This year. the last two, the opposite could be said. Funny how you wait until now to try this.

So, Spezza, one out of 3. So far.
- prock

San Jose being the far better team...gee i wonder why Spezza's stats were worse

San Jose being the far better team...gee i wonder why Spezza's stats were worse
- annoyance_101

and Minnesota being the far worse top, ON TOP of being a team that plays an extremely defensive system.

When your top centre is Kyle Brodziak for almost half the season, I'm inclined to cut him a little slack. He still led the team.

and Minnesota being the far worse top, ON TOP of being a team that plays an extremely defensive system.

When your top centre is Kyle Brodziak for almost half the season, I'm inclined to cut him a little slack. He still led the team.
- prock

Last year, I fail to see how Spezza's 57 points in 62 games is worse than Heatley's 64 points in 80 games to begin with...

Last year, I fail to see how Spezza's 57 points in 62 games is worse than Heatley's 64 points in 80 games to begin with...
- annoyance_101

And yet, I'm sure you bashed the Tim Connolly signing.

And yet, I'm sure you bashed the Tim Connolly signing.
- prock

Connolly is a decent depth Center but the Leafs certainly overpaid for him. On a one year contract, MAYBE and I mean MAYBE $3.5m but $4.5m per for two years is (frank)ing retarded imo.

Connolly is a decent depth Center but the Leafs certainly overpaid for him. On a one year contract, MAYBE and I mean MAYBE $3.5m but $4.5m per for two years is (frank)ing retarded imo.
- Cape Breton Bruins

he's not a depth centre when he's healthy and on his game. He scores at a 70 to 80 point pace, and he's responsible defensively. from the 07/08 season, to the 09/10 season, he was nothing less than a first line centre (again, when healthy).

You may think it's retarded, but try to find some comparables. You won't, because there are none. If a guy like him was healthy consistently, he'd be a $6M player, on a long term contract.

All of that said.... who cares? The Leafs needed to plug a hole, in a summer with next to no one available (he was probably the best guy available too), and did so. It's not like they were going to be cup contenders this year or next, so the contract means SFA.

he's not a depth centre when he's healthy and on his game. He scores at a 70 to 80 point pace, and he's responsible defensively. from the 07/08 season, to the 09/10 season, he was nothing less than a first line centre (again, when healthy).

You may think it's retarded, but try to find some comparables. You won't, because there are none. If a guy like him was healthy consistently, he'd be a $6M player, on a long term contract.

All of that said.... who cares? The Leafs needed to plug a hole, in a summer with next to no one available (he was probably the best guy available too), and did so. It's not like they were going to be cup contenders this year or next, so the contract means SFA.
- prock

But he's not consistantly healthy. Thats the difference. He is what he is, an injury prone player who has likely seen his better offensive years behind him. He had 36 pts in 70 games, which by his standards is a healthy season. It was a bad signing for a team who wasn't about to contend for anything at all. A bit redundant for the Leafs IMO who could have signed a cheaper 30 point plug and rotated in guys like Kadri and Colbourne for more NHL expereince. It was another mistake by Burke who once again, misread the state of the team.

This was all said by some of the leaf fans here, when this signing went down.

It couldn't have turned out worse for Burke, and now with two years left on his contract, and having the local media turn on him, he's entering the "when will he fired" stage of his tenure in toronto.

He needs to pull more than a rabbit or two out of his hat this off season.
- Doppleganger

He's had some good moves and some bad moves. Basically the results on the ice haven't improved under Burke and thats the bottom line. I've always felt like he was an average GM with a huge rep because of his media whoring and sound bites. He did win a Stanley Cup which is obviously no easy task but he certainly had a few things go his way.

Again, middle of the pack GM IMO.

This was all said by some of the leaf fans here, when this signing went down.

It couldn't have turned out worse for Burke, and now with two years left on his contract, and having the local media turn on him, he's entering the "when will he fired" stage of his tenure in toronto.

He needs to pull more than a rabbit or two out of his hat this off season.
- Doppleganger

I will say, like the sens last year, alot of leaf players had career worst years. ya kessel, lupul and bozak had decent years, but everyone else regressed. If those players can return to something closer to their expected output then the leafs will improve and contend for the playoffs.

they still have their holes long term in obtaining high end skill at pretty much every position, but on paper they should perform better than they did this year.

