Yep Burke was brutal in Toronto, and anyone who argues against that needs to give their head a shake.

Of course Max is one to defend him, no surprise there.
- LeafGuy89

Burke tried to fast track a rebuild. His giant ego made him want to grab headlines by acquiring Kessel and Phaneuf. There was nothing wrong with those moves. He totally fleeced Calgary in the Phaneuf trade. Kessel was just entering his prime.

Problem was that Burke tried to make these guys franchise players and they're not. Phaneuf was a good 3/4 defenseman and Kessel was a first line scoring winger. But he can't be your best player if you want to win anything.

Marian Hossa was a very good star winger for his entire career. But he was never going to be a franchise player. He fit perfectly with the Pens, Wings and Hawks as a secondary star player. That's why Kessel succeeded in Pittsburgh and helped them win 2 Cups. Kane and Toews were the main guys in Chicago and Hossa was the complimentary star.

Burke took all the credit for the Ducks winning the Cup in 2007. But it was Bryan Murray who built that team. Sure Burke traded for Pronger and signed Niedermayer. But he was going to sign there no matter what because he wanted to play with his brother.

Burke described the Leafs GM job like being handed the keys to the Vatican. He thought he was the Pope and everything he did would be blessed. But he was a reactive GM.

Not a proactive GM. He flew by the seat of his pants and kept chasing after his own tail. He was all about the short term quick fix. But in doing that he destroyed the long term future of the Leafs.

He had all the cool catch phrases which the Leaf fanbase ate right up. But his Leafs teams were never truculent, belligerent, pugnastic. They only arrived with ill humour in the dressing room after their latest loss.

Burke is a blow hard. A Don Cherry wannabe without the personality. He does know hockey but not as much as he thinks he does. Especially with how the game is played today. Too many excuses and not enough results is how I'd sum up Burke's tenure in Toronto.

Burke tried to fast track a rebuild. His giant ego made him want to grab headlines by acquiring Kessel and Phaneuf. There was nothing wrong with those moves. He totally fleeced Calgary in the Phaneuf trade. Kessel was just entering his prime.

Problem was that Burke tried to make these guys franchise players and they're not. Phaneuf was a good 3/4 defenseman and Kessel was a first line scoring winger. But he can't be your best player if you want to win anything.

Marian Hossa was a very good star winger for his entire career. But he was never going to be a franchise player. He fit perfectly with the Pens, Wings and Hawks as a secondary star player. That's why Kessel succeeded in Pittsburgh and helped them win 2 Cups. Kane and Toews were the main guys in Chicago and Hossa was the complimentary star.

Burke took all the credit for the Ducks winning the Cup in 2007. But it was Bryan Murray who built that team. Sure Burke traded for Pronger and signed Niedermayer. But he was going to sign there no matter what because he wanted to play with his brother.

Burke described the Leafs GM job like being handed the keys to the Vatican. He thought he was the Pope and everything he did would be blessed. But he was a reactive GM.

Not a proactive GM. He flew by the seat of his pants and kept chasing after his own tail. He was all about the short term quick fix. But in doing that he destroyed the long term future of the Leafs.

He had all the cool catch phrases which the Leaf fanbase ate right up. But his Leafs teams were never truculent, belligerent, pugnastic. They only arrived with ill humour in the dressing room after their latest loss.

Burke is a blow hard. A Don Cherry wannabe without the personality. He does know hockey but not as much as he thinks he does. Especially with how the game is played today. Too many excuses and not enough results is how I'd sum up Burke's tenure in Toronto.
- gergeswillems

Ego is it exactly. I’m too smart to have to go through a normal rebuild

this is great news, I would stick my wallet in the pump handle to keep the gas flowing

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ca...Anthem&utm_source=twitter
- senstroll

or just hold the trigger with your hand
Didnt know not having these was an issue for anyone.

or just hold the trigger with you hand
Didnt know not having these was an issue for anyone.


