What's Next for The Maple Leafs?

PKC wrote:I almost puked when I read this:

As incredible as it seems for a team that has
finished in the bottom third of the NHL the past two seasons, the Maple
Leafs are just one goaltender away from contention.

I've heard of homerism before, but this is just delusional. In contention for what? 10th place? The Leafs roster is terrible all over. They have no first line center, or a second line center. No top line wingers, just spare parts that masquerade as ones. They have no prospects in the system that are going to be elite players, with the potential exception of Luke Schenn, but he's going to be a shutdown defenseman, which although a vital component of championship teams, does not get you to a championship on his own. They have woeful forward and scoring depth and nothing in the system that we know of that indicates that's going to change.

Their goalie of the future appears to be a bust. Their current number 1 might be sick of having to bail out their ridiculously poor defensive structure.

Their only saving grace is that by some miracle, they've actually assembled a fairly decent top 6 on the backend. But they still go through so much injury concern with those guys that rarely in the season do they employ the top 6 they want.

Ugh, I can't believe how much that sentence bothered me.

It certainly is stupid. The writers of this article obviously have zero credibility after writing that scentence...

Leafs' Burke pulling out all the stops to lock up Monster
Kevin McGran, The Toronto Star, June 21, 2009

The wining and dining of Jonas Gustavsson continued last night when the free agent goalie sat down for a meal with Maple Leaf forward John Mitchell.

Both are clients of agent Joe Resnick. Gustavsson had a meeting Friday night with Leaf GM Brian Burke that went "really, really well," Resnick said yesterday. "Brian knows Jonas very well. He's met with him two or three times. Jonas is very comfortable with Brian."

Resnick said Gustavsson will make his decision based on his comfort level with the team, its management, stability in ownership and "a gut feel."

To that end, the Leafs had fellow Swede Jonas Frogren talk up the team with Gustavsson. Leaf legend Borje Salming had a word with the 24-year-old prior to his four-city tour that winds up today.

The goalie expects to make his mind up by the end of the month.

"Our goal is to make a decision by July 1 so the teams can make a decision on personnel (when unrestricted free agent signings begin," said Resnick. "He's got to go back home and speak with his girlfriend of two years. It's a big decision."

The undrafted netminder also met representatives of Colorado, San Jose and Dallas.

Wow, for a guy who's never played a game in North America he seems to think of himself pretty highly.

Howard Berger from Toronto's Fan590 presents his perspective on Brian Burke's plans and processes.

LOOK FOR BURKE TO GET IT RIGHT
Howard Berger, Fan590.com/June 21, 2009

PENFIELD, N.Y. (June 21) – The Detroit Red Wings began and ended the 2008-09 National Hockey League season by losing games on home ice. The entire hockey world knows which club toppled Detroit’s playoff drive at Joe Louis Arena a week ago Friday – the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Only a select few, however, remember the Toronto Maple Leafs kicking off the regular schedule with an upset victory over the Red Wings in Hockeytown last October. It was a fleeting moment for the Leafs, as the club missed the playoffs for a record fourth consecutive season, but long-sought stability in management indicates that better days lie ahead.

So many of your questions to me this week touched on the course of action general manager Brian Burke will pursue as he re-shapes the Maple Leafs this summer. The process actually began toward the end of last season, when Burke and his former assistant, Joe Nieuwendyk, convinced college free agents Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak to sign with the Blue & White. Nieuwendyk later departed to become GM of the Dallas Stars. The process continues as we speak, with Burke and Co. attempting to land arguably the top free agent in Europe: Swedish-born goalie Jonas (The Monster) Gustavsson. And, it will likely gain lots of steam during the next couple of weeks, with the NHL draft in Montreal, followed by the onset of unrestricted free agency July 1st.

Most fascinating to observe is whether Burke, as he’s implied, can execute a crafty, two-pronged arrangement… one that’ll improve the club for next season, without damaging its long-term agenda. And, this is where the Leafs’ GM will have to juggle all of the emotional strings tugging at him in his new hockey environment. He has spoken directly about the desire to end the Leafs’ playoff famine in 2009-10, but that objective, alone, could prove disastrous.

For all but a few years under Cliff Fletcher and Pat Burns, then a few more under Pat Quinn, simply qualifying for the post-season has been the Leafs’ sole ambition since 1967. The quest to sneak into that No. 8 position in the conference standings has incalculably tarnished the franchise in recent years. It's a precarious venture with limited upside that has usually culminated with the team out of contention, and hovering in a detrimental spot just beneath the playoff bracket. Burke finds himself in that dilemma this summer – his first in control of the Leafs – and is attempting to trade up from the club’s No. 7 draft position, as Fletcher was forced to do last year in Ottawa.

It therefore follows that Burke must optimally choose between two paths: Either attempt a staggering makeover that will enable the Leafs to immediately challenge for a top-four position in the conference, or continue a slow, patient route to contention, three or four years down the line with young prospects, and forget about making a playoff push next season. The choice of anything in-between – as has so often been the case – will almost certainly prevent the Leafs from moving forward.

Going for a quick fix, though not without precedent, will be a gargantuan task. Based on the 2008-09 Eastern Conference standings, it would minimally require the Leafs (81 points) to improve by 18 points for a top-four placing… 13 to just get into the playoffs, and another five to make the arduous venture worthwhile (Pittsburgh finished fourth in the East with 99 points as the No. 2 seed, behind New Jersey, in the Atlantic Division). To capture the Northeast Division title, outright, the Leafs would have to pull of an historical ascent, as Boston was 35 points superior in ’08-09.

