My point is that management, Burke included, have been totally, utterly, and completely unable to take any advantage of 8 years worth of bottom feeding due to utter incompetence regarding the draft. The record speaks for itself. It is ABYSMAL.
- triggermartin

You cant blame Burke for 5 years before he got here

With exception of the first year and a half, Burke has done a good job filling the cupboards, and getting the most out of trades.

We are on the right track now

#NHL *Rumor*-- @StephRDSJunior reports #Habs have given him the hinted, strong impression that they will pick Teuvo Teravainen 1st.
- jbold

Please let this happen.

I understand where you are going with that comment... but its isn't exactly true.
Bozak could NOT be replaced by Connolly, Lombardi, Stajan, John Mitchell or by Jarret Stoll.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Yeah like I mean, with the talent down the middle we had, its rather surprising Bozak has been playing first line for so long.

You cant blame Burke for 5 years before he got here

With exception of the first year and a half, Burke has done a good job filling the cupboards, and getting the most out of trades.

We are on the right track now
- cor99

I repeat: his draft record is abysmal. Just try and argue otherwise.

your point?

burke has been at the helm for 4 years

thats where i have this team at. year 4.
- Dozzer

Yup and let's compare some things between prior to Burke, and now.

Prior to Burke

top line
Antropov - Stajan - Poni

After Burke
Lupul - Bozak - Kessel

I'd say that he's made MAJOR improvements there

Prior to Burke
top 6 D
Kaberle - White - Kubina - Finger - Stralman - Schenn

After Burke
Phaneuf - Liles - Gardiner - Gunnarsson - Schenn - Komi (and Franson)

I'd say that's some big improvements

Prior to Burke
G
Toskala

Now
Reimer

Prospects
prior to Burke
Robbie Earl
John Mitchell
leading scorer on the Marlies - Tim Stapleton

Now
Kadri
Colborne
Blacker
Percy
McKegg
Ross
Biggs

I have a strange feeling that all the hype surrounding possible trades around the draft, plus July 1st free agency, are going to end up being very dissapointing to all us Leaf Fans...

We will not get:

Nash, Luongo, Parise, etc...

I am not drinking Burkes cool-aid...
- Hockey_Reverend

did burke promise you any of these players ?

everyone is all over Burke but at what point are the leafs scouts to be looked at? They are the ones that work 365 for today...
- Popcorn Kid

And who hires the scouts?

Fixed your question.

And the answer is: 0
- Atomic Wedgie

You said just about anyone... not anyone with talent man.

I repeat: his draft record is abysmal. Just try and argue otherwise.
- triggermartin

I like a lot of Burke's picks since coming here.

I like a lot of Burke's picks since coming here.
- Leafs43

Arright, good on you, bro. I like a lot of the picks Burke missed on.

I repeat: his draft record is abysmal. Just try and argue otherwise.
- triggermartin

Greg McKegg, Brad Ross, Nazem Kadri, Stuart Percy, Tyler Biggs, Jesse Blacker, Jerry D'Amigo, Josh Nicholls

Yup, he sucks

I repeat: his draft record is abysmal. Just try and argue otherwise.
- triggermartin

Burke has drafted Pronger, the Sedins, Kesler, Gardiner. It may not be the best track record, but it's far from abysmal.

Liut already said they would sign short term to get out of RFA territory
- Dozzer

ya and then Schneider becomes a UFA, and it will cost the Nucks a whole lot more to sign him as a UFA.

Thats part of the problem for the Nucks....... the second part is that if he was to keep Lou for another year, thats another year of a good luongo gone, which makes his worth even lesss than it is today.

He doesn't get rid him of him now, then next year not only will he be taking one bad contract back, but it will also cost him a bad contract and a decent prospect coming back this way.

No Dozzer......... make no mistake about it.

GILLIS IS SO (frank)ED HERE

And everyone in the league knows it.

Especially Burke

I repeat: his draft record is abysmal. Just try and argue otherwise.
- triggermartin

Compare Burke and the scouts picks at their spots taken with every other team in the NHL, then decide if the draft picking has been terrible.

My point is that management, Burke included, have been totally, utterly, and completely unable to take any advantage of 8 years worth of bottom feeding due to utter incompetence regarding the draft. The record speaks for itself. It is ABYSMAL.
- triggermartin

you are way too impatient

only one year of burke's draftees.. the kadri year... are even in the professional ranks

when looking at his second draft year on those kids just finished playing junior (ie: mckegg)

before burke.. yeah.. agree 100%.. terrible management.. but burke is doing well so long as he doesnt bend to fan and media pressure and try to go the quick fix route

people seem to think that if the kid cant play at the NHL level right out of his draft year that he was a bad pick.. its absurd. i prefer this way, similar to detroits model with their development, let them play in the ahl or in europe til they are actually ready to make the jump

Yup and let's compare some things between prior to Burke, and now.

