This is debateable ,i suppose if it where nonis handing out contracts then Toronto fans need to be concerned.But BB was just the wrong man for the Toronto job ,he lacks patience ,is a firey competitor and will do anything to win .When in reality Toronto needed to do everything in their power to lose ,and be ok with it knowing that the would be better in the long run for it

- top shelf 15

Toronto lost a lot when Burke was here.

It's hard to say if their future would be brighter with Seguin, Hamilton, Kadri, and Rielly over Kessel, Kadri, and Rielly. Neither core looks like a future cup winning core.

BB has many tallents ,but building a team through the draft and making the small budget deals that dont tie up cap and roster space to younger blossoming players isnt one of them .

BB is a closer ,he has the guts to take a young rebuilt team that has a deep prospect pool and cash to burn on a cup run.Toronto needed a patient GM ,that built up his prospect pool and aquired smart short term veterans. To help brace the young tallent emerging from said pool.

BB dipped too early into the prospect pool ,and traded the meat, of what was supposed to be a complete teardown and rebuild .This isnt to say that Kessel isnt worth what Toronto gave up because Kessel is a spectacular winger .The timing of the trade however was really bad .Toronto,s roster lacked almost everything ,most rebuilding teams dont look to trade high picks for looking for a big raise goalscoring wingers.They do however look to make those deals on more crucial parts of the ice like top line centers or top pairing defenders.Which ironically is what Toronto gave up in potentialy Seguin and Hamiliton
- top shelf 15

Kadri is a better top line centre than Seguin is right now. Seguin has never played centre @ the NHL level. And Burke added Gardiner, he looks very promising. He also drafted Rielly, who was taken @ a higher spot than Hamilton.

The problem with the Kessel deal has been people handing superstardom to Seguin/Hamilton (And some to Knight believe it or not) before they played a NHl game.

And you're calling Burke a "Finisher" because of Anaheim. The problem is he did build that team. The team had a terrible roster when he joined them.

He gave up enough for him ,i dont hate BB i just think it should and could have been done far better than it was .He wanted to win far too fast ,now Toronto while the team is far better than what he started with .It still lacks in the most important areas that make a decent team great
- top shelf 15

Disagree completely.

I think it did, but not as much as him being a jerk.

I'm not exactly pulling this out of the air. Even Spatso said this. And many top hockey journalists have said they did not like Burke.
- RogerRoeper

True.

I think the Kessel trade was at the root of many of Burke's hockey related problems. But, he lost his job because MLSE were unhappy about some off ice stuff. Had he made the playoffs for a few years the off ice stuff might have been discounted.

Disagree completely.
- RogerRoeper

First line center??number one defender??two pretty big pieces if you ask me .

Kadri is a better top line centre than Seguin is right now. Seguin has never played centre @ the NHL level. And Burke added Gardiner, he looks very promising. He also drafted Rielly, who was taken @ a higher spot than Hamilton.

The problem with the Kessel deal has been people handing superstardom to Seguin/Hamilton (And some to Knight believe it or not) before they played a NHl game.

And you're calling Burke a "Finisher" because of Anaheim. The problem is he did build that team. The team had a terrible roster when he joined them.
- RogerRoeper

Wrong look at the roster and some of its pieces,then look at their prospect pool which included perry and getzlaf

Kadri is a better top line centre than Seguin is right now. Seguin has never played centre @ the NHL level. And Burke added Gardiner, he looks very promising. He also drafted Rielly, who was taken @ a higher spot than Hamilton.

The problem with the Kessel deal has been people handing superstardom to Seguin/Hamilton (And some to Knight believe it or not) before they played a NHl game.

And you're calling Burke a "Finisher" because of Anaheim. The problem is he did build that team. The team had a terrible roster when he joined them.
- RogerRoeper

There lies the problem a one two punch at center consisting of kadri and seguin looks far better than what you have right now .Also a blueline with both reilly and hamilton looks superior as well not to mention probably cheaper as well

First line center??number one defender??two pretty big pieces if you ask me .
- top shelf 15

Kadri, Phaneuf/Rielly/Gardiner.