I was asked, in many of your e-mail submissions, whether I believe Burke will take a prudent approach to building the Maple Leafs. In other words, if confronted with a choice between going for broke, or staying the course, which will he pursue? Obviously, I don’t have that answer right now; nor does anyone else. But, to me, it’s a no-brainer. Burke is a prime hockey talent with more than 20 years of front-line experience as a manager and league executive. Though he desperately wants to guide the Maple Leafs into Stanley Cup territory – and can envision the fruits of such labor in a market hungering for success – he will neither abandon the principles, nor the guidelines, to logistically move ahead in the post-lockout NHL.

On many occasions, I have trumpeted Burke as the best man to direct the Leafs’ fortunes. Though he has a spontaneous nature that could threaten methodical advancement, he will not be overcome by visions of grandeur. It merely requires him to review the Leafs’ chronic plan in most years since last winning the Stanley Cup, and to comprehend the ruinous nature of such strategy. To wither in the middle ground between building through the draft and aiming for the far reaches of the conference standings – as is custom in Toronto – can no longer prevail.

Nor will it, in my opinion.

http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/nothingbutleafs/2009/06/20/look-for-burke-to-get-it-right/#respond

Fan590 Maple Leafs broadcast columnist Howard Berger proffers his present percolations on the Bluelanders.

Pondering The Leafs' Future
Howard Berger, Fan590.com/June 23, 2009
howard.berger@rci.rogers.com

TORONTO – Some thoughts, observations and gut feelings about the Maple Leafs heading into the National Hockey League entry draft Friday at Montreal…

MOVIN’ ON UP: Though general manager Brian Burke has forcefully indicated his desire to not only trade up from the club’s No. 7 draft slot – but to grab the coveted No. 1 position and land top-rated prospect John Tavares – accomplishing such a feat will be next to impossible. The reason is simple: For one of the few times in the annals of the universal draft, which dates to 1970, there appears to be a trio of franchise players at the top. Any of Tavares, Victor Hedman or Matt Duchene is considered of such quality that NHL teams can likely build their entire programs around them.

There have been draft years, of course, in which even the top prospect is rated below “franchise” caliber, and history suggests that at least one of the big three this summer will fail to attain such billing. But, you won’t find a scout on the planet willing to bet which one. Though NHL stars have regularly been drafted beyond No. 3, only once since 1970 have the top three positions turned into “franchise” commodities.

That was in 1997; when initial four selections (Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Olli Jokinen and Roberto Luongo) went on to attain varied levels of greatness. More commonly through the years has a dynamic duo emerged at the top of the draft, beginning in 1971 with Guy Lafleur and Marcel Dionne. It also happened in 1984 with Mario Lemieux and Kirk Muller; 1985 with Wendel Clark and Craig Simpson; 1987 with Pierre Turgeon and Brendan Shanahan; 1988 with Mike Modano and Trevor Linden; 2001 with Ilya Kovalchuk and Jason Spezza; 2003 with Marc-Andre Fleury and Eric Staal, and – most significantly – 2004 with Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. But, it’s extremely rare for three prospects to be rated in the franchise category.

That’s why Burke would do very well to repeat what his predecessor, Cliff Fletcher, pulled off last year, and move up two spots to No. 5. It would likely enable Burke to draft Luke Schenn’s brother, Brayden Schenn, who will almost certainly be gone before the No. 7 selection. But even that, in my opinion, will be difficult. Given the accent on player development, and the salary restrictions on entry-level personnel in the post-lockout NHL, nothing beyond short-sightedness will prompt any of the top five teams to deal their picks this year.

SKILL vs. BRAWN: Burke likely made pro sports managerial history by using the word “testosterone” during his introductory news conference at the Air Canada Centre last November. But, it clearly indicated the type of player he wants to accent in his re-shaping of the Maple Leafs. Burke gets a bad rap from those that suggest his 2007 Stanley Cup team in Anaheim was comprised of blood-thirsty behemoths. There was a fair amount of non-aggressive skill on that club (Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, Andy McDonald, Dustin Penner) and it isn’t likely that Burke will eschew small, crafty players as he builds the Leafs. But, his draft blueprint differs from the Detroit Red Wings. Never will you hear Wings’ GM Ken Holland utter the word “testosterone”. He has always instructed his scouts to concentrate on pure skill, regardless of a player’s size. And, that’s probably why the Red Wings have an astounding collection of talent that was drafted well beyond the first round.

In fact, it’s amazing to consider that among current players Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Osgood, Tomas Holmstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall, Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula, Jonathan Ericsson and Darren Helm, only Kronwall was selected in the opening round. While this is obviously an extreme example, it loudly speaks to the Red Wings’ pursuit of uncompromising skill.

And, it’s the sort of bridge Burke may have to cross Friday in Montreal. What if he has a choice, say, between a rugged prospect such as Peterborough Petes’ Zack Kassian, and a more passive, highly-skilled player such as Sweden’s Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (who is rated slightly ahead of Kassian by most scouts)? I think I know the player Detroit would select. In fact, a pair of scouts has told me in recent days that Paajarvi-Svensson is a “typical” Red Wings draft choice. That doesn’t guarantee he’ll turn into a better NHLer than Kassian, who has the potential to be a more complete player; to advance quicker to the big league; and is definitely more in the Burke mold. But, there’s a solid chance Paajarvi-Svensson’s talent will ultimately prevail.

The Leafs went a similar route last year when they chose Schenn ahead of the fleet Nikita Filatov, who was unable to crack the Columbus line-up on a full-time basis. But, what about three or four years from now? That’s the issue confronting Burke in a choice between skill and brawn.

IT WON’T SURPRISE ME IF: All of Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt Stajan and Mikhail Grabovski are traded by Burke this summer. Not to mention at least one of Tomas Kaberle or Pavel Kubina. This may seem excessive and it might suggest to some of you that I consider these players castoffs. Not true. The reason I believe Burke may peddle the abovementioned is three-fold: a) they have varying levels of marketability, but all can still play in the NHL, assuring the Leafs of return value; b) three of the five [Ponikarovsky, Stajan and Kaberle] badly need a change of address after wallowing in team mediocrity for half-a-decade, and c) Burke cannot affect real change by hanging on to the same nucleus of veteran players. If that requires him to make a sideways move or two – change for the sake of change – then it’s something he’ll have to strongly consider. The Leafs (and their followers) have traditionally over-valued players out of concern they may go elsewhere and burst into stardom.

