Glad we didn't get Schultz. Who