But he's not consistantly healthy. Thats the difference. He is what he is, an injury prone player who has likely seen his better offensive years behind him. He had 36 pts in 70 games, which by his standards is a healthy season. It was a bad signing for a team who wasn't about to contend for anything at all. A bit redundant for the Leafs IMO who could have signed a cheaper 30 point plug and rotated in guys like Kadri and Colbourne for more NHL expereince. It was another mistake by Burke who once again, misread the state of the team.
- Cape Breton Bruins

Do you honestly think Connolly signed with contending, or the long term plan of the team, in mind?

I think you're misreading things. I'd say he was signed in part, so he doesn't have to PUSH guys like the ones you list above, into the lineup. he can do so when they're ready.

Do you honestly think Connolly signed with contending, or the long term plan of the team, in mind?

I think you're misreading things. I'd say he was signed in part, so he doesn't have to PUSH guys like the ones you list above, into the lineup. he can do so when they're ready.
- prock

Thats fine if you think that was his intention. Personally I believe Burke thought the Leafs were a playoff team and Connolly was the same player he was 3, 4 or 5 years ago that was going to make an impact on a playoff squad.

Thats fine if you think that was his intention. Personally I believe Burke thought the Leafs were a playoff team and Connolly was the same player he was 3, 4 or 5 years ago that was going to make an impact on a playoff squad.
- Cape Breton Bruins

There's little doubt that was the case.

He's had some good moves and some bad moves. Basically the results on the ice haven't improved under Burke and thats the bottom line. I've always felt like he was an average GM with a huge rep because of his media whoring and sound bites. He did win a Stanley Cup which is obviously no easy task but he certainly had a few things go his way.

Again, middle of the pack GM IMO.
- Cape Breton Bruins

list the upper echelon of current GMs please

There's little doubt that was the case.
- habby

He is on the record saying they would make the playoffs the off season they aquired Kessel. That was what? Three full seasons ago? His ability to properly take the temperature of the team he managers has to be called into question to a certain extent IMO.

He is on the record saying they would make the playoffs the off season they aquired Kessel. That was what? Three full seasons ago? His ability to properly take the temperature of the team he managers has to be called into question to a certain extent IMO.
- Cape Breton Bruins

to be fair, through January it really did look like they'd be a playoff team

list the upper echelon of current GMs please
- Crimsoninja

top 8 in no apparent order

Ken Holland
David Polie
Doug Armstrong
Ray Shero
Paul Homgren
Peter Chiarelli
Dave Tallon
Don Maloney

to be fair, through January it really did look like they'd be a playoff team
- Crimsoninja

Its a marathon not a sprint. They managed half of a good season yet still managed a lottery pick. Amazing.

Its a marathon not a sprint. They managed half of a good season yet still managed a lottery pick. Amazing.
- Cape Breton Bruins

really is

i do love watching the man talk tho. even addressed that at the conf.. "we have to stop playing for 40 games per season"

top 8 in no apparent order

Ken Holland
David Polie
Doug Armstrong
Ray Shero
Paul Homgren
Peter Chiarelli
Dave Tallon
Don Maloney
- Cape Breton Bruins

underlined the one that should be viewed as #1

bolded the one that makes you an unbelievable homer

really is

i do love watching the man talk tho. even addressed that at the conf.. "we have to stop playing for 40 games per season"
- Crimsoninja

I've never been a fan. The way he whined after the Penner offersheet was a disgrace. I know he's not the only GM to do so, but he went way too overboard in the media for my taste. New flash bumhole, its a very well stated and obvious rule in the CBA, if you don't want teams signing your RFA's, take care of business before July 1st.

underlined the one that should be viewed as #1

bolded the one that makes you an unbelievable homer
- Crimsoninja

I've never been a fan. The way he whined after the Penner offersheet was a disgrace. I know he's not the only GM to do so, but he went way too overboard in the media for my taste. New flash bumhole, its a very well stated and obvious rule in the CBA, if you don't want teams signing your RFA's, take care of business before July 1st.
- Cape Breton Bruins

oh im not saying im a big fan of what he says per se.. just that i usually click any tsn vid in which he is featured

oh im not saying im a big fan of what he says per se.. just that i usually click any tsn vid in which he is featured
- Crimsoninja

They are so few and far between.

That being said I would put Burke in the immediate second tier of 22 remaining GM's.

And yet, I'm sure you bashed the Tim Connolly signing.
- prock

Just another thing you have wrong...my god get your facts straight, i dont care about Connolly at all, he's not a reliable top line centre but its not like they signed him for 10 years...i mean they have the big bad kadri waiting to take his job so they can continue to suck...