It’s the attitude that prevented John Ferguson, in 2006, from parting with Alex Steen in a deal that would have landed the Leafs Chris Pronger. How absurd does that sound today? Matt Stajan, similarly, is a good player and a quality person. But, he’ll never be more to the Leafs than he is right now… same with Ponikarovsky; same with Kaberle.

A change of scenery may refresh the careers of these veterans to some extent (none, I can guarantee you, will begin to contend for individual trophies) and it may provide the Leafs with ingredients they do not currently possess. It will certainly begin to alter what has proven, without question, to be a losing hand.

Grabovski is more of an isolated issue. Though he was too streaky to be a legitimate top-six forward last season, the Montreal castoff has undeniable talent and competitiveness. He is worthy of being retained as a building block for the franchise, pending his decision to seek arbitration as a method of landing a contract extension. Burke has limited patience for the arbitration process, beyond respecting its rightful place in the collective bargaining agreement. Once a player chooses that route, there is no back-pedaling – or, as Burke put it, “there will not be any settlements on the courthouse steps”. The sense I have is this: If Grabovski takes the Leafs to arbitration and wins, Burke will trade him. He won’t walk away from a ruling, which is also the Leafs’ right, but neither will he continue to look upon Grabovski as truly part of the team.

GOALTENDING QUESTION-MARKS: There’s a strong sentiment that the Leafs can jettison minor-leaguer Justin Pogge if they are successful in landing Swedish free agent Jonas Gustavsson, but I’m not certain the two are connected. In fact, the Leafs may well have to come to a decision on Pogge before Gustavsson makes a call on which NHL team he’ll join, as Pogge must be tendered a qualifying offer by July 1st. Otherwise, he, too, becomes a free agent. Sure, the presence of Gustavsson – if even close to his advance billing – will knock Pogge down a rung in the Leafs’ netminding sequence and, no, Pogge has done nothing to send Burke’s heart aflutter. But, it may be unwise to give up on the 23-year-old, simply because hanging onto him will not cause the Leafs undue economic distress. It won’t cost millions of dollars to retain Pogge, and there’s more of a trend toward a goalie coming around at a later stage of development than either a forward or a defenseman. So, strategically, it makes sense for Burke to qualify Pogge next week, and then “worry” about whether Gustavsson can supplant him in the goaltending rotation. A much bigger decision awaits Burke before next summer, as he’ll have to determine whether a sub-par performance by Vesa Toskala last season resulted from groin and hip ailments, or if the Leafs must look elsewhere for a No. 1 man. As we speak, the club has nothing but question marks pertaining to its most critical component.

THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE: Will Burke pull off a move this summer that comes entirely out of left field in terms of speculation and gossip? Take it to the bank.

Ah yes, Berger. He's quite popular down at HB.

I don't agree with his assessment of Kassian versus MPS. But, I hope Burke takes Kassian 7th over-all.

asq2 wrote:Ah yes, Berger. He's quite popular down at HB.

I don't agree with his assessment of Kassian versus MPS. But, I hope Burke takes Kassian 7th over-all.

Or better yet, trades up for him.

Zoolander wrote:

asq2 wrote:Ah yes, Berger. He's quite popular down at HB.

I don't agree with his assessment of Kassian versus MPS. But, I hope Burke takes Kassian 7th over-all.

Or better yet, trades up for him.

Schenn + 7th to Atlanta for the 4th pick, and he takes Kassian. Then Colorado trades us the third pick for Chris Kelly.

Seriously, though, the one downside of this draft being so good is that the Leafs stand to land a really nice player.

The top-4 should be set in terms of JT, Hedman, Duchene, Kane. If LA takes Schenn, I think Phoenix takes a defenceman (they took a winger in Boedker last draft) and Burke could walk away with MPS.

If LA takes MPS, Phoenix could take Schenn (or not, which would be worse IMO) and Burke could grab a Jared Cowen (which, in a pairing with Schenn, would suck to play against), or grab OEL from under our noses.

I'm kinda hoping he takes Schroeder.

asq2 wrote:

Zoolander wrote:

asq2 wrote:Ah yes, Berger. He's quite popular down at HB.

I don't agree with his assessment of Kassian versus MPS. But, I hope Burke takes Kassian 7th over-all.

Or better yet, trades up for him.

Schenn + 7th to Atlanta for the 4th pick, and he takes Kassian. Then Colorado trades us the third pick for Chris Kelly.

Seriously, though, the one downside of this draft being so good is that the Leafs stand to land a really nice player.

The top-4 should be set in terms of JT, Hedman, Duchene, Kane. If LA takes Schenn, I think Phoenix takes a defenceman (they took a winger in Boedker last draft) and Burke could walk away with MPS.

If LA takes MPS, Phoenix could take Schenn (or not, which would be worse IMO) and Burke could grab a Jared Cowen (which, in a pairing with Schenn, would suck to play against), or grab OEL from under our noses.

I'm kinda hoping he takes Schroeder.

I wouldn't put it past Burke to yoink OEL from us. We did the same with Karlsson.

Like you said though, we're getting a damn good player no matter how it shakes out. I would just prefer it shakes out with us with the 3rd pick and Wolski.

Zoolander wrote:

asq2 wrote:

Zoolander wrote:

asq2 wrote:Ah yes, Berger. He's quite popular down at HB.

I don't agree with his assessment of Kassian versus MPS. But, I hope Burke takes Kassian 7th over-all.

Or better yet, trades up for him.

