My problem is that he didn't see this team for what it was and ship out whatever he could and take on cap space and draft picks. In fact, Brian Burke has NEVER seen this team for what it is, unfortunately.
- triggermartin

What teams are offering up picks for Lombardi, Armstrong, Komisarek? What late 1st rounder is better than Kulemin, Grabovski (whole world of problems letting him go) Schenn? or the rumured conditional 1st for Mac? He could have made tons of trades that don't help us in any way.

Kadri for a 3rd? Franson for a 4th? Komisarek for Gomez? Making a move doesn't necessarily make this team better. We got Ashton, I'm happy with that at the end of the day.

The only player who had 'rental for 1st rounder' status at the deadline was Grabovski, the other guys are still signed/RFA and could still be traded pre-draft for said picks.

Nabokov signed to a 1 yr. deal. Strike one.

In terms of scoring only, sure. Look at the rest of that list - how many would you not trade Kessel for?
- 1979AD

All except spezza.....and maybe Giroux.

What teams are offering up picks for Lombardi, Armstrong, Komisarek? What late 1st rounder is better than Kulemin, Grabovski (whole world of problems letting him go) Schenn? or the rumured conditional 1st for Mac? He could have made tons of trades that don't help us in any way.

Kadri for a 3rd? Franson for a 4th? Komisarek for Gomez? Making a move doesn't necessarily make this team better. We got Ashton, I'm happy with that at the end of the day.

The only player who had 'rental for 1st rounder' status at the deadline was Grabovski, the other guys are still signed/RFA and could still be traded pre-draft for said picks.
- Boosinicka

Listen to the man himself. Burke said he had about 20 offers on many of the players on the Leaf roster. He, however, 'believes in this group, that it is a playoff group'. Fair enough.

Listen to the man himself. Burke said he had about 20 offers on many of the players on the Leaf roster. He, however, 'believes in this group, that it is a playoff group'. Fair enough.
- triggermartin

I guess the question then goes back to ownership to decide if that's the evaluator they want getting them out of this mess.

aaah yes, the mythical 4 1st round picks he turned down....
- dt99999

Hey buddy.....Gaustad was moved for a 1st....he wasn't making it up.
Besides, they were late 1st rounders anyway.

Listen to the man himself. Burke said he had about 20 offers on many of the players on the Leaf roster. He, however, 'believes in this group, that it is a playoff group'. Fair enough.
- triggermartin

I'm sure he did, I'm sure he had 40 offers out there himself, but unless the trade benefits us there's no point in making it. Like offering Sheep/wool in Catan for Ore, nobody is entertaining that offer, but people stilll ask.

Listen to the man himself. Burke said he had about 20 offers on many of the players on the Leaf roster. He, however, 'believes in this group, that it is a playoff group'. Fair enough.
- triggermartin

It is unfair to throw in Lombardi's name into any arguments though.

We got him as a salary dump along with Franson for Lebda and a suspect .... I mean a prospect.

Burke knew he was taking on salary there. Lombardi can be sent down though.

Doesn't matter who we pick, the media will scrutinize it and declare that pick a failure within a year.

But if another team were to take that same player, the media would scrutinize the Leafs for years on end for missing out on a franchise player who will change the face of the game.


- leafs93

exactly.

every prospect, for the Leafs media is a glass half empty... for anyone else.. its half full.

Leafs will have a high pick this year - and for the sake of example let's say its the 5th overall.... I would suspect that media will begin to spin how its a draft devoid of elite talent, a draft with a plateau that drops off dramatically after the first 4 picks ... etc. etc.

It is unfair to throw in Lombardi's name into any arguments though.

We got him as a salary dump along with Franson for Lebda and a suspect .... I mean a prospect.

Burke knew he was taking on salary there. Lombardi can be sent down though.
- leafs93

Ask QP in the Engel's threads how good Slaney is gonna be.

Giroux also kills penalties.
- Pecafan Fan

no nutsack vacancy

Hey buddy.....Gaustad was moved for a 1st....he wasn't making it up.
Besides, they were late 1st rounders anyway.
- Fakepartofme

but that's exactly the point: he was moved.


also, the leafs are hardly in a position right now to look down on 1st round picks, late or early.

