Let's say we had Seguin instead of Kessel right now. Who's to say he would've developed properly? Who's to say we wouldn't have "Schenn'ed" him, putting an enormous amount of pressure on him to succeed, with no insulation and team success to to surround him with like Boston? Kessel at least had a couple of good years under his belt to develop into the perennial 30-goal guy he is.

Then there's Hamilton and Knight. Good prospects, verdicts still out.

Would I rather have Seguin at this point? Seguin, the kid who's developing properly (even if as a winger), yeah, probably, but we'd still need a center or if not, a scoring winger so we'd be right where we are now:

Lupul JVR/Seguin JVR/Seguin
MacArthur Grabs Kulemin
...
Phaneuf Gunnarsson
...
Hamilton Gardiner

Does that team really look that much better? Would we really be so much further ahead in the rebuild?
- gravyface

The idea that the trade set the rebuild back a couple years is dumb.

I don't like the trade, but it hasn't hurt, yet. It will suck if Seguin and Hamilton turn into first line players.

Florida won their division and have a sick core of prospects.
- robin_steele264

Florida will NOT win a cup.

Right-o. If division title in a weak division and a 1st round exit is your idea of success...
- gravyface

Certainly a step in the right direction.

Duh, and how long has it been since the Leafs made the playoffs?
- spatso

I'm going to keep paraphrasing Burke because I know that deep down it stings a bit, but he has stated, "I could've made the playoffs, I could've made deals that would've got us into the playoffs and had our asses handed to us in the 1st round" but "the playoffs are not the goal. I want a parade".

Sounds good to me. Whether we get there or not, who knows, but as long as we keep drafting and developing, I'm happy.

Certainly a step in the right direction.
- robin_steele264

What if they don't make it next year? Still the right direction?

Not 9 years.
- burn

Oh, well, I guess we have a new target on which we can set our standards.

They went from crappy doormats to a respectable, competitive club.
- robin_steele264

Ill give them respectable, competitive doormats.

Florida will NOT win a cup.
- gamedaytix

And if we've learnt anything from this site, its that your team is a failure unless you win a cup or tank to get first overall. There is no other option.

The idea that the trade set the rebuild back a couple years is dumb.

I don't like the trade, but it hasn't hurt, yet. It will suck if Seguin and Hamilton turn into first line players.
- GoneFullRetard

It's hard to judge Seguin because the entire team is so good, but I would think he's a 1st line player, on the right team (like the Leafs). A "franchise center"? Not so sure yet; he certainly hasn't dethroned Krejcic or Bergeron yet and they're not exactly Crosby, Malkin, or Stamkos, but he's still young. We'll see.

Big mistake for Ottawa to chase Nash or Ryan.
- spatso

Nash yes.

Ryan? WTF? Why would it be a mistake for the Sens to take a shot at him. It would be a GREAT get for the Sens if they don't dismantle the team/farm to do it... but that goes without saying.

Oh, well, I guess we have a new target on which we can set our standards.
- spatso

What is it exactly that you'd like from the team? You're female doging about lack of playoffs, but yet you say you want a "proper strategy" like EDM. Guess what, EDM hasn't made the playoffs in a while either; there's a good chance they don't next year either.

If it's just surly pessimism, please, spare us all: I for one hang out on here to talk about Leafs because I enjoy being a Leafs fan. It's fun, it's light, it's not life. It's a fantasy world where guys on skates chase around a black disc on a patch of ice.

If you have a terminal illness or you lost your home in Katrina, I get it: be pessimistic, you've earned it, but to just blindly poop all over the Leafs when you clearly have no idea what you're talking about is tiring.

I strongly disagree. I believe the silent majority of Leaf fans think that Burke made a terrible strategic error in the Kessel deal that probably set the franchise back two or three years in their rebuild. Among that group of fans there are lots of us that hopes that Burke just finishes off his term, moves on and does not break anything else.
- spatso

I don't think the educated ones who realize what this team was and is turning into under Burke will want him to walk away. Seriously. There isn't a better available GM. The Kessel deal did not set us back at all, Hamilton isn't even playing in the NHL yet, Kessel is in the tops of the league for scoring. I understand it's not the most ideal trade but good lord people blow that thing way out of proportion. I would say Anaheim's trade with us is far far worse and their GM is still around. Now that guy, he's (frank)ing up. Burke, 1 mistake and he's gone? please. He's done far more good than bad.

I'm going to keep paraphrasing Burke because I know that deep down it stings a bit, but he has stated, "I could've made the playoffs, I could've made deals that would've got us into the playoffs and had our asses handed to us in the 1st round" but "the playoffs are not the goal. I want a parade".

