R/- 4 October 9, 1975 6 G, 12 A, 18 P
38 Chris Kunitz LW 24 6-0 193 L/- R September 26, 1979 0 G, 6 A, 6 P
12 Mike Leclerc LW 27 6-2 208 L/- 7 November 10, 1976 1 G, 3 A, 4 P
15 Joffrey Lupul RW 20 6-1 206 R/- R September 23, 1983 13 G, 21 A, 34 P
46 Tony Martensson C 23 6-0 189 L/- R June 23, 1980 1 G, 1 A, 2 P
19 Andy McDonald LW 26 5-11 185 L/- 3 August 25, 1977 9 G, 21 A, 30 P
44 Rob Niedermayer LW 29 6-2 203 L/- 10 December 28, 1974 12 G, 16 A, 28 P
8 Sandis Ozolinsh D 31 6-3 215 L/- 11 August 3, 1972 5 G, 11 A, 16 P
26 Samuel Pahlsson C 26 6-0 202 L/- 3 December 17, 1977 8 G, 14 A, 22 P
33 Mark Popovic D 21 6-1 205 L/- R October 11, 1982 0 G, 0 A, 0 P
40 Vinny Prospal LW 28 6-2 191 L/- 7 February 17, 1975 19 G, 35 A, 54 P
20 Steve Rucchin C 32 6-2 210 L/- 9 July 4, 1971 20 G, 23 A, 43 P
24 Ruslan Salei D 29 6-1 212 L/- 7 November 2, 1974 4 G, 11 A, 15 P
34 Kurt Sauer D 23 6-4 222 L/- 1 January 16, 1981 1 G, 4 A, 5 P
27 Petr Schastlivy LW 24 6-1 204 L/- 4 April 18, 1979 2 G, 0 A, 2 P
14-17 Cam Severson LW 26 6-1 215 L/- 1 January 15, 1978 3 G, 0 A, 3 P
2 Todd Simpson D 30 6-3 218 L/- 8 May 28, 1973 4 G, 3 A, 7 P
14 Martin Skoula D 24 6-3 226 L/- 4 October 28, 1979 2 G, 7 A, 9 P
22 Alexei Smirnov RW 22 6-3 211 L/- 1 January 28, 1982 0 G, 1 A, 1 P
39 Petr Sykora RW 27 6-0 190 L/- 8 November 19, 1976 23 G, 29 A, 52 P
5 Vitaly Vishnevski D 23 6-2 215 L/- 4 March 18, 1980 6 G, 10 A, 16 P
4 Lance Ward D 25 6-3 210 L/- 3 June 2, 1978 0 G, 4 A, 4 P


Burke was handed this roster and a 76 point non-playoff team. It is odd how over the years history has changed. People saying Murray built the team honestly believe they were a contender before he took over.
- RogerRoeper

Decent pieces,wonder if they had some good prospects coming up .Or if Scott Neidermyer,s brother playing there had anything to do with him signing there.BB deserves some credit for the cup yes but BM does deserve some for building up their team as well

Decent pieces,wonder if they had some good prospects coming up .Or if Scott Neidermyer,s brother playing there had anything to do with him signing there.BB deserves some credit for the cup yes but BM does deserve some for building up their team as well

- top shelf 15

So what? What Gm doesn't have some decent pieces to build with when he starts when a cup is won?

Burke has received far too little credit for that cup win.

So what? What Gm doesn't have some decent pieces to build with when he starts when a cup is won?

Burke has received far too little credit for that cup win.
- RogerRoeper

Did anaheim not have most of its forwards all ready in place or in their prospect pool thanks to BM ,not BB .I have given BB his due, but he isnt a good rebuild from scratch guy i dont understand what the issue is really .This isnt to say he isnt a good gm but he doesnt do the rebuild well.Also wasnt ANA in the finals in 03/04 ,does that not mean they where a decent team before BB got there