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.


- Unholy_Goalie

if dudley was relied on so much by TB and CHI for drafting then i'm pretty sure burke will do the same. i'm pretty sure that was the reason he brought dudley in.

In this last draft i wanted leafs to draft saad but that didnt happen he almost made chi this year

On a more positive note (I know U_G's already starting to wince), Jake Gardiner looks simply marvelous out there. That last OT shift in the offensive zone, watching him dart in and out along the blue line, starting/stopping on a dime...

nice! jays had a damn impressive spring training. hope you guys finish in front of the sox
- bonzo11

There is an extra wild card spot. Still a year or 2 away from that, but you never know?

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.


- Unholy_Goalie

U_G to English translation:

"I have none of the answers, but I will cut everyone and everything else down to make myself feel better. I'm as completely ignorant as anyone here to the inner workings of running an NHL franchise, but I will continue to be as obnoxious and arrogant as possible in my attacks towards everyone remotely involved in this abortion of a franchise...

...that I can't stop obsessing about."

On a more positive note (I know U_G's already starting to wince), Jake Gardiner looks simply marvelous out there. That last OT shift in the offensive zone, watching him dart in and out along the blue line, starting/stopping on a dime...
- gravyface

gardiner is one of the only bright spots this year, kids amazing. id say burke's best trade by far with lupul

gardiner is one of the only bright spots this year, kids amazing. id say burke's best trade by far with lupul
- torfc23

Kessel with 80 pts. isn't too shabby either.

Once it became clear that we'd miss the playoffs, I wanted us to fall into the bottom five while Kessel continued to score.

So far, so good.

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.


- Unholy_Goalie

Funny how so many people think that it's easy being a GM

Because, right, no. 1 centres grow on trees, and so do no. 1 goalies, so geez, I mean, it's not hard, right? You just hit the accept button on some blockbuster deal and everything works out great.

Rome wasn't built in a day, dippoop.

As utterly retarded as the last 1/3 of this season has gone, we are the youngest team in the league. We have never had a real rebuild. A rebuild where we actually collect enough young, though not quite true blue chippers, to give us the chance at being decent over a long stretch of time.

BB doesn't have the luxury of being in a market where the best UFAs want to play. That's not his fault.

Of course he's failing to match his actions to his words. When he started out, he wanted to get on track quickly. He didn't want a long rebuild. It's obvious through his actions that his pride took a hit with Kessel's deal and he has now turned the ship around so that we are now the youngest team in the league. How long was STL average at best for? They took a few years to get it together, and are now rightfully in great shape because they took their time, and one a couple trades involving Halak and Elliot. Those deals don't happen everyday.

How long was CHI bad for before figuring it out?

NYR missed the playoffs the previous 7 years before the lockout.

Get it together. If we were in CAL's situation I'd feel a lot worse

On a more positive note (I know U_G's already starting to wince), Jake Gardiner looks simply marvelous out there. That last OT shift in the offensive zone, watching him dart in and out along the blue line, starting/stopping on a dime...
- gravyface

For every play he makes like that, there are half a dozen that blow up and cost the Leafs a scoring chance against. Gardiner can skate and definitely has talent but he has a lot more work to do to balance his game.

There is an extra wild card spot. Still a year or 2 away from that, but you never know?
- weirdoh

they wont

# 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?
- AngryWhiteMale

regarding 6)... I agree - I meant only if BB is seriously going after Suter.... which he could only dream of doing if 1-4 happen. BB needs to clear that CAP, resign Kulemin and couple of others.

regarding 5) Harding would be a good target, what happens to Vancouver in the playoffs could be material as well. Lindback might be avaliable given his RFA status and Nashville's need to resign Weber, Suter, Radulov, etc.

Kessel with 80 pts. isn't too shabby either.

Once it became clear that we'd miss the playoffs, I wanted us to fall into the bottom five while Kessel continued to score.

So far, so good.
- Leeman4Gilmour

I hope Kessel hits 40g.

He's still the best player in that deal, and a true goalscorer like we haven't had in a while

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

Please explain this comment

regarding 6)... I agree - I meant only if BB is seriously going after Suter.... which he could only dream of doing if 1-4 happen. BB needs to clear that CAP, resign Kulemin and couple of others.

regarding 5) Harding would be a good target, what happens to Vancouver in the playoffs could be material as well. Lindback might be avaliable given his RFA status and Nashville's need to resign Weber, Suter, Radulov, etc.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Do you think Vancouver might consider buying out that ugly Luongo contract if such an option presents itself in the new CBA negotiations?