There lies the problem a one two punch at center consisting of kadri and seguin looks far better than what you have right now .Also a blueline with both reilly and hamilton looks superior as well not to mention probably cheaper as well

- top shelf 15

Rielly and Gardiner looks fine.

And if we have Seguin, we don't have the superior Kessel.

Rielly and Gardiner looks fine.

And if we have Seguin, we don't have the superior Kessel.
- RogerRoeper

Yes cool you have some great wingers ,but you need depth down the middle to win and toronto doesnt have that {kadri notwithstanding}As for the defense Gardener and reilly look like decent prospects but their games are not ready for prime time yet

Yes cool you have some great wingers ,but you need depth down the middle to win and toronto doesnt have that {kadri notwithstanding}As for the defense Gardener and reilly look like decent prospects but their games are not ready for prime time yet
- top shelf 15

Rielly is decent but Hamilton is a franchise defenseman!

Gardiner looked terrific in the playoffs. Much more ready than Hamilton is.

Kadri, Phaneuf/Rielly/Gardiner.
- RogerRoeper

Ok so this crew will be able to go against guys like ,Toews,Getzlaf,Datsuk,Crosby, Malkin etc up front And number 1 defenders like Chara ,Karlsson,AP,Webber,letang ,subban ETC.I didnt mention the other two because they are still just prospects and therefore question marks .Yeah GL with that dream

Rielly is decent but Hamilton is a franchise defenseman!

Gardiner looked terrific in the playoffs. Much more ready than Hamilton is.
- RogerRoeper

No where did i say anything of the sort ,i only mentioned a hamilton along with a seguin would look pretty good right now on toronto,s roster .

Right now Toronto needs these to compete for a cup:

-A #1 center
-An elite #1 defenseman
-An elite goalie
-More depth

If Toronto had Seguin and Hamilton instead of Kessel they'd need:

-A #1 center
-An elite #1 defenseman
-An elite goalie
-An elite goal scoring winger

Right now Toronto needs these to compete for a cup:

-A #1 center
-An elite #1 defenseman
-An elite goalie
-More depth

If Toronto had Seguin and Hamilton instead of Kessel they'd need:

-A #1 center
-An elite #1 defenseman
-An elite goalie
-An elite goal scoring winger
- daeth

Have you ever watched an actual Leafs game?

Have you ever watched an actual Leafs game?
- Flyfreaky

people watch hockey?

people watch hockey?
- daeth

I'll take that as a "no"

I'll take that as a "no"
- Flyfreaky

You think they need more or less than that to compete for a cup?

Other than Kessel Toronto basically just has a bunch of decent depth players and some potential (Kadri, Gardiner, Rielly, etc). As of now they don't really have any of the harder to get pieces like a Toews, Keith, Crosby, Malkin, Chara or whatever.

They're better off than they were but they're not exactly on the cusp of greatness lol.

You think they need more or less than that to compete for a cup?

Other than Kessel Toronto basically just has a bunch of decent depth players and some potential (Kadri, Gardiner, Rielly, etc). As of now they don't really have any of the harder to get pieces like a Toews, Keith, Crosby, Malkin, Chara or whatever.

They're better off than they were but they're not exactly on the cusp of greatness lol.
- daeth

They don't need sh*t to win the Cup...they were one win away from winning it all last year

They don't need sh*t to win the Cup...they were one win away from winning it all last year
- Flyfreaky

i forgot

i forgot
- daeth

See, this is what I'm talking about

it's not like i was even watching that series, cut me some slack

it's not like i was even watching that series, cut me some slack
- daeth

hold on... you think the firing of an NHL gm had nothing to do with hockey?



- Crimsoninja

I do.... since the guy that fired him said exactly that.

I do.... since the guy that fired him said exactly that.
- burn

So naive