Schenn + 7th to Atlanta for the 4th pick, and he takes Kassian. Then Colorado trades us the third pick for Chris Kelly.

Seriously, though, the one downside of this draft being so good is that the Leafs stand to land a really nice player.

The top-4 should be set in terms of JT, Hedman, Duchene, Kane. If LA takes Schenn, I think Phoenix takes a defenceman (they took a winger in Boedker last draft) and Burke could walk away with MPS.

If LA takes MPS, Phoenix could take Schenn (or not, which would be worse IMO) and Burke could grab a Jared Cowen (which, in a pairing with Schenn, would suck to play against), or grab OEL from under our noses.

I'm kinda hoping he takes Schroeder.

I wouldn't put it past Burke to yoink OEL from us. We did the same with Karlsson.

Like you said though, we're getting a damn good player no matter how it shakes out. I would just prefer it shakes out with us with the 3rd pick and Wolski.

It may not be up there any more, but if you can find it, I recommend watching the first few minutes of Bob McKenzie's final draft rankings on TSN.

They have a little montage of the first three prospects as introductions to B-Mack talking about them, and the Duchene one (albeit pretty short) was incredible. I've watched a lot of footage of him/quite a few games, and I know how good a north-south skater he is, but I had no idea how good he was at moving laterally/spin-o-ramas.

Simply incredible. I do have some concern about sacrificing offensive talent for all-around game (recall that some people suggested Weiss over Spezza for that reason at the draft) but Duchene is the real deal. Kid's lower-body is Crosby-esque.

I'm in agreement with you. I'd take him over Tavares.

asq2 wrote:

Zoolander wrote:

asq2 wrote:

Zoolander wrote:

asq2 wrote:Ah yes, Berger. He's quite popular down at HB.

I don't agree with his assessment of Kassian versus MPS. But, I hope Burke takes Kassian 7th over-all.

Or better yet, trades up for him.

Schenn + 7th to Atlanta for the 4th pick, and he takes Kassian. Then Colorado trades us the third pick for Chris Kelly.

Seriously, though, the one downside of this draft being so good is that the Leafs stand to land a really nice player.

The top-4 should be set in terms of JT, Hedman, Duchene, Kane. If LA takes Schenn, I think Phoenix takes a defenceman (they took a winger in Boedker last draft) and Burke could walk away with MPS.

If LA takes MPS, Phoenix could take Schenn (or not, which would be worse IMO) and Burke could grab a Jared Cowen (which, in a pairing with Schenn, would suck to play against), or grab OEL from under our noses.

I'm kinda hoping he takes Schroeder.

I wouldn't put it past Burke to yoink OEL from us. We did the same with Karlsson.

Like you said though, we're getting a damn good player no matter how it shakes out. I would just prefer it shakes out with us with the 3rd pick and Wolski.

It may not be up there any more, but if you can find it, I recommend watching the first few minutes of Bob McKenzie's final draft rankings on TSN.

They have a little montage of the first three prospects as introductions to B-Mack talking about them, and the Duchene one (albeit pretty short) was incredible. I've watched a lot of footage of him/quite a few games, and I know how good a north-south skater he is, but I had no idea how good he was at moving laterally/spin-o-ramas.

Simply incredible. I do have some concern about sacrificing offensive talent for all-around game (recall that some people suggested Weiss over Spezza for that reason at the draft) but Duchene is the real deal. Kid's lower-body is Crosby-esque.

I'm in agreement with you. I'd take him over Tavares.

Even if he is outscored by some other guys, the overall aspect of his game makes him so valuable. Datsyuk and Zetterberg are classic examples. Having a guy like that matched up with a Malkin/Crosby/Ovechkin is HUGE.

I'll have a look for that Duchene vid. Not that I need to be sold anymore. Straight up though, if Colorado calls with the offer I mentioned, I accept it without even bothering to try and up the ante from other teams.

Nazem Kadri has been plucked by The Burke...a surprise delivered with dramatic flair.

Leafs broadcaster and columnist Howard Berger is bubbly about the BlueNWhite's coming battles with LeBleuBlancRouge...

LEAFS/HABS RIVALRY HEIGHTENED
Howard Berger, Fan590.com, July 2, 2009

TORONTO (July 2) -- The Leafs made their best move of the summer so far by re-signing Mikhail Grabovski to a three year, $8.7-million contract today. With Michael Komisarek having joined the club yesterday in free agency, do you think the three Leafs-Habs games at the Bell Centre will be a little interesting next season?

Grabo has to take a step forward in 2009-10 by avoiding month-long disappearing acts. Otherwise, he is currently the Leafs' runaway best forward (along with an aging Jason Blake) as it pertains to talent and feistiness.

Stay closely tuned to the Jonas Gustavsson situation. I'm told the Swedish netminder will finally choose an NHL team by the weekend, though it's becoming more and more difficult to figure what is driving the "Monster". Perhaps procrastination is a bit of a Swedish trait when it comes to hockey. Mats Sundin, you'll recall, elevated it to an art form last summer and fall.

Leafs are still, in my mind, the front runner for Gustavsson, but the Dallas Stars are also pushing hard.

E-mail howard.berger@rci.rogers.com

Lots of penalties? Limited puck movement skills?

Howard Berger fills us in further with his forensic foray into "The Mind and Method of The Burke"...

BURKE PLAYED IT SMART ON CANADA DAY
Howard Berger, Fan590.com, July 2, 2009

TORONTO (July 2) – If you want to blame Brian Burke for anything in his initial foray into free agency on behalf of the Maple Leafs, perhaps suggest that he change travel agents. It turns out his flight of desperation to Sweden arrived too late to head off the Sedin twins. By the time he arrived in Stockholm, Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin had re-upped with the Vancouver Canucks, leaving Burke to perhaps pay a consolation visit to goaltending prospect Jonas Gustavsson.