And would you want to pay for him? I assume he'd be 6+ for 5-6 years.

U_G to English translation:

"I have none of the answers, but I will cut everyone and everything else down to make myself feel better. I'm as completely ignorant as anyone here to the inner workings of running an NHL franchise, but I will continue to be as obnoxious and arrogant as possible in my attacks towards everyone remotely involved in this abortion of a franchise...

...that I can't stop obsessing about."
- Leeman4Gilmour

L4G to English translation:

"I would rather defend my Lord and Master, Pope Burke the First than realize that his promises are hallow and empty. Rather than awaken to the fact that he isn't doing what he set out to do, I will continue to lie to myself in hopes that it will all get better. And by better I mean they make 8th place because that's enough to keep me happy. Additionally, I will lie to myself to believe that Burke's pro-American strategy is the route to success based on population figures. Europe will cease to play hockey and America will reign supreme...

...God bless America."

I hope Kessel hits 40g.

He's still the best player in that deal, and a true goalscorer like we haven't had in a while
- AngryWhiteMale

19 year old All-Star, Stanley Cup champion, Tyler Seguin disagrees.

L4G to English translation:

"I would rather defend my Lord and Master, Pope Burke the First than realize that his promises are hallow and empty. Rather than awaken to the fact that he isn't doing what he set out to do, I will continue to lie to myself in hopes that it will all get better. And by better I mean they make 8th place because that's enough to keep me happy. Additionally, I will lie to myself to believe that Burke's pro-American strategy is the route to success based on population figures. Europe will cease to play hockey and America will reign supreme...

...God bless America."
- Unholy_Goalie

damn right mother(frank)er

There is an extra wild card spot. Still a year or 2 away from that, but you never know?
- weirdoh

Luckily cause the AL east is going to be insane. Plus, you have the rangers/angels fighting for a wild card spot.

Funny how so many people think that it's easy being a GM

Because, right, no. 1 centres grow on trees, and so do no. 1 goalies, so geez, I mean, it's not hard, right? You just hit the accept button on some blockbuster deal and everything works out great.

Rome wasn't built in a day, dippoop.

As utterly retarded as the last 1/3 of this season has gone, we are the youngest team in the league. We have never had a real rebuild. A rebuild where we actually collect enough young, though not quite true blue chippers, to give us the chance at being decent over a long stretch of time.

- AngryWhiteMale

I love the bolded part spouted by the apologists ad nauseam. Funny how we can be 'the youngest team in the league' (in fact we are 2nd or 3rd, but anyway...), yet STILL be buried up against the cap ceiling for the next TWO years with lousy contracts, no leadership and middling prospects. How does THAT happen? I'm sure YOU could make that happen for a tidy salary of 4M.

damn right mother(frank)er
- wingz4life

You don't understand freedom...or liberty.

Funny how so many people think that it's easy being a GM
- AngryWhiteMale

Funny how I, nor anybody else, said it was easy to be a GM. I said it was his job. A job he gets paid a lot of money, not only to do, but do properly. He came to Toronto with hype and swagger. He made promises that he didn't keep. His results suck both short term and long term.

How long was CHI bad for before figuring it out?

Chicago didn't screw around. They drafted Toews and Kane, Keith and Seabrook. They did it properly.

You don't understand freedom...or liberty.
- wendel13

or, america jr.

I love the bolded part spouted by the apologists ad nauseam. Funny how we can be 'the youngest team in the league' (in fact we are 2nd or 3rd, but anyway...), yet STILL be buried up against the cap ceiling for the next TWO with lousy contracts, no leadership and middling prospects. How does THAT happen?
- triggermartin

People forget that being young is only half the battle. You need talent too. Leafs are still trying to figure that concept out.

or, america jr.
- wingz4life

I prefer America lite

I hope Kessel hits 40g.

He's still the best player in that deal, and a true goalscorer like we haven't had in a while
- AngryWhiteMale

Last Leaf to score 81 pts (could go higher with two games left): Mats Sundin 13 years ago in the 1998-99 season with 83.

Kind of amazing when you think about it. Too bad such a great season for Kessel is all for naught.

People forget that being young is only half the battle. You need talent too. Leafs are still trying to figure that concept out.
- Unholy_Goalie

WTF is everyone talking about with this European population sh!t.