I think his rebuild has definitely been flawed.

But the real problem goes back further. We could not get real prospects for our top tier players back when Sundin, Kaberle, McCabe, etc all refused to waive their no trades.

Any other team who can move those types of players for sure gets some type of quality picks or prospects moving forward.

We had to restart our rebuild from literally ground zero like an expansion team does.
- leafs93

YOu could've started by drafting Seguin

Burke has put a lot of faith in the players he acquired. They have made him look like a fool. He is partly to blame as he makes stupid comments that come back to bite him in the standings/media/ass

Season 1 trading for Kessel and acquiring Komi, Beach. he was convinced the leafs were a fringe playoff team, he was wrong. Season 2, he was wrong... this past season... went with Reimer/Gus, he was wrong, stuck with Wilson - Wrong!, at the trade deadline kept the team intact, that was wrong.

Thats a lot of wrongs

but that's exactly the point: he was moved.


also, the leafs are hardly in a position right now to look down on 1st round picks, late or early.
- dt99999

I don't see any Louie Leblanc's available in this draft. Best get what we can for our pick, maybe a Joe Corvo type guy to steady the defense

exactly.

every prospect, for the Leafs media is a glass half empty... for anyone else.. its half full.

Leafs will have a high pick this year - and for the sake of example let's say its the 5th overall.... I would suspect that media will begin to spin how its a draft devoid of elite talent, a draft with a plateau that drops off dramatically after the first 4 picks ... etc. etc.


- BorjeFan4Ever

Kinda true tho, Yakupov, Grigs, and Galchenyuk are clear 1st liners. Gal miiiiigggght drop to 5th, but we're more likely to get Forsberg who is definitely not those 3.

Getzlaf is 26, turning 27 this year........... and once again, you do not pass up the opportunity to get a Getzlaf or a Staal



- faceto27

what if you have to give up Gardiner plus to get him?

but that's exactly the point: he was moved.


also, the leafs are hardly in a position right now to look down on 1st round picks, late or early.
- dt99999

Potentially late first rounders. Depends on playoffs.

But I think it was middle of the playoff race teams. Top teams didn't really part with much. With how close it is from a playoff spot to the bottom it would have been nice to get at least 1 more 1st rounder for this draft. Never know where it would have ended up.

Burke has put a lot of faith in the players he acquired. They have made him look like a fool. He is partly to blame as he makes stupid comments that come back to bite him in the standings/media/ass

Season 1 trading for Kessel and acquiring Komi, Beach. he was convinced the leafs were a fringe playoff team, he was wrong. Season 2, he was wrong... this past season... went with Reimer/Gus, he was wrong, stuck with Wilson - Wrong!, at the trade deadline kept the team intact, that was wrong.

Thats a lot of wrongs
- senstroll

Why is everybody trying to make me cry.

Burke has put a lot of faith in the players he acquired. They have made him look like a fool. He is partly to blame as he makes stupid comments that come back to bite him in the standings/media/ass

Season 1 trading for Kessel and acquiring Komi, Beach. he was convinced the leafs were a fringe playoff team, he was wrong. Season 2, he was wrong... this past season... went with Reimer/Gus, he was wrong, stuck with Wilson - Wrong!, at the trade deadline kept the team intact, that was wrong.

Thats a lot of wrongs
- senstroll

Hubris

what if you have to give up Gardiner plus to get him?
- BorjeFan4Ever

Are you serious?

double post

but that's exactly the point: he was moved.


also, the leafs are hardly in a position right now to look down on 1st round picks, late or early.
- dt99999

Forgot you watch the Leafs and know what exactly it is they need. Funny how they have a GM who has been in this business for a long time and that GM doesn't want to just squeak into the playoffs to get killed. Until this year when he said this time they just might have what it takes to squeak in and that's why he didn't trade anybody. But hey, you are in a few hockey pools so you know what you're talking about.

Hubris
- blarneylad

Hummus?

but that's exactly the point: he was moved.


also, the leafs are hardly in a position right now to look down on 1st round picks, late or early.
- dt99999

Not all teams can have 7 20 goal scorers.