- Fakepartofme

Yeah but what if you don't have hands fakesie

Yes.
- Burkefection

Oh... Ok

The Leafs' last 50 years can be divided into two distinct eras:

The Ballard Years (1968-1991). He truly didn't give a poop about winning.



He's the worst owner in the world history of professional sports. Worse than Marge Schott. He was franking horrible.

He hated any player who the fans loved - it was a weird ego thing (except for Salming, despite the fact that he franking hated all Europeans). He used the Leafs' revenues like a private slush fund (and went to jail for it). He traded Lanny McDonald out of spite - because he tried to trade Sittler, but Sittler had a NTC, so he traded Sittler's best friend. He fired Roger Nielson, then rehired him, then asked him to wear a paper bag to the bench and take it off to reveal he was the coach again. I could go on and on and on and on.

Next era: 1991-the dawn of the Shanny plan. The myth of "they don't want to win" lives on, despite the fact that the exact opposite was true: they wanted to win too much. Always trading away picks and prospects for aging veterans. They were always top of the salary heap, and they were always falling short. And after they would fall short, the vets would go away, and guess what? No young kids were there to replace them.

Owen Nolan. Phil Housley. Brian Leech. Tom Barrasso. Ron Francis. Gary Roberts. Joe Niewendyk. Once again, I could go on and on and on and on.

Now we are finally doing it properly - or at least I thought. We've once again traded away our last two first rounders. It's not a good sign.

Rinse. Repeat.
- Atomic Wedgie

Agree with all of it. I'd only break it down further by saying that 91' - 03' had a lot of success in terms of playoff games.

91-94' was a (frank) the past/reward the fans and go for it stretch by Fletcher. After 20 years of suffering we will always love those years and the players associated with them.

99'-04' was the Pat Quinn era and the big coach was always about sacrificing the future for the now. They were pretty good/close during that stretch too.

I don't have a huge problem with the way they ran things from 91' to 04'. The real bullpoop was 05' to 15' . They hired Jr. in 03' with the promise of a rebuild but bad trades, drafts and then some poopty short term signings ruined any chance at high picks. Then you've Burke/Nonis - complete bullpoop. Vague direction. Poor decisions.

15' onwards is TBD. I like what I've seen. They clearly for the first time decided to bottom out and build around some elite draft n develop guys. Dubas hasn't made any short term veteran signings (yet). The pick for Muzzin was at least for a guy with some term and the pick for Marleau sucked but was at least done to allow them to stick to the plan of keeping the young elites together.

I'm much more entertained by the Leafs now than at any other point in my brief life.
- TheMussel

the team with Roberts Sundin, Mo, Joe, Tucker, Owen Nolan, leetch and Francis were pretty exciting.
Actually from 2000 - 2003 were really fun teams. Lots of heart and talent.

Yeah but what if you don't have hands fakesie
- TheMussel

Then wtf are you doing driving?

the team with Roberts Sundin, Mo, Joe, Tucker, Owen Nolan, leetch and Francis were pretty exciting.
Actually from 2000 - 2003 were really fun teams. Lots of heart and talent.
- Fakepartofme

I think the best Leafs team I've seen is the 1993 one which eliminated the Red Wings in 7. 😡 Great blend of skill and toughness. I still wonder if they would've beaten the Habs in the SCF. Roy was on such a roll though. I still think Montreal wins. But it would've been a much better SCF than the Habs/Kings.

I think the best Leafs team I've seen is the 1993 one which eliminated the Red Wings in 7. 😡 I still wonder if they would've beaten the Habs in the SCG. Roy was on such a roll though. I still think Montreal wins. But it would've been a much better SCF than the Habs/Kings.
- gergeswillems

I honestly feel like that team would have beaten the habs.

Ah well.
At least they came close again in .......or........ah nevermind.

Then wtf are you doing driving?
- Fakepartofme

My friend only has one hand and she drives because she has to go a long distance for work.