Otherwise, the Leafs’ general manager accomplished all that he legitimately could in the market frenzy. Had he been able to spirit the Sedins out of Vancouver, Burke might have placed the Leafs in a position to add another skilled player or two. But, once the Canucks locked up the twins, he lost any shot at signing the likes of Mike Cammalleri or Brian Gionta – both of whom followed Scott Gomez to a more talented outfit in Montreal. As such, Burke concentrated on his initial plan to add fangs to a Toronto club that has been woefully meek since the days Tie Domi, Gary Roberts, Shayne Corson and Darcy Tucker were running Ottawa’s more gifted skaters out of the Air Canada Centre and Scotiabank Place.

The additions of Colton Orr, Garnet Exelby and Michael Komisarek did nothing to improve the Maple Leafs’ artistry, or likely their position in the Eastern Conference standings. But, rest assured the club will not go down without a fight in games next season – literally and figuratively. As well, Burke pulled off a major coup in unloading Pavel Kubina’s $5 million salary for 2009-10, though the Buds will probably miss the veteran defenseman’s classy leadership and stubbornness in defeat.

“Kuby” is one of the finest citizens to pass through the Maple Leafs’ locker room in recent years, though I’m not certain the loyalty he expressed toward the team at the trade deadline in March was rewarded by a one-way ticket to Atlanta. It’s probably safe to assume that Pavel wouldn’t have waived his no-movement clause to join the woebegone Thrashers, but that’s where former GM John Ferguson played it smartly in signing Kubina as a free agent and extending Tomas Kaberle. He assured that neither player controlled his destiny in the event the Leafs’ repeatedly missed the playoffs. Burke was therefore able to peddle Kubina to the team that offered him the best return.

The upgrade in toughness could have a spin-off effect as it pertains to Gustavsson, who probably understands he won’t win a Stanley Cup in any of Toronto, Colorado or Dallas next season. But, the “Monster” now knows that opposition players will not be allowed to storm his crease without retribution should he sign with the Blue & White. If I know Burke, he has probably hammered home that point in the past 12 hours to Gustavsson and his handlers. Exelby and Komisarek add a large dose of meanness to the Toronto blue-line, though Komisarek will likely drive Leaf fans a little crazy when he handles the puck in his own zone. But, no future hall-of-fame defensemen were available on the open market this summer, so Burke wisely opted for nastiness.

What I like most about these moves relates to my oft-stated theory about the Leafs heading into next season. None of Burke’s signings removes or diminishes opportunity for the club’s young players to skate regularly for Ron Wilson and prove – legitimately – what they can or cannot do at the NHL level.

For the first time in many years, the Leafs have a promising crop of youngsters that includes Luke Schenn, Anton Stralman, Christian Hanson, Tyler Bozak, Jiri Tlusty, Mikhail Grabovski (if retained), Nikolai Kulemin, Dale Mitchell and Chris Didomenico, who was impressive for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships last winter. Still-young veteran Ian White can be included in this group, along with second-year NHLer John Mitchell. Gustavsson would further abet the list. Burke and Wilson have nothing to lose and everything to gain by allowing these fellows a chance to mature as full-time skaters in the big league.

Burke’s rather frequent wish to make the playoffs next season is probably akin to having his fingers crossed in Lotto-649, but the abovementioned players – as a group – are largely an unknown quantity. Who’s to say, for certain, they will not form a useful chemistry in conjunction with the abrasiveness Burke added to the line-up on Wednesday? It is well worth giving a try in 2009-10.

As it stands, the Leafs still have almost $10 million in cap space – a useful cushion heading into the season and toward the trade deadline next March. In my opinion, the purging of Kubina from the roster should have no impact on Burke’s effort to field trade proposals for Kaberle, who stands as his only true bartering gem this summer. If he can exchange Kaberle for another promising youngster, the Leafs will be even better off two and three years down the line, which is where the club is realistically aiming.

All in all, I’d say double-B has the Maple Leafs on the right track. Continue to be patient. The time will ultimately arrive for the Leafs’ GM to get involved in high-end maneuvering.

E-mail howard.berger@rci.rogers.com

Apparently they are trying to sign any Swedish Elite league player that has no ties to any NHL team.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/thewire/hockey/2009/07/06/leafs_chase_monster_s/

Remember when Murray tried the Gritty toughness angle by obtaining Smith and Ruutu to go along with Neil, Bass and Schubert? We couldn't get the puck out of our own end all season.

I see a similiar result coming for the Leafs. Leafnation may be excited about the goon squad on paper but it will likely fall flat come October.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Remember when Murray tried the Gritty toughness angle by obtaining Smith and Ruutu to go along with Neil, Bass and Schubert? We couldn't get the puck out of our own end all season.

I see a similiar result coming for the Leafs. Leafnation may be excited about the goon squad on paper but it will likely fall flat come October.

I will be there to revel in it when it happens, Burke must have missed the memo that said you need skill to go with the toughness.

Like SSF pointed out earlier. Burke is trying to build the Ducks without the foundation that was built by Murray before him.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Remember when Murray tried the Gritty toughness angle by obtaining Smith and Ruutu to go along with Neil, Bass and Schubert? We couldn't get the puck out of our own end all season.

I see a similiar result coming for the Leafs. Leafnation may be excited about the goon squad on paper but it will likely fall flat come October.

If it falls flat, they'll land a franchise player at the draft.

If they succeed, it's with a younger team with more character.

Win/win.

By the way, here's a nice mix of Nazem Kadri in Junior. Not sure it'll all translate into the NHL, but Burke landed a kid with a lot of character (as did we).

asq2 wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Remember when Murray tried the Gritty toughness angle by obtaining Smith and Ruutu to go along with Neil, Bass and Schubert? We couldn't get the puck out of our own end all season.

