The colour of my skin has nothing to do with my anger, to imply so is racist, especially if you are white.

I live in Kanata, Ontario for gods sake, do you understand how much I hate being a Leaf's fan?
- AngryWhiteMale

Hey, the Sens are in the playoffs....

No, the point is that it's Burke's job to find the right players. Especially when it was his own mandate to bring in guys like Foligno.

Funny how Burke makes a promise to the fans, doesn't deliver it and then when somebody calls him out on it, you and the other apologists, go after anybody and everybody that isn't Burke. You know, the guy who is actually failing to match his actions to his words.


- Unholy_Goalie

Who would you have drafted the year we drafted your newest object of hate, Jamie Devane?

I can answer for you: just go back and use your hindsight to pick through all the long-shots who panned out.

But here's a harder one (that you're still dodging): who would you draft this year? Give us a list of 7 players (one from each round) currently projected to go roughly in that round.

We'll flag this thread and look back at it in 2-3 years.

Hey, that reminds me... wasn't it just a few years ago that you were comparing Tlusty to Malkin/Kurri/Jagr?

And making the wrong selections happen all the time in any pro sport. At the end of the day Burke and the Leaf scouts obviously liked Devane for some reason and not Foligno. Guess its a question someone should ask Burke about.
- Leafsfan9329

The difference between success and failure is who makes the right picks and who makes the wrong ones. Far too many times have the Leafs made the wrong pick.

Not picking Foligno isn't the end of the world. It's just a small example of what this team needs to be better at. Burke promised truculence. Time to start getting serious about it.

Trading Aulie for Ashton. No. Picking the right guys when you have the chance. Yes.

My first reaction to this was that I was glad he did it...then I realized...WTF was he trying to prove? He's just acting like a tough guy by strong arming people into answering questions that there are no answers to, he simply makes himself look like an ass. What does he expect Schenn to say? We aren’t good enough...? So what does that prove?

The only one who should have answered differently is Phaneuf. Phaneuf should have said something along the lines of "it starts with me, I'm the captain and I am supposed to be the leader of this team by leading by example and getting the guys motivated and I did not deliver on that, I take full responsibility" even if that's not the full reason, it's his job as Captain to take the fall for the team and not do the typical "you lose as a team and you win as a team" crap.

Nobody forced people to spend $400 for a seat, people made that decision themselves.

This city is full of Leafs fans and lacking true hockey fans that know what to expect from a young team. Half these guys are 23 or less and not any where near their prime. There's no franchise player, no #1 centre, no #1 goalie and until semi-recently with Carlyle, there was no system in place for defense.

To expect anything more then exactly what is happening right now is just plain foolish and so very typical of people who are just Leafs fans and not real hockey fans.

Burke is the only one that needs to stand up and say "I thought I had put together a good team, I thought our goaltending was stronger then it was, I take the blame for this season and we will put forth every effort to improve amd make sure we challenge for a playoff spot".
- Juice

I don't want or need Burke to apologize.

What I want is Burke to genuinely get the roster out from the limitations he's put on with his FA signings. I don't want BB talking to the media or to the fans about what he's going to try and do at the draft, or what he's going to try and do July 1st.

I want BB to find a way to:
1) free the roster and the team CAP hit of Mike Komisarek. 4.5M CAP
2) free the roster and the team CAP hit of Tim Connolly's "contributions". 4.5M CAP
3) free the roster and the team CAP ht of Mathew Lombardi. 3.5M CAP
4) free the roster and the team CAP hit of Colby Armstrong. 3.0M CAP

these moves, or at least three of them are a necessity - however BB does it - to reconstructing the roster and leadership of the team going into next season.


5) I want BB to find a way to acquire a goaltender with some experience ahead of July 1st... by perhaps trading for a players rights.

6) I want BB to find a trading partner for Carl Gunnarson or J.M Liles if he's going to go after Suter.

7) I would like to believe that BB could land a 1C, but I don't see it happening - and not at the expense of the 1st this year OR two higher end prospects. If he can't land a 1C - then consider signing Jason Arnott for a season - if he doesn't retire.

8) Please no discussion of Brandon Dubinsky. None, Not even one lame rumor.

9) Brandon Prust yes.

Illitch says hes going bankrupt trying to feed Prince Fielder
- wingz4life

that's a lot of pizza's

It's really going to be Canada, US, SWE in the top 3 for the next decaade.

Until Russia starts producing decent defencemen they aren't going to make it far.

