Nonsense.
- jbold

I dont get how people can sugar coat things for Dion..."he needs to simplify, he needs to grow into his game, he will improve improve as the team improves.."

He's and 8 year vet.

He is what he is, he's the worst captain I could possible think of out of almost every player in the NHL, goes to show again, Burkes judgement of player skills and attributes.
- robin_steele264

The coach picks the captain.

PM me your address and I'll send you the cash. I offered to before.
- whipper334

No worries, I might move back to Calgary soon, i'll track you down.

Don't kid yourself, we don't really read what you say.
- jbold

lol i wouldnt be surprised :p i read yours for the lols like when you changed your team to buffalo and asked if you could talk poop now too. should've kept that as my location

The coach picks the captain.
- Fakepartofme

I think Burke might have had some say in that matter.

No worries, I might move back to Calgary soon, i'll track you down.
- robin_steele264

For work?

Ah... NUPE. The position your in has more to do with Burke trying to rush a rebuild. The last thing a rebuild team should do is trade a first rounder... yet alone 2. Plus your drafting isn't exactly turning out studs.

If I were taking over the Leafs 4 years ago, I would have done exactly what Edmonton did. You would be at least sitting with Seguin and RNH right now... at least.
- RooNosHockey

Maybe because we havnt really drafted very high in ages...and the ones we have are still developing....

I think Burke might have had some say in that matter.
- robin_steele264

Absolutely!

I think that's exactly what will take this team from bottom dwellers to the playoff bubble.

I'd much rather acquire a core of young superstars via the draft a la PITT, CHI, WAS, etc. I know there's no guarantees, but I think we've exhausted the 'retool' approach.
- 1979AD

yea cause they arent a bubble team right now

Ah... NUPE. The position your in has more to do with Burke trying to rush a rebuild. The last thing a rebuild team should do is trade a first rounder... yet alone 2. Plus your drafting isn't exactly turning out studs.

If I were taking over the Leafs 4 years ago, I would have done exactly what Edmonton did. You would be at least sitting with Seguin and RNH right now... at least.
- RooNosHockey

So youre telling me...that if you knew what you know now...you would have done what Edmonton did 4 years ago...ok.

For work?
- whipper334

Yup, most likely headed west.

Calgary would be good... but nothing's set in stone.

that would be stupid. i dont want kadri getting comfortable being average in the AHL i'd rather him come to the NHL so he'd have to work his ass off
- matt1337

Exactly - Kadri should have been playing all year this year

crystal balls cannot be used as a form of argument. Sorry...but obv Burke couldnt predict how high the picks were going to end up...no one could...
- noename09

Way to contradict yourself. Declaring that no other GM could have the Leafs in better shape after 3 years, not the same exact thing? (crystal ball argument).

And you think it took Kreskin to predict the Leafs starting out the post-Sundin era with Matt Stajan as the #1 forward would finish in the lottery for the next couple years? You really think Chiarelli wasn't tickled pink at Burke's hubris that adding Kessel and Monster would turn the Leafs into a playoff team?

I think Burke might have had some say in that matter.
- robin_steele264

just a little

Exactly - Kadri should have been playing all year this year
- MTL1

i couldnt agree more. if he isnt on the team next year i'd be surprised

yea cause they arent a bubble team right now
- matt1337

Big picture: they havethe core of superstars to be Cup contenders.

So you plan on keeping Kadri in the minors all of next year as well?
- MTL1

If need be, why not.

He should technically become the first call up we use when a player goes down, but I would rather him get minutes in the minors and grow with the line-mates he will one day play with rather than play him on a line with sulking Leafs who won't be with the team next year. Maybe if he plays on a line with Grabo and Kuli, I would be fine with it, because they are relaly hard workers and could teach him a thing or two.

just a little
- noename09

Also think Dion wanted it pretty bad... from day 1, walking into the room and basically proclaiming, 'I own this Biotch'

I don't consider a bunch of unproven questionmark prospects "a lot of depth". I'm all for not bringing in this vet goalie for next year. We need to masturbate for Nate.
- 1979AD

It's still depth.

Keep on Losing Boyz... I love it... Come on Min, Edm and Montreal... I would love the 2nd overall.

Way to contradict yourself. Declaring that no other GM could have the Leafs in better shape after 3 years, not the same exact thing? (crystal ball argument).

And you think it took Kreskin to predict the Leafs starting out the post-Sundin era with Matt Stajan as the #1 forward would finish in the lottery for the next couple years? You really think Chiarelli wasn't tickled pink at Burke's hubris that adding Kessel and Monster would turn the Leafs into a playoff team?
- 1979AD

fine...but now were both just grasping at straws here...either way...what ANY GM would have to work with 3-4 years ago was so bad, that anyone could argue that it would be VERY hard for jsut about ANYONE to make them a strong team in less than 4-5 years.

tehre isnt one sure way to build a championship team...Burke rolled the dice on the Kessel deal and it didnt fully work out, however we have a 35+ goal scorer out of it, and hes added many prospects since. its a much slower rebuild than planned...but its atleast steps in the right direction.

So youre telling me...that if you knew what you know now...you would have done what Edmonton did 4 years ago...ok.
- noename09

What I am saying is Burke should have known the abilities of his team, and that adding Kessel wasn't going to automatically make them a good team. 1 player, a team does not make.... So he should have known that the draft picks he was giving up were going to be of the higher quality... But Burke got totally ripped off for Kessel, just look at the deals for Richards and Carter last year... We got a first and struggling player for 1, and a young power forward and top prospect for the other... And Carter and Richards are much more proven talent then Kessel was...

It's still depth.
- gravyface

Every team in the league has depth then.

our prospects would move to the NHL if you read my whole thing like 3 pages back
- matt1337

and the NHL players would move to the AHL (i.e. Connolly, lombo, army, etc..)?

If so, that is a terrible 'plan'

Big picture: they havethe core of superstars to be Cup contenders.
- 1979AD

and yet the furthest they got was to game 7 in round 2. got swept last year in 2nd round by tampa and last in first round the other 2 years. and now they look like they wont make the playoffs at all this year, for their progress has regressed