I see a similiar result coming for the Leafs. Leafnation may be excited about the goon squad on paper but it will likely fall flat come October.

If it falls flat, they'll land a franchise player at the draft.

If they succeed, it's with a younger team with more character.

Win/win.

Not so black and white though. Knowing the Leafs they'll scrap themselves out of a top 10 pick and still out of the playoffs.

Kadri already signed to an entry-level deal!

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283884

After some hesitation, Brian Burke has made some of the big moves he promised as GM of the Leafs. The Leafphobia of the Sens-centric on this forum aside, Burke has, it can be said, made some changes that should see Toronto improve on last year's results under the irascible Ron Wilson. How that translates in the actual standings is anyone's guess at this point; but Leafs scribe and radio commentator Howard Berger took his shot this past week...

Wilson: Playoffs, But Only Within Structure
Howard Berger, Fan590.com, July 6, 2009

TORONTO (July 6) – A long-anticipated, richly-deserved bonus awaits fans of the Maple Leafs if those running the hockey club can translate their words to action.

For the first time in almost a quarter-century, the Leafs appear content to properly assemble a team that is capable of repeated challenge in the National Hockey League. Such a venture will require added patience and the willingness to endure at least one more season of hardship in the standings. But, it could lead to a circumstance almost completely foreign to the hockey club – and its legion of followers – in the post-expansion NHL.

“We would like to make the playoffs next year,” said Leafs’ coach Ron Wilson to a small group of reporters at Lakeshore Arena on Monday. “But, I think for the next couple of years, we’re going to be spending a lot of time developing players. If we can make the playoffs while doing that, it’ll be great. But, primarily, if I’m going to have five or six rookies on the team [next season] – which is a real possibility – I have to make sure they get better as hockey players.

“When the pressure is on you to make the playoffs,” Wilson continued, “a lot of coaches will throw young guys under the bus in an effort to do it, and rely on all the veterans. I’ve got to guard myself against doing that.”

One way to avoid such folly was for the Maple Leafs not to lapse into their usual routine of signing established, front-line players as stop-gaps. The additions, this past week, of Colton Orr, Garnet Exelby, Michael Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin provide the club with much-needed toughness, depth and leadership, particularly on defense.

General manager Brian Burke is smartly bolstering the team from the back end out, not in the reverse order. Grade-A free agents were bypassed, and they stayed away from the Blue & White. The old Leaf method could result in a temporary rise through the standings, but the move forward would be artificial and almost surely followed by a precipitous decline.

That’s why fans of the hockey club should not fret over Burke's apparent shortcoming in free agency last week. Burke got people excited with his bold statements prior to the draft and July 1st – presumably, he can learn about the Toronto hockey market as we learn more about him – but he did not succumb to temptation.

A signing coup involving Swedish twins Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin may have accelerated the process of winning, as did Cliff Fletcher’s landmark acquisition of Doug Gilmour from the Calgary Flames in 1992. A five-year plan for a terrible hockey team suddenly became a one-year plan, as Gilmour lifted the franchise on his back and carried it to within one game of the 1993 Stanley Cup final.

But, even that accomplishment – as memorable as it is for Leaf fans – had a negative impact on the organization. It got Fletcher to believe he could take the final big step by adding more veteran NHLers at the expense of player development… thus the short, mostly-inglorious Leaf tenures of Kirk Muller, Dave Gagne, Larry Murphy, Mike Gartner, Rich Sutter, Benoit Hogue, Mike Ridley, Sergio Momesso, and others.

It didn’t work 15 years ago and it won’t work today.

That’s why it has to be assuring for Leafs Nation to hear Wilson say that making the playoffs next season would be a surprise bonus in the midst of a development program. It keeps the bar at a higher level than it’s been in recent years, but it also clearly indicates that Wilson and Burke are adamant about providing opportunity for the club’s growing cadre of prospects. And, it sounds the most encouraging note for the team since the mid-to-late 1980s.

That decade rightfully stands as the absolute worst in the history of the franchise, and there are several periods to choose from. The Leafs went through the ‘80s with a near-complete void of direction. It was Harold Ballard’s final decade as owner of the team – he died in April, 1990 – and chaos prevailed at almost every turn. Without stability at the top, the Leafs were unable to harness their most impressive group of young players in the post-1967 era. Rick Vaive, Russ Courtnall, Gary Leeman, Al Iafrate, Wendel Clark, Vincent Damphousse, Tom Fergus, Ed Olczyk and Mark Osborne – acquired via trade and the draft – should have set the Leafs on a proper heading.

Noticeably absent from that group (besides Iafrate) were defensemen and goalies. Combined with the trickle-down effect of poor ownership, the Leafs’ inability to keep the puck out of their net scuttled a promising era. Not until now, a generation later, has the club chosen to amass a group of enticing prospects. In prior years, the quick-fix method – popular among owners, sponsors and fans – was the design of choice, leading to a decade that strongly rivals the awful ‘80s in Leafs lore. But, lessons finally appear to have been learned.

A portion of the results are on display this week at the Leafs’ annual development camp. Christian Hanson, Tyler Bozak, Dale Mitchell and Nazem Kadri are among those taking part in the week-long activity, which includes on-ice sessions at Lakeshore Arena. All of the abovementioned are today considered prime NHL material. Added to the likes of Luke Schenn, Mikhail Grabovski, Nikolai Kulemin, Jiri Tlusty, John Mitchell, Anton Stralman – with potential contributions from Chris Didomenico and Viktor Stalberg (perhaps even Jonas Gustavsson) – the Leafs are finally headed in the right direction. Imagine the possibilities three years from now.

Abetting this capacity is a management and scouting department that is the polar opposite of the 1980s, though it’s not entirely fair to judge those that attempted to thrive under Ballard’s repressive thumb. But, Burke, Wilson, and the posse assembled to grade up-and-coming NHL material, is solidly capable of providing the Maple Leafs long-term fruition. All that’s required is continued patience, and the determination to avoid bogus fulfillment.

