Anyone else find it funny that the same day Ek says Toronto is looking elsewhere, Burke is reported to have been in a meeting with Howson in a hotel?

I swear he does poop like this on purpose

Not the player (C) i would prefer but he is better option than Nash at this point, and an upgrade over Bozak for sure. Those 3 would be solid together. Contract length is what it is, but the Cap hit for a guy who could get back to scoring 40 is pretty fair.

This team needs another bigtime forward for sure and a vet goalie
- Leafs24seven

Yup, we should get Carter, Moen and Harding..... if we do that, we should be fine, if not, then it better be a busy off-season for Burke

Anyone else find it funny that the same day Ek says Toronto is looking elsewhere, Burke is reported to have been in a meeting with Howson in a hotel?

I swear he does poop like this on purpose
- Leafzrulez123

Go on youtube and watch Eklund "break the Smyth extension" even though he's been traded

Leafs need to decide on their goalie situation cause right now, it sucks. They need to cut the chord NOW with Gustavsson, not next July. They need to trade for a goalie who's better than Reimer & the Monster. Than the Leafs can get whatever they can for the Monster. How come no one is suggesting the Leafs go after Halak? Blues have the great young Elliot & two up coming great goalie prospects almost ready for the NHL. I think a Halak/Reimer combo would be good.

Seriously, the Leafs lack of a true #1 center is NO longer their #1 weakness. It is the goaltending which is failing them right now. Reimer & the Monster are playing ok but not making crucial saves at critical times in the game. Unless Reimer or the Monster get on a roll, the Leafs simply won't make the playoffs. Burke needs to try to upgrade the goaltending b4 it's too late.

Don't worry Burke is a Golden God in these threads, he can do no wrong, except for the sub par teams he has put out. People here forget that the Leafs were better in the JFJ era, yet everyone has no problem calling him an idiot.
- mr.peanut[/quote


he wasn't an idiot but not better GM the BB, we are still suffering from the Rask for Raycroft deal. BB vs JFJ not contest. It's taken BB 3+ yrs to clean up the mess

Kessel was an RFA, and the Leafs met his demands.
- mr.peanut

And he is earning every penny of it. Probably 15-20 guys making the same or more with less production than Kessel

"It is believed any deal between Toronto and Columbus would have to include a combination of players that could include Nazem Kadri, Luke Schenn, Nikolai Kulemin and possibly James Reimer." - Sportsnet
- cor99

yes, it's happening

Leafs need to decide on their goalie situation cause right now, it sucks. They need to cut the chord NOW with Gustavsson, not next July. They need to trade for a goalie who's better than Reimer & the Monster. Than the Leafs can get whatever they can for the Monster. How come no one is suggesting the Leafs go after Halak? Blues have the great young Elliot & two up coming great goalie prospects almost ready for the NHL. I think a Halak/Reimer combo would be good.

Seriously, the Leafs lack of a true #1 center is NO longer their #1 weakness. It is the goaltending which is failing them right now. Reimer & the Monster are playing ok but not making crucial saves at critical times in the game. Unless Reimer or the Monster get on a roll, the Leafs simply won't make the playoffs. Burke needs to try to upgrade the goaltending b4 it's too late.
- GCHonda

But our goaltending is also very young, its hard to sit through it and wait but goalies take time to develop.

The season is a grind, we'll probably see improvements from both as they mature.

Anyone else find it funny that the same day Ek says Toronto is looking elsewhere, Burke is reported to have been in a meeting with Howson in a hotel?

I swear he does poop like this on purpose
- Leafzrulez123

If that isn't proof right there that Ek either just makes stuff up or has totally unreliable sources, I dont know what is.

I understand the guy's in the "rumour" business, but at least report rumours that make SOME sense.

he wasn't an idiot but not better GM the BB, we are still suffering from the Rask for Raycroft deal. BB vs JFJ not contest. It's taken BB 3+ yrs to clean up the mess
- Leafs24seven

So no playoffs in the last 6 season and 15th in the East 2 years ago with no top pick was JFJ's fault?

And he is earning every penny of it. Probably 15-20 guys making the same or more with less production than Kessel
- Leafs24seven

He will want more at the end of this deal.

So no playoffs in the last 6 season and 15th in the East 2 years ago with no top pick was JFJ's fault?
- mr.peanut

Not all his fault, but Leafs management even prior to JFJ always mortgaged picks and future. You cannot tell me when BB arrived he had any assets. The picks for Kessel is long over ..we have prospects now, and our picks

He will want more at the end of this deal.
- mr.peanut

I don't see Kessel as being a guy that will demand 7-7.5 out of Burke.