I should make an exception for the Finns. Despite not having a stacked lineup they do play well for their country. Though, I wonder how they'll perform in 2014 without Selanne, Koivu(s) and Kiprusoff
- AngryWhiteMale

Finns have some talent coming
Pulkinnen, Armia, the Granlunds

Who would you have drafted the year we drafted your newest object of hate, Jamie Devane?
- Leeman4Gilmour

I'll see you when Europe's population figures dwindle their hockey programs to nothing.

pumped for baseball season? we start friday
- bonzo11

Thursday vs Cleveland. Pretty excited.

It's really going to be Canada, US, SWE in the top 3 for the next decaade.

Until Russia starts producing decent defencemen they aren't going to make it far.

I should make an exception for the Finns. Despite not having a stacked lineup they do play well for their country. Though, I wonder how they'll perform in 2014 without Selanne, Koivu(s) and Kiprusoff

A side note: Scarborough's population is 600,000. You'd think a city of people that big would be able to produce enough young hockey players, yet, in a few years, their minor hockey program will fold due to lack of enrollment and any players hoping to play will need to either look towards durham or Markham/GTHL
- AngryWhiteMale

Finland always has a goalie. Never discount the possibility of an upset there.

For whatever reason, that country is a goaltender factory.

But yeah, I can easily see the three countries you named being the dominant forces in hockey for the foreseeable future. Russian hockey is in decline.

The difference between success and failure is who makes the right picks and who makes the wrong ones. Far too many times have the Leafs made the wrong pick.

Not picking Foligno isn't the end of the world. It's just a small example of what this team needs to be better at. Burke promised truculence. Time to start getting serious about it.

Trading Aulie for Ashton. No. Picking the right guys when you have the chance. Yes.
- Unholy_Goalie

I'm still at a loss why you didn't make the final interview for the GM job. I bet MLSE is kicking themselves now.

I'm still at a loss why you didn't make the final interview for the GM job. I bet MLSE is kicking themselves now.
- IronMaidnick

I'll see you when Europe's population figures dwindle their hockey programs to nothing.
- Unholy_Goalie

Never said they would dwindle to nothing. I just don't see them maintaining the same level of success.

As I've stated many times, I think the USA is best poised to pick up the slack and start producing more NHLers within the next decade as the fruits of their minor league systems come to bear.

Again, who were your favorites the year we drafted Devane? Who were you really high on?

Finns have some talent coming
Pulkinnen, Armia, the Granlunds
- wingz4life

Barkov

Thursday vs Cleveland. Pretty excited.
- weirdoh

nice! jays had a damn impressive spring training. hope you guys finish in front of the sox

Barkov
- AdamFrench

Whatov

Never said they would dwindle to nothing. I just don't see them maintaining the same level of success.

As I've stated many times, I think the USA is best poised to pick up the slack and start producing more NHLers within the next decade as the fruits of their minor league systems come to bear.

Again, who were your favorites the year we drafted Devane? Who were you really high on?
- Leeman4Gilmour

Since you missed it the first time...

No, the point is that it's Burke's job to find the right players. Especially when it was his own mandate to bring in guys like Foligno.

Funny how Burke makes a promise to the fans, doesn't deliver it and then when somebody calls him out on it, you and the other apologists, go after anybody and everybody that isn't Burke. You know, the guy who is actually failing to match his actions to his words.

I want BB to find a way to:
1) free the roster and the team CAP hit of Mike Komisarek. 4.5M CAP
2) free the roster and the team CAP hit of Tim Connolly's "contributions". 4.5M CAP
3) free the roster and the team CAP ht of Mathew Lombardi. 3.5M CAP
4) free the roster and the team CAP hit of Colby Armstrong. 3.0M CAP

these moves, or at least three of them are a necessity - however BB does it - to reconstructing the roster and leadership of the team going into next season.


5) I want BB to find a way to acquire a goaltender with some experience ahead of July 1st... by perhaps trading for a players rights.

6) I want BB to find a trading partner for Carl Gunnarson or J.M Liles if he's going to go after Suter.

7) I would like to believe that BB could land a 1C, but I don't see it happening - and not at the expense of the 1st this year OR two higher end prospects. If he can't land a 1C - then consider signing Jason Arnott for a season - if he doesn't retire.

8) Please no discussion of Brandon Dubinsky. None, Not even one lame rumor.

9) Brandon Prust yes.
- BorjeFan4Ever

# 1-4, absolute yes, they're virtually all dead weight and are tying us down. Finding them new homes will be next to impossible.

5) If he can get Josh Harding at the right price then ok, but I doubt he comes cheap. Trading for a goalie is foolish, as it'll be at a premium and if Reimer does pan out then we pay for a goalie we didn't need.

6) I actually really like both Lilies and Gunnarsson. We also need to keep Franson. That guy's got the toughness Komi bring but he has a brain and a good shot, something Komi never had in the first place.