***************

Wilson provided added insight to the saga, last season, of starting goalie Vesa Toskala. “He was banged up he didn’t come clean with us as to what was really ailing him,” said the coach about hip and groin injuries that required surgery. “I’ve been around Vesa for a long time and that’s just the way he is. The harder you dig [for answers], the more he puts up a wall of denial.

“His situation finally came out near the end of the season; only after Brian [Burke] kind of called him out in the papers (the GM openly criticized his No. 1 goalie while talking to reporters at the annual Conn Smythe Sports Celebrities Dinner in early February). Everything came forward for Vesa after that and it was probably the best thing Brian could have done. It enabled Vesa to get the treatment he needed a bit earlier and to be ahead of schedule in his rehab, which he is.”

E-mail howard.berger@rci.rogers.com

I dont think there is a shot in hell that The Leafs are better then last year, I actually think they got worse, a lot worse.

Neely4Life wrote:I dont think there is a shot in hell that The Leafs are better then last year, I actually think they got worse, a lot worse.

Well, hate him or hate him even more, the GM got better. Their goaltending went sideways, unless The Monster can steal the starting job in camp. Their defense improved ... for now; when Kaberle is moved, they are bigger, slower and will find it hard to move the puck. They might have the defense that we had at the start of last season.

Yeah, overall they probably got worse. I don't know about "a lot worse", but probably worse.

Im saying a lot worse in the sense everyone else except the Islanders look to be better in The East, while Toronto looks to be worse. If Kaberle is moved, Taylor Hall is a serious possibility.

You look at the teams that finished below them in Tampa (waaaay better then TO next year) and Atlanta (took 2 of Toronto's best players from last year) and Toronto is drafting in the bottom 3. The only team that is on the same level as Toronto in NYI and even then, a healthy Di Pietro they could actually surprise. I think the team that will have the biggest fall from grace though is going to be NYR... look for them to become the biggest joke in the league, again.

It's way too early to tell for a few teams. Like the Habs.

I can't make heads or tails of Montreal. On paper it looks like their top line will get murdered on a nightly basis, and unless Price does a 180 in his development they could seriously challenge the Leafs.

That is, of course, assuming the Leafs really are as bad as that. Burke is a good GM, and Wilson is a good coach -- I can say that even though I cannot stand either of them.

Philadelphia certainly looks like they got stronger, but if Emery does not do another 180, then they just blew their future on that Pronger trade and contract. Personally, I think Emery will show Murray that he was a little too quick on the target (too quick yet too late, in a way) but it's a big question mark.

Anyhow, it will be an interesting season. You never know what makes a team full of AHLers come together (like Buffalo a few years ago) or a team of superstars fall apart (you know who I'm talking about).

Stan Fischler shows us a different side of Brian Burke and tosses his tuppence into the ring regarding the Burkization of the Leaves.

BRIAN BURKE - PUTTING HIS MOUTH WHERE HIS MONEY IS
Stan Fischler, MaxHockey.com, July 14, 2009

You've got to love Brian Burke.

Or, hate him.

It goes both ways.

With me, it's the former.

I love the guy; always have ever since he showed me his sensitive side in the Summer of 1993.

My son, Simon, was in Manhattan's Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital
suffering from a severe heart ailment (cardiomyopathy), desperately awaiting a heart transplant.

The hockey world responded nobly; but nobody came through better than Burke; then general managing the Hartford Whalers.

Brian heard about Simon's plight and dispatched his goalie -- Simon had been a goaltender -- Sean Burke and forward Jim McKenzie to the hospital.

It was the kind of encouraging visit that other terrific hockey people (Mike Keenan, Mike Richter, et. al.) would make but this was extra special considering that the pair drove all the down from distant Connecticut to New York City; and then back.

A lot of folks are unaware of Brian's soft side and for good reason. Often -- maybe too often but I don't think so -- he comes off as hockey's version of Mister Bluster.

Nobody intimidates him; especially the media.

Burke has taken on journalists who consider themselves the toughest in the business and neutralized every last one of them.

This was easy in Hartford and Anaheim; less so in Vancouver and, now, in Toronto he's immersed in a lake of print piranas and has the voracious media fish on the run.

A disciple of Lou Lamoriello's "Be Pro Active" school of g.m.s, Burke has taken it to a new dimension, over-gabbing with the media types.

He displayed this verbally aggressive mode the moment he landed in Toronto and began tossing the Maple Leafs roster as if it his persona chef's salad.

Promising a more aggressive -- Anaheim-type -- team, Burke has imported an imposing collection of heavyweights some whom bear extra scrutiny.

The one The Maven likes best is Mike Komisarek, the ex-Canadien who bypassed his hometown Islanders for the Maple Leafs. He can play it tough and smart and will go down as one of Brian's best moves.

Not so wonderful is the addition of Colton (Don't Ever Confuse Me With Bobby) Orr; a large version of last year's Toronto toughie flopperoony, Ryan (Hit 'Em From Behind) Hollweg.

Orr has one -- and only one -- primary asset; he CAN fight.

He was a zealous battler under Tom Renney during the latter's reign as Rangers coach. Skating on a fourth line -- sometimes with Hollweg but almost always with Blair Betts -- Orr got more ice time than third-liners on other NHL clubs.

Colton worked his butt off to become a better player but the only area in which he improved was whacking foes in the head.

Give him credit, the left hooks and right crosses did wonders for Orr in the area of fiscal prowess. Burke admired him so much, he signed the free agent to a ridiculously fat contract which only will pay off if Toronto wins twenty times more games than Colton wins fights.

No matter; Burke vowed vim, vigor and vitality and Orr fits into that plan, for better or worse.

