Oh I agree as well, he has pieces to work with. I just did that up to show positionally who's after it. Each spot has competition and depth now. We still lack some superstar talent, but look how crowded Philly and NYR are. They are developing some very good players. I think eventually Burke will do the same and certainly don't want him fired. Been waiting far too long for GM to finally have the patients to do things right and develop our players.
- Boosinicka

BB learned a good lesson in humility with the Kessel deal.

He has done more to focus on youth in the last 2 years with Aulie -> Ashton, Gardiner, Reilly/Finn.

He may not have results immediately, but it's easy to get the sense that we're headed in the right direction.

I still am of the thinking that a no. 1 'tender is more essential than a no. 1 centre but I guess it depends on which of those positions can be filled for the lowest cost. In which case it's the goaltending, if Lu is as cheap as we think he could be

I don't really disagree with what you're saying. And I do think depth is a good thing, but I just think its getting excessive. I do disagree with the first part though. Yes, Kessel and Lupul are locked up, but every team does that. I'm saying that the Leafs are spending too much money on depth. When guys like Komi, Lombadri, Armstrong, and soon to be Connolly sit, that is an issue. A good team pays their great players well (think Pittsburgh), and the rest of the guys battle for spots. No other teams have overpaid vets in the press box like the Leafs do. If a forward gets hurt, I don't want to see a Connolly or a Lombardi come in. I want to see a young hungry AHL player come in(like Colborne).
- dionschenn

I know what your saying, but all those guys are FA's (cept Lombardi but he's a special case). The only reason those guys are sitting in the press box to begin with is because those guys you want to see come up have stolen their spots already. Many teams also can't afford to press box their more expensive players like the Leafs can. All this is over after this season too eh? Burke has many options now for positions and only the deserving will be resigned. I highly doubt you see that kind of crowding after this season. Guys like Kadri, Ashton, Colborne, Holzer, Blacker, maybe even Reilly will have stepped up.

Lol same age as Schultz but he is already a bust...
- maverickJ

Schultz is a bust to, don't ya know?

Holzer signed

New blog up

Yeah, the switch to wing when he turned pro makes me wonder if organizational depth had something to do with it

Be interesting to see either way
- Dozzer

There's that too. Yup, should be a fun year watching guy's develop. I just watched Burke's presser at the trade deadline where he talks about how well Holzer played and how that an "NHL defenseman" could be moved for "an asset that helps us up front" so I would think that Holzer made Schenn expendable as early as February of this year.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1233567-philadelphia-flyers-trade-james-van-riemsdyk-for-luke-schenn

I am not the only one that thinks the Leafs got robbed!
- JohnTucker7

Let me paraphrase a post from earlier in the week for you ....


" If I gave myself an Alphabet Enema and sprayed my monitor ,
it would make more sense than the SHlT you are posting ! "

NOW GO FUK OFF TROLL

Schultz is a bust to, don't ya know?
- Leafland

Yeah really, it makes you think do we even have the ability to develop players properly it seems there is always way too much pressure on our picks. I guess once we are good our picks will be scrutinized less.

Lol, JohnTucker was dead-on. I guess everyone has to love JVR like zombies?
- Leafland

SCHENN played like SHlT last year ... Did you even watch a game ?

I don't necessarily disagree with you.. Cause you're right.. If the chemistry isn't there bozak likely ends up between them again this season.. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to upgrade.. Bozak is decent but I gotta believe there is a better piece for that line than him out there
- Dozzer

Stats would be my pick.

When I saw how much it cost DAL to get Derek Roy, I couldn't believe it. Yes, I did want Ott, but that they could get a guy like Roy, who's point totals are similar to Stats, makes me think we could have Paul for a decent price, and he would fit in really well between Kessel and Loops

SCHENN played like SHlT last year ... Did you even watch a game ?
- .HOHO.

Yeah but he was gold the year before.

If Schenn re discovers his form it'll be hard for JVR to equal the value of what we gave up

BB learned a good lesson in humility with the Kessel deal.

He has done more to focus on youth in the last 2 years with Aulie -> Ashton, Gardiner, Reilly/Finn.

He may not have results immediately, but it's easy to get the sense that we're headed in the right direction.

I still am of the thinking that a no. 1 'tender is more essential than a no. 1 centre but I guess it depends on which of those positions can be filled for the lowest cost. In which case it's the goaltending, if Lu is as cheap as we think he could be
- AngryWhiteMale

I know both are great needs for this team, however we have hope within the orinization already with goaltending. Reimer has a glimer of being good enough to be a #1, Scrivens was unbelievable for the Marlies this year and could be that guy as well. However at center we only have Colborne who most peg as a 2nd line center at best. I feel attacking a need where we have far less hope and depth is more important.

SCHENN played like SHlT last year ... Did you even watch a game ?
- .HOHO.

You're gonna love the new American Poni.

Yeah but he was gold the year before.

If Schenn re discovers his form it'll be hard for JVR to equal the value of what we gave up
- AngryWhiteMale

Thank you. (frank). Thought I was the only guy who remembered how good Schenn was in his third year.

Can anyone find me that corny Loungo dancing gif from a few days ago? I wanna show the ole lady.

Can anyone find me that corny Loungo dancing gif from a few days ago? I wanna show the ole lady.
- Tee-Dot

Thank you. (frank). Thought I was the only guy who remembered how good Schenn was in his third year.
- dionschenn

Somebody had to say it.

It's not like we all drink the same lake ontario water

Can anyone find me that corny Loungo dancing gif from a few days ago? I wanna show the ole lady.
- Tee-Dot

Or the one from Ebaums world that was a perfect "zing" moment fo a joke where an asian woman walks into a room all pissed off. A guy holds up a magazine to her face and punches her in the face through the magazine.

Oh god the laughter...the laughter

Yeah but he was gold the year before.

If Schenn re discovers his form it'll be hard for JVR to equal the value of what we gave up
- AngryWhiteMale

The Leafs are really going to miss his physicality, not his defensive errors though
Although I'm pretty confident he will get over those sooner than later.

Thank you. (frank). Thought I was the only guy who remembered how good Schenn was in his third year.
- dionschenn

For what it's worth too:

It'll be hard for Schenn to rediscover his form with no Pronger or Carle,

PHI will have Cobourn and Schenn as shutdown guys but not much else

The Leafs are really going to miss his physicality, not his defensive errors though
Although I'm pretty confident he will get over those sooner than later.
- maverickJ

His patience with the puck was incredible in his third year.

And we don't need the brainless physicality, we have Komi for that

The long and short of it is Burke needs to sign a #1 centre and a bona fide starter to make Toronto a playoff team. He has done an amazing job at restocking the cupboards but that won't get us anywhere unless the Leafs drop down to the AHL and compete for the Calder cup. ( that's an idea). But his failure or success to secure a #1 goalie and centre cannot happen for the 5th year straight. The trade for Kessel was awesome IMO. He's a proven goal scorer on an average team and will only improve with age and a true centre. Lupul and Phaneuf were an absolute steal. No complaints there. Shed a lot of dead wood (see Toskala and Blake). But his make or break deals involve a goalie and #1 centre (I repeat). Otherwise Toronto maybe makes round 1 just to have them destroyed by whoever they play (unless its ottawa). This will be his deciding season. If not I give up 25 years of being a Leafs fan to cheer for Edmonton who has a bright future.