Sounds good to me. Whether we get there or not, who knows, but as long as we keep drafting and developing, I'm happy.
- gravyface

It's a choice to believe what Burke said, or not. I choose not to believe. At some point in time responsible people need to stop and realize that they are being played. Do you really believe that Burke could pulled a lever, done a deal and, presto, we make the playoffs? Do you really, really believe that? Do you not think we were played by a fiddle champ?

I don't think the educated ones who realize what this team was and is turning into under Burke will want him to walk away. Seriously. There isn't a better available GM. The Kessel deal did not set us back at all, Hamilton isn't even playing in the NHL yet, Kessel is in the tops of the league for scoring. I understand it's not the most ideal trade but good lord people blow that thing way out of proportion. I would say Anaheim's trade with us is far far worse and their GM is still around. Now that guy, he's (frank)ing up. Burke, 1 mistake and he's gone? please. He's done far more good than bad.
- Boosinicka

Not to mention that the Gomez trade was WAY WAY WAY worse, almost immeasurably worse... and yet the Kessel trade is the shining example used for bad trades

Not to mention that the Gomez trade was WAY WAY WAY worse, almost immeasurably worse... and yet the Kessel trade is the shining example used for bad trades
- GoneFullRetard

It's just because Tank Nation finally got their wish in seeing a top pick in the draft and Burke traded it away so they are forever butt hurt and can never see the positives to any other way of building a team.

And yeah, the Gomez trade is a great example of a horrifyingly bad trade.

I don't think the educated ones who realize what this team was and is turning into under Burke will want him to walk away. Seriously. There isn't a better available GM. The Kessel deal did not set us back at all, Hamilton isn't even playing in the NHL yet, Kessel is in the tops of the league for scoring. I understand it's not the most ideal trade but good lord people blow that thing way out of proportion. I would say Anaheim's trade with us is far far worse and their GM is still around. Now that guy, he's (frank)ing up. Burke, 1 mistake and he's gone? please. He's done far more good than bad.
- Boosinicka

Agree

Wonder how accurate the twitter explosion is that Burke has a deal in place for Luongo and we are just waiting on his 'ok' to waive. I do admit I felt something was up with Holzer's 1 way contract.

It's a choice to believe what Burke said, or not. I choose not to believe. At some point in time responsible people need to stop and realize that they are being played. Do you really believe that Burke could pulled a lever, done a deal and, presto, we make the playoffs? Do you really, really believe that? Do you not think we were played by a fiddle champ?
- spatso

Spatso,

Just because you had some hockey epiphany and decided to be a Sens fan, did it mean you also had to turn into a total ass. Did that come with the territory, or do I have the causal relationship backwards?

You are contributing nothing to this conversation that any other troll doesn't contribute to Leafs threads on a regular basis.

It's just because Tank Nation finally got their wish in seeing a top pick in the draft and Burke traded it away so they are forever butt hurt and can never see the positives to any other way of building a team.

And yeah, the Gomez trade is a great example of a horrifyingly bad trade.
- Boosinicka

in hindsight, the Beauchemin trade is working out horribly for Anaheim so far also.

Wonder how accurate the twitter explosion is that Burke has a deal in place for Luongo and we are just waiting on his 'ok' to waive. I do admit I felt something was up with Holzer's 1 way contract.
- Boosinicka

I hope its true. As long as he isn't giving away the entire farm. Some salary has to go back to Vancouver as well. A Connolly perhaps.

Wonder how accurate the twitter explosion is that Burke has a deal in place for Luongo and we are just waiting on his 'ok' to waive. I do admit I felt something was up with Holzer's 1 way contract.
- Boosinicka

Watch it be Gardiner

Maybe Franson?

Maybe nothing to it at all...

What if they don't make it next year? Still the right direction?
- gravyface

What if what if what if!!!???

Watch it be Gardiner

Maybe Franson?

Maybe nothing to it at all...
- GoneFullRetard

Franson is still unsigned though...

Not to mention that the Gomez trade was WAY WAY WAY worse, almost immeasurably worse... and yet the Kessel trade is the shining example used for bad trades
- GoneFullRetard

Here we go with the bottom of the barrel arguments that logically suppose that we are okay because someone is worse than us.

In the end it is about the scoreboard. You win enough games you make the playoffs. You lose, you miss the playoffs, you draft and develop better players, you try and improve. Good teams figure out the cycle. Some teams fall into a pit and never seem to figure it out. The Leafs have missed for eight straight years. Are they not part of that hopeless crew that does not seem to be able to shoot straight? Some people think that Burke is the answer, I believe he is part of the problem.

Do you not think that after eight straight years of missing the playoffs we would have at least one elite roster player who had been drafted and developed by the Leafs.

What if what if what if!!!???



- robin_steele264

I like you, Robin. That's why it hurts so much to know I have to kill you.