Brian's other compelling hire is Jonas Gustavsson, No meatball, this Swedish signee brings the best nickname any Leaf goalie has ever had. (And let's not forget that they boasted Walter "Turk" Broda, Frank "Ulcers" McCool and Harry "Applecheeks" Lumley.)

Never in NHL history has there been a puckstopper nicknamed "The Monster."

Appropriately, Tyrannosaurus-lover Burke nabbed him over the objections of several other meat-eating managers.

Menacing monicker notwithstanding, Gustavsson may not be the hotshot Brian hopes he'll be but there's always Vesa Toskala prepared to be Numero Uno so there's no gigantic worries there.

We have here the makings of a very, VERY compelling Toronto team. It's Burke's first from the outset and he'll be making mucho noise from tomorrow until season's end.

You won't see Brian's sensitive side the way our family did but that's not what Hogtown fans give a darn about.

What they want is what the bossman promised, a fighting and (hopefully) winning club.

They'll get plenty of the former with Komisarek, Orr, Inc. providing the aggression.

As for the wins, well, for the moment who cares?

There's big guy Burke to entertain us and that'll be just fine until the season opener.

That's just it. My impression is that the majority of Leaf nation just wants their team to be tough. Forget the win column, unless you're talking about fights. The Hits column will be more important than goals for or against. If, at the end of the game their opponents have less teeth, more bruises and more injuries than Leafs then score one for TO. I'm sure that may wear off if they continue to miss the playoffs but even if they can scrap their way in and win a round or 2 here and there then that'll be enough to keep them satisfied.

davetherave wrote:

BRIAN BURKE - PUTTING HIS MOUTH WHERE HIS MONEY IS

You mean near his wallet, which is in his back-pocket. Yeah, Burke putting his head up his a**.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:That's just it. My impression is that the majority of Leaf nation just wants their team to be tough. Forget the win column, unless you're talking about fights. The Hits column will be more important than goals for or against. If, at the end of the game their opponents have less teeth, more bruises and more injuries than Leafs then score one for TO. I'm sure that may wear off if they continue to miss the playoffs but even if they can scrap their way in and win a round or 2 here and there then that'll be enough to keep them satisfied.

They'd have to win enough of the first 82 games to get in first, though, and I don't think they can this season. It may take a couple of years with top-five picks to start getting respectable again, and by that time some of these tough guys are either getting slower/older or their contracts are up.

I think he's building a rough team so that these top-five guys come in and learn to play tough. And until then, at least the blue-collar fans will continue to be entertained.

wprager wrote:

davetherave wrote:

BRIAN BURKE - PUTTING HIS MOUTH WHERE HIS MONEY IS

You mean near his wallet, which is in his back-pocket. Yeah, Burke putting his head up his a**.

No, I don't mean that, as I didn't write the article. Stan Fischler did. And I doubt Stan did either.

But as an evident Burke hater, you are absolutely clear about where you stand.

With all the d-men The Burke has on his roster, the Tommy Kaberle rumour machine continues to churn...this from ESPN today...

TRADES: So who still wants Kaberle?
ESPN INSIDER, July 27, 2009

Tomas Kaberle | Maple Leafs | Interested: Sabres? Canucks? Blues?

The Blues, Canucks and Sabres are still interested in Tomas Kaberle, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Hockey Guy.

This comes after Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke said he's not talking to anyone about the winger, and that he's not actively seeking a trade.

"It's interesting, I watched JP's (Blue Jays GM Ricciardi) comments about Doc Halladay and I feel the same way. We're going to talk about this every day until the 'no-trade' goes away. It's the nature of the business I guess," Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke told TSN.

If he moves Kaberle, then you can bet a solid forward is coming back - but Burke will want the team to take Stempniak as well (he sucks).

If he can get a real center at some point, the Leafs might start looking pretty serious. VanRyn and White will have to be the prominent puck movers, which is an issue though because Komisarek and Beauchemin will eat up 25 minutes a game, while Schenn and VanRyn would get 20 ish.

We'll see what happens. Burke can't be done yet.

Brian Burke just reacquired his 2nd rounder today.



http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=290103

Well, it looks like Mr. Kessel should be receiving a hefty fax tonight...
5mil per?

Isn't Burke the same guy who ripped Lowe for submitting RFA sheets prior to Penner, or maybe it was Penner. Anyway, funny how now he's ok with the thought of stealing someone elses RFA away.

Kessel isn't going anywhere as Boston will match and ultimately turn the tables on Burke in the future.

We might want to wait before judging Burke. As of right now, it`s still a pick swap.

Who will Kessel play with anyway? I still want to see what this guy can do without Savard. IN toronto he`s gonna probably be their best forward and will have to handle it.

If I'm Burkie, next offseason I offer MVR or Kaberle to Chicago for Campbell, Beach and a 1st round pick to give the 'Hawks some breathing room to re-sign their core.

The offer's going to have to be pretty serious too - at least 2 1sts, a 2nd and a 3rd, and potentially 4 1sts.

I would have no problem with the Leafs giving up their next 4 first round picks. cool)

asq2 wrote:The offer's going to have to be pretty serious too - at least 2 1sts, a 2nd and a 3rd, and potentially 4 1sts.

I would have no problem with the Leafs giving up their next 4 first round picks. cool)

That would set them back so far it's not funny. Who will Kessel play with? I suppose he helps them complete ONE good scoring line with Blake and Hagman, but after that the floor falls out.

If they are giving up 4 1sts, or even 2 1st, 2nd, 3rd, they'd better be getting Malkin or the like.

Kessel is not worth either of those two draft pick packages no matter what anyone thinks of picks.

Jordo wrote:Well, it looks like Mr. Kessel should be receiving a hefty fax tonight...
5mil per?

Yeah, the move by the Leafs makes it look like they are getting ready to submit an offer sheet on someone. Interesting...

Rumours are flying it's Kessel.