I say Kessel will ask for 6 and a long term deal

yes, it's happening
- bobbyisno1

Probably a put up or move on convo

I'd rather have Komi on the team instead too, but if its a Cap saving move to a bigger deal then fine
- Leafs24seven

I could stomach Komisarek for Johnny-O, at least then the 3.5 would be off the books at the end of this season. I just can't see Burke giving up anything of value for Oduya. It would have to be a crap for crap kind of deal.

Not all his fault, but Leafs management even prior to JFJ always mortgaged picks and future. You cannot tell me when BB arrived he had any assets. The picks for Kessel is long over ..we have prospects now, and our picks
- Leafs24seven

Burke came in wanting to make the Leafs a toughest team and a playoff team neither has happened. He came into a non playoff team and nothing has changed.

I don't see Kessel as being a guy that will demand 7-7.5 out of Burke.

I say Kessel will ask for 6 and a long term deal
- cor99

6 is still more and he'll probably want a NMC.

And he is earning every penny of it. Probably 15-20 guys making the same or more with less production than Kessel
- Leafs24seven

yah, but kessel plays for the leafs..therefore...he (frank)in sucks!

Burke came in wanting to make the Leafs a toughest team and a playoff team neither has happened. He came into a non playoff team and nothing has changed.
- mr.peanut

Difference: when Burke took over, we had no prospects, no players to build around, and no playoffs.

Sure we haven't made the playoffs with Burke, but we now have Colborne, Gardiner, Kessel, Lupul, Phaneuf etc etc

This year playoffs are still possible, as Washington who are spiraling out of control, and Winnipeg, who i'm not scared of are the only teams that are able to catch us.

6 is still more and he'll probably want a NMC.
- mr.peanut

Yeah, but it's only .6 more.... you said like he'd want like 1.5-2.0 more

Would you guys trade Grabovski for Brassard, I'd say Brassard has a higher ceiling then Grabo, and would probably benefit from a change of scenery and actually getting top line minutes. Also throw Gustavsson in for Mason, Mason has little trade value so it is doable, would definitely benefit from change, and maybe Allaire can help him out. Would be worth the gamble on both acquisitions.

Grabo
Gus
for
Brassard
Mason

Then trade Schenn, Macarthur, Kadri, and a 1st for Bobby Ryan.

Ryan/Brassard/Kessel
Kulemin/Bozak/Lupol
Lombardi/Connolly/Army
Frattin/Steckel/Brown

Phaneuf/Liles
Gardiner/Franson
Gunnarson/Aulie

Mason
Reimer

Put Brassard on the top line between Ryan and Kessel, would give him the potential to be a point per game centerman. Let Mason and Reimer battle it out, worth a shot, couldn't hurt. If we could somehow ship Komisarek out that would be ideal, maybe to the Island included in a deal for Nabokov. Wouldn't hurt to carry 3 goaltenders until one grabs the #1.

what the hell would it take to get schneider out of van.... that should be burke's big move
- The_Vark

Honestly........... no BS......... I don't think there is a roster player that would fit a Vancouver need at the moment.

So two first rounders and a second rounder. That would be a legitimate price.... You would probably have to take Keith Ballard too for the contract and we would take Colton Orr for insurance.

Would you guys trade Grabovski for Brassard, I'd say Brassard has a higher ceiling then Grabo, and would probably benefit from a change of scenery and actually getting top line minutes. Also throw Gustavsson in for Mason, Mason has little trade value so it is doable, would definitely benefit from change, and maybe Allaire can help him out. Would be worth the gamble on both acquisitions.

Grabo
Gus
for
Brassard
Mason

Then trade Schenn, Macarthur, Kadri, and a 1st for Bobby Ryan.

Ryan/Brassard/Kessel
Kulemin/Bozak/Lupol
Lombardi/Connolly/Army
Frattin/Steckel/Brown

Phaneuf/Liles
Gardiner/Franson
Gunnarson/Aulie

Mason
Reimer

Put Brassard on the top line between Ryan and Kessel, would give him the potential to be a point per game centerman. Let Mason and Reimer battle it out, worth a shot, couldn't hurt. If we could somehow ship Komisarek out that would be ideal, maybe to the Island included in a deal for Nabokov. Wouldn't hurt to carry 3 goaltenders until one grabs the #1.
- ThePresident

No, No and No.... NEXT

Difference: when Burke took over, we had no prospects, no players to build around, and no playoffs.

Sure we haven't made the playoffs with Burke, but we now have Colborne, Gardiner, Kessel, Lupul, Phaneuf etc etc

This year playoffs are still possible, as Washington who are spiraling out of control, and Winnipeg, who i'm not scared of are the only teams that are able to catch us.
- cor99

Prospects wouldn't help the Leafs make the playoffs right away. Most people were swept away by the Burke speech, and still with no success most are still in awe of it, not being able to see that his tenure with the Leafs have been closer to a failure than a success.

He will want more at the end of this deal.
- mr.peanut

Just like every other player scoring 30+ every year.