Its all about finding positives in your team. The Leafs have a couple of kids you can believe in and hopefully move into a positive direction. Toronto's major teams have just been so damn hard to support lately. Being a die hard jays fan, its been frustrating but the last couple seasons there is starting to be some positives. Thats great news.
- Lohaus

Yup, staying positive. And there are things to be positive about.... despite what many say lol.

As a non-Leaf fan, I would rather wait and see how Gardiner turns out. He offers skill, high end speed and for his age, a pretty safe game. Popping in 30 points as a rookie is impressive enough a start to his career. To me it isn't about him being untouchable, i'm sure if the right deal came along, he could move, but more that dealing him for an aging goalie (who in my opinion has peaked) makes no sense to a team who isn't going to contend. I'd say the same about dealing him for Nash.

I'd rather hold Gardiner, hold Reilly, and find another way to get Luongo (or whoever) between the pipes if the idea is that Reimer simply isn't the guy. Thats just me. I don't think Gardiner is the next coming of Bobby Orr, but right now, he's what they have and he's pretty good and he fits them well.
- Lohaus

To CGY: Krejci and Mcquaid

To Bos: Bouwmeester and Tanguay

On a side note. Luongo is listed from Florida on the world series of poker and his brother is from Canada....
- Boinker

Saw that. I think it has to do with where your permanent residence is when you register, which oddly enough in Luongo's case is in Miami. Maybe he always knew he'd be getting traded back?

You say he's a better player than Sharp and a legit 30 goal scorer but hes gonna take 3-4 mill?? They just paid Raymond 2.25 mill after scoring 10 goals and you think burrows will take 1.5 mill more to stay? This makes no sense!
- Habsforever101

No, I've been saying he is very much the same type of player as Sharp. When you add in that Burrows is a leader in the locker room and the the community, that is why it is hard to deal him.

If I look at Burrows as just a player, Yes his on ice production is fairly easy to replace. What he does for the city, and how respected he is in that locker room isn't easy to replace. That is why you're seeing everyone that only sees Vancouver play a few times saying it's crazy to not deal him. Those fans don't see Burrows doing the meet and greets. They don't see Burrows visiting hospitals or interacting with fans. They don't see Burrows helping out the broadcast crew in the pre-season.

In my opinion, Burrows is one of the most down to earth, fan friendly players on the Canucks. Those players are hard to find, and that has more to do with why I don't deal him than his on ice production.

I'm not saying Sharp wouldn't bring the same things to the locker room and community. I'm sure he would. He does a lot for the city of Chicago and his teammates seem to love him but he's not Burrows.

I think at the end of the day they get a deal domne in the 3-4 million range for 4-5 years.

Burrows loves the city. I can see him taking a bit of a pay cut to stay.
- IanEsplen

I agree with this assessment but would be leaning closer to the 4-4.5m mark. He's already taken one gigantic paycut (at 2m per season). He needs to start earning some cash somewhere to put away for a rainy day.

Not to stoke the fire but.....

D Sedin
H Sedin
Kesler
Bieksa
Luongo
Burrows

Without these Burke/Nonis guys, The Nucks don't get anywhere near the cup. Not trying to be a Richard, but just give credit where it's due.
- Farva

Agreed. These players have developed under a different system but were certainly drafted by Burke/Nonis and for that credit should definitely be given. Burke gets a lot of stick around here but is a good GM. I just think his approach in TO was a bit hasty and he wasn't able to recapture the same magic, or at least wasn't given the same patience. I think TO would be better off today had he taken a 5 year plan rather than a "we need to get into the playoffs immediately" plan. My 2 cents.

To CGY: Krejci and Mcquaid

To Bos: Bouwmeester and Tanguay
- FlamesSven47

No way Jose

To pnathers: Luongo, Raymond and Sauve
To Canucks: kulikov and Kopecky
To Avalanche: Edler and 2nd
To Canucks: Duchense
To NYR: Booth
To Van: Dubinsky
To jets: Hansen and Ballard
To Canucks: Stuart

This year, maybe he would get an offer like that because there isn't much there. next year's group is a pretty good one and when you look at the RFA's that need deals, there are a ton of good players out there who will get 3-5.5 million.

As much as I like Burrows, I'm not sure there is that kind of money out there for him. But if someone wants to pay that for him, I think you let him go.

I promise you one thing, Gillis will not pay Burrows more than Kesler.
- IanEsplen

As always, I imagine the FA group will be just as thin next year as players get re-signed throughout the year. Burrows can definitely get 5m+ in the open market. I'd be willing to make that bet with anyone after watching what people are getting handed.

I agree with this assessment but would be leaning closer to the 4-4.5m mark. He's already taken one gigantic paycut (at 2m per season). He needs to start earning some cash somewhere to put away for a rainy day.
- AlexF

Burrows took a discount I agree. But it wasn't near the discount that some make it out to be. Look at his numbers the day he signed the contract. They weren't near what they r today

I would also say that if TO did not get Kessel and drafted Seguin, that I don't think he would be the player he is today playing in TO. Being able to be in BOS playing 3rd 4th line and easing him into sitautions, whereas in TO you sometimes get thrown in the deep end, and sometimes the expectations of the fans are a little crazy. Someone also said patience is a virtue, which is a hard pill to swallow, but true.
- immature_male

Again, agree 100%.

I give Burke credit in going 'best available' at #5 this year drafting Rielly...now that patience comes into play despite him impressing at the rookie camp. Let him play another year of jr, WJC and maybe call up for the Marlies playoffs...

Canucks got a first round steal in Gaunce at 26 BTW. Great pick.