Maybe some no hands people are the same?

the team with Roberts Sundin, Mo, Joe, Tucker, Owen Nolan, leetch and Francis were pretty exciting.
Actually from 2000 - 2003 were really fun teams. Lots of heart and talent.
- Fakepartofme

Still believe they'd have a cup final appearance during that stretch had Domi not selfishly hit Niedermeyer into the boards late/from behind.

My friends only has one hand and she drives because she has to go a long distance for work.

Maybe some no hands people are the same?
- GreatGigInTheSky

Well one hand, yes.....still able to drive automatic.

But those no hands people.....always cause traffic jams.

You've lost the point of this argument.

You stated that it would have been insulting to fans for the Leafs to do a proper rebuild.

Not winning a playoff series since 2004 is much more insulting.
- Atomic Wedgie

I'm not disagreeing with you (about the playoffs part).
I'm just saying that with the Leafs' advantages (financial advantages mainly) compared with 80% of other teams in league, it is possible to do a quick rebuild and still be successful with it in playoffs.
The bad drafting alone is a sign of utter mismanagement of Leafs' teams - and frankly no real reasons to believe there was a big improvement of drafting over last 5 years (yet).

Well one hand, yes.....still able to drive automatic.

But those no hands people.....always cause traffic jams.


- Fakepartofme

Still believe they'd have a cup final appearance during that stretch had Domi not selfishly hit Niedermeyer into the boards late/from behind.
- The Law

I think you mean in the face/late/from right in front of him.

My brother was at that game, and he still says he was personally terrified by Stevens in the penalty box. He thought he was going to come out of the box and kill everyone in the arena.

I think you mean in the face/late/from right in front of him.

My brother was at that game, and he still says he was personally terrified by Stevens in the penalty box. He thought he was going to come out of the box and kill everyone in the arena.


- Atomic Wedgie

Love the title. "Incident"

I think you mean in the face/late/from right in front of him.

My brother was at that game, and he still says he was personally terrified by Stevens in the penalty box. He thought he was going to come out of the box and kill everyone in the arena.


- Atomic Wedgie

Yup, Domi was a dumbfack.
Imagine someone did that to one the current leafs now....man this Leafs team would......well.....they....they would do absolutely nothing.....maybe tweet about it afterwards.

Glad they got rid of that crap from the game.

this is great news, I would stick my wallet in the pump handle to keep the gas flowing

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ca...Anthem&utm_source=twitter
- senstroll

Hmm I guess CTV is unaware that these clips have continued to exist in other parts of Canada. I'd say at least half the pumps in Western Canada still have.

I fell your pain though. I get so ticked off when I happen upon a pump that doesn't have. Then I make it a point never to go to that god awful station again.

Hmm I guess CTV is unaware that these clips have continued to exist in other parts of Canada. I'd say at least half the pumps in Western Canada still have.

I fell your pain though. I get so ticked off when I happen upon a pump that doesn't have. Then I make it a point never to go to that god awful station again.
- viper488

First world problems eh.
Cant hold the trigger while pumping gas.

The horror.



Wait a minute.....there's a "western part" of Canada?

Yup, Domi was a dumbfack.
Imagine someone did that to one the current leafs now....man this Leafs team would......well.....they....they would do absolutely nothing.....maybe tweet about it afterwards.

Glad they got rid of that crap from the game.
- Fakepartofme

The weird thing was, it was the greatest game Domi ever played. He was about to be named the first game star.

The weird thing was, it was the greatest game Domi ever played. He was about to be named the first game star.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yes well when a complete idiot gets too excited....

Wait a minute.....there's a "western part" of Canada?



- Fakepartofme

There sure is. It's called Thunder Bay. And for a few brave souls who have ventured even further West there's a remote outpost called Kenora. After that who the (frank) knows?

There sure is. It's called Thunder Bay. And for a few brave souls who have ventured even further West there's a remote outpost called Kenora. After that who the (frank) knows?
- viper488

For the record, Kenora has more Stanley Cups than Buffalo.

For the record, Kenora has more Stanley Cups than Buffalo.
- Atomic Wedgie

Winnipeg and Buffalo combined.