7) Arnott won't leave STL. We won't find no. 1 centres growing on trees and sadly until we find either a no. 1 centre or a no. 1 goalie, we're not going anywhere. I'm really hoping the boys pull together a good AHL playoff run and Colborne comes ready to win a spot in the fall.

8) Agree

9) No thanks, Steve Ott anyone?

The difference between success and failure is who makes the right picks and who makes the wrong ones. Far too many times have the Leafs made the wrong pick.

Not picking Foligno isn't the end of the world. It's just a small example of what this team needs to be better at. Burke promised truculence. Time to start getting serious about it.

Trading Aulie for Ashton. No. Picking the right guys when you have the chance. Yes.
- Unholy_Goalie

Heh the Leafs have sucked at drafting for the last 20 years I'm pretty much used to that and when they do draft good they trade that player away so its basically drafting bad.

I can tell that you probably don't like Ashton much,He definetly needs to get stronger on his skates but that trade was using an asset to get a position that they needed in a future powerforward hopefully. Aulie wasn't going to be on the Leafs next year anyways at least in Tampa he'll get to play.

And yes Burke has alot to deliever this summer which i honestly don't expect him to deliever.

6) I actually really like both Lilies ?
- AngryWhiteMale

27 points, -14 and 3.875 million per year.

Heh the Leafs have sucked at drafting for the last 20 years I'm pretty much used to that and when they do draft good they trade that player away so its basically drafting bad.
- Leafsfan9329

This needs to change.

This needs to change.
- Unholy_Goalie

if only they listened to u

Finland always has a goalie. Never discount the possibility of an upset there.

For whatever reason, that country is a goaltender factory.

But yeah, I can easily see the three countries you named being the dominant forces in hockey for the foreseeable future. Russian hockey is in decline.
- Leeman4Gilmour

We didn't just beat Russia last time, we obliterated them.

It may be on bigger ice, and at home, but Sweden will have Karlsson in his prime and the USA aren't going to rollover either.

Russia has nobody on defence. They have decent 'tending MOST of the time, and if the players are motivated, they have a degree of character absent in the NHL. Playing at home will be big, as failure to make the goald medal game means none of them ever think of returning to the KHL, as it will be too easy for them to be shipped off to Siberia.

This needs to change.
- Unholy_Goalie

I'm sure they will get on it now that you have spoken.

I don't want or need Burke to apologize.

What I want is Burke to genuinely get the roster out from the limitations he's put on with his FA signings. I don't want BB talking to the media or to the fans about what he's going to try and do at the draft, or what he's going to try and do July 1st.

I want BB to find a way to:
1) free the roster and the team CAP hit of Mike Komisarek. 4.5M CAP
2) free the roster and the team CAP hit of Tim Connolly's "contributions". 4.5M CAP
3) free the roster and the team CAP ht of Mathew Lombardi. 3.5M CAP
4) free the roster and the team CAP hit of Colby Armstrong. 3.0M CAP

these moves, or at least three of them are a necessity - however BB does it - to reconstructing the roster and leadership of the team going into next season.


5) I want BB to find a way to acquire a goaltender with some experience ahead of July 1st... by perhaps trading for a players rights.

6) I want BB to find a trading partner for Carl Gunnarson or J.M Liles if he's going to go after Suter.

7) I would like to believe that BB could land a 1C, but I don't see it happening - and not at the expense of the 1st this year OR two higher end prospects. If he can't land a 1C - then consider signing Jason Arnott for a season - if he doesn't retire.

8) Please no discussion of Brandon Dubinsky. None, Not even one lame rumor.

9) Brandon Prust yes.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Burke's biggest flaw, as I see it, is his loyalty to his players. He doesn't like shaking things up if he can help it.

I understand that one must be diplomatic and attempt to keep his players happy. I also understand that so much of the success a GM has is in the professional relationships he maintains with his colleagues and his employees. Burke has many friends in the industry and many players who would follow him anywhere. Those things help, for sure.

But at some point, he needs to bite the bullet and pull the trigger on some deals. I recall hearing that even before he traded away Toskala, Blake, Stajan, etc. he was hesitant to make the deals.

He only waited so long to complete the Giguere deal (which was on the table in some form for weeks) because he truly wanted his players to turn the corner and sincerely thought they could.

Again, I admire the loyalty (even towards Wilson), but he's got to be more cut-throat to survive in Toronto.

They do:

In Markham and Brampton, respectively
- AngryWhiteMale

What does the European comment matter? Hockey is cultural not part of your ethnicity. Ask Kadri and Zibenejad if it matters if your parents are native to the country or not. Europe will produce hockey players because those countries love hockey. Just like Canada loves hockey and the immigrants that love the game will want their kids to play too.