Burrows is an excellent complimentary top 6 player, when he sticks to playing hockey. Edge is edge and needed in his game, but it goes sideshow too often for a coach not to worry about what distraction he'll provide or take an unnecessary penalty at an inopportune time. Sharp > Burrows, however, by a good margin.
- Deeps27

It really doesn't, but I can see why you might think that, considering all the slander pieces done by Ron MacLean/HNIC.

Burrows is one of the players AV worries about least—he does his job game-in and game-out, and he does it well, no matter what situation he is put in.

Burrows took a discount I agree. But it wasn't near the discount that some make it out to be. Look at his numbers the day he signed the contract. They weren't near what they r today
- Bieksa#3

Oh I totally agree. But in hindsight it was a paycut and hindsight is all that matters when assessing the next salary range which will be a significant raise.

Oh I totally agree. But in hindsight it was a paycut and hindsight is all that matters when assessing the next salary range which will be a significant raise.
- AlexF

Watch, tomorrow ek will have Burrows being traded in the ESPN rumors

To CGY: Krejci and Mcquaid

To Bos: Bouwmeester and Tanguay
- FlamesSven47

No

With Thomas on the books I don't think Boston could do that.






































No
- Double_A

What I expect to happen is this:

Gillis is going to wait until 10-15 games into the season. At this point one of the three suitors will be getting desparate. The Canucks may have to throw in something extra like ballard or raymond or picks, etc.

However, this will bring in a talented young d-man like gudbranson, hedman, or gardiner.

What I'd like the Canucks to do then is flip that young d-man and Edler for Weber.

The trades will look something like this:

To Tampa: Luongo, Ballard, Connauton

To Vancouver: Hedman

Vancouver would then flip Hedman and Edler to Nashville

To Nash: Edler, Hedman (this replaces their need for two top do to replace suter nad Weber and combines with Ellis for a solid future top 3)

To Vancouver: Weber (this gets Weber on a winning team in his home province back with his old D partner Hamhuis - a team with the space to sign him long term and a great shot at the cup)

[quote=Bieksa#3]

This is also true

Still ... even otherwise ....







No

What I expect to happen is this:

Gillis is going to wait until 10-15 games into the season. At this point one of the three suitors will be getting desparate. The Canucks may have to throw in something extra like ballard or raymond or picks, etc.

However, this will bring in a talented young d-man like gudbranson, hedman, or gardiner.

What I'd like the Canucks to do then is flip that young d-man and Edler for Weber.

The trades will look something like this:

To Tampa: Luongo, Ballard, Connauton

To Vancouver: Hedman

Vancouver would then flip Hedman and Edler to Nashville

To Nash: Edler, Hedman (this replaces their need for two top do to replace suter nad Weber and combines with Ellis for a solid future top 3)

To Vancouver: Weber (this gets Weber on a winning team in his home province back with his old D partner Hamhuis - a team with the space to sign him long term and a great shot at the cup)
- talentscout

Gardiner is promising no doubt, but it amazes me that a guy that just over a year ago was traded in a package that brought back Francois Beauchamin is all of the sudden untouchable in a leafs uni. He got 30 pts last year, he is the same age as Sam Gagner at 22. He is not an elite defender and likely never will be. He might turn into Drew Doughty over night but I doubt it. But in all seriousness Luongo is an elite goaltender. He would put the Leafs in a playoff position. With the core they have they will likely never flat out be cup contenders. Burke has slapped that team together in order to get into the playoffs. If he had wanted to do a full rebuild they would have Seguin and Hamilton. He chose the quick way. That's why Luongo fits into their plans. Regardless The Leafs without Gardiner and with Luongo are a better team tomorrow, and it seems to me that's what his plan is.
- Oilersforlife

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJTSOCxZ_RQ

This is one reason that it looks like Gardiner has a lot of potential. The last time I've seen this, it was Brian Leetch on the Leafs.

What I expect to happen is this:

Gillis is going to wait until 10-15 games into the season. At this point one of the three suitors will be getting desparate. The Canucks may have to throw in something extra like ballard or raymond or picks, etc.

However, this will bring in a talented young d-man like gudbranson, hedman, or gardiner.

What I'd like the Canucks to do then is flip that young d-man and Edler for Weber.

The trades will look something like this:

To Tampa: Luongo, Ballard, Connauton

To Vancouver: Hedman

Vancouver would then flip Hedman and Edler to Nashville

To Nash: Edler, Hedman (this replaces their need for two top do to replace suter nad Weber and combines with Ellis for a solid future top 3)

To Vancouver: Weber (this gets Weber on a winning team in his home province back with his old D partner Hamhuis - a team with the space to sign him long term and a great shot at the cup)
- talentscout

Then you trade Weber and Raymond to Pittsburgh for Malkin and THEN Malkin + a 3rd back to Pittsburgh for Crosby. Boom. Done.

If you look back at the order of posts you'll see I tried having an informed hockey discussion regarding my preference for not unloading Gardiner in a deal for Luongo - you tell me which fan base started to roll this discussion downhill based on the first page of comments.
- Deeps27

I'd be surprised if the Leafs gave up Gardiner. But Burke really needs to make the playoffs and if the goalie situation isn't holding and the record isn't looking good, he'll be in a much tougher position than Gillis currently is.

Then you trade Weber and Raymond to Pittsburgh for Malkin and THEN Malkin + a 3rd back to Pittsburgh for Crosby. Boom. Done.
- Double_A

agreed. In all honesty what do you think of Thomas and a 1st to the jackets for a 2nd

I'd be surprised if the Leafs gave up Gardiner. But Burke really needs to make the playoffs and if the goalie situation isn't holding and the record isn't looking good, he'll be in a much tougher position than Gillis currently is.
- talentscout

Agreed, I think Toronto could put together a decent pachage though without him. I really don't know who is being more of an idiot. Burke for offering komi or Mike G for demanding Gardiner. Just drop the egos and make it work.