Prior to Burke

top line
Antropov - Stajan - Poni

After Burke
Lupul - Bozak - Kessel

I'd say that he's made MAJOR improvements there

Prior to Burke
top 6 D
Kaberle - White - Kubina - Finger - Stralman - Schenn

After Burke
Phaneuf - Liles - Gardiner - Gunnarsson - Schenn - Komi (and Franson)

I'd say that's some big improvements

Prior to Burke
G
Toskala

Now
Reimer

Prospects
prior to Burke
Robbie Earl
John Mitchell
leading scorer on the Marlies - Tim Stapleton

Now
Kadri
Colborne
Blacker
Percy
McKegg
Ross
Biggs
Ashton
Frattin
- ILoveLamp

Fixed.

I like a lot of Burke's picks since coming here.
- Leafs43

And even before Burke got here.

People like to rip the Leafs scouting department, but the truth is, they've done a decent job - when they've had picks to use.

It's not the scouts' fault that:

a) they very rarely are picking in the first two rounds; and
b) Leafs' prospects have been traded for aging vets on bucket list contracts.

ya and then Schneider becomes a UFA, and it will cost the Nucks a whole lot more to sign him as a UFA.

Thats part of the problem for the Nucks....... the second part is that if he was to keep Lou for another year, thats another year of a good luongo gone, which makes his worth even lesss than it is today.

He doesn't get rid him of him now, then next year not only will he be taking one bad contract back, but it will also cost him a bad contract and a decent prospect coming back this way.

No Dozzer......... make no mistake about it.

GILLIS IS SO (frank)ED HERE

And everyone in the league knows it.

Especially Burke


- faceto27

if all they lose out on is having to pay schneider a couple more million thats not being (frank)ed

connolly and komi people are suggesting.. sure spend 8-9million to save a couple million down the road. makes little sense.

the logic coming out of leafland regarding this is kinda silly. if the roles were reversed you sure as hell wouldnt be saying this.

Exactly! All this hype and we all know nothing is going to happen. The only thing that will take place is Nash will get traded, but not to the Leafs....

After Saturday all the Leafs will have is a handful of unproven youngsters and alot of distraught fans, including me...

Let the 'fire burke' chants begin at the ACC!!!
- Hockey_Reverend

the media is the one doing the hyping not burke. so tell me who you want to replace brian burke ? who is out there that can come in and turn it around in your opinion?

I repeat: his draft record is abysmal. Just try and argue otherwise.
- triggermartin

Right....


Here is his first round history

Bryan Allan (4)
Daniel and Henrik (2,3)
Nathan Smith (23)
RJ Umberger (16)
Ryan Kesler (23)

bobby Ryan (2)
Mark Mitera (19)
Logan MacMillan (19)
Jake Gardiner (17)

Kadri (7)
Tyler Biggs (22)
Stuart Percy (25)

Arright, good on you, bro. I like a lot of the picks Burke missed on.
- triggermartin

Like who? Kadri? Really the only guy I would consider a possible mistake.

Hindsight is an amazing thing. You should go back and tell Calgary to draft Shea Weber over Phaneuf.

ya and then Schneider becomes a UFA, and it will cost the Nucks a whole lot more to sign him as a UFA.

Thats part of the problem for the Nucks....... the second part is that if he was to keep Lou for another year, thats another year of a good luongo gone, which makes his worth even lesss than it is today.

He doesn't get rid him of him now, then next year not only will he be taking one bad contract back, but it will also cost him a bad contract and a decent prospect coming back this way.

No Dozzer......... make no mistake about it.

GILLIS IS SO (frank)ED HERE

And everyone in the league knows it.

Especially Burke


- faceto27

I made a bet with a buddy last night...he says Schneider will no doubt have a better record than Luongo last year at 31wins in 55 games...I said, yeah no....we bet a 24....anyone think im crazy!?

60% wins for Luongo last year, Schneider would have to do better in his first full season. Me thinks he struggles near the end.

Yup and let's compare some things between prior to Burke, and now.

Prior to Burke

top line
Antropov - Stajan - Poni

After Burke
Lupul - Bozak - Kessel

I'd say that he's made MAJOR improvements there

Prior to Burke
top 6 D
Kaberle - White - Kubina - Finger - Stralman - Schenn

After Burke
Phaneuf - Liles - Gardiner - Gunnarsson - Schenn - Komi (and Franson)

I'd say that's some big improvements

Prior to Burke
G
Toskala

Now
Reimer

Prospects
prior to Burke
Robbie Earl
John Mitchell
leading scorer on the Marlies - Tim Stapleton

Now
Kadri
Colborne
Blacker
Percy
McKegg
Ross
Biggs
- ILoveLamp

EXACTLY

people dont seem to realize that when you draft a kid... he is still about 4 years away from even having a chance to make the big club

I repeat: his draft record is abysmal. Just try and argue otherwise.
- triggermartin

His draft record??

What are you basing your foolish comments on??

His draft picks, are still either developing OR haven't even left junior hockey yet.

Get a grip and quit your female doging

Greg McKegg, Brad Ross, Nazem Kadri, Stuart Percy, Tyler Biggs, Jesse Blacker, Jerry D'Amigo, Josh Nicholls

Yup, he sucks
- cor99

Burke has yet to draft a player that has made the Leafs full time. Of the 30 teams, 24 have at least one player in their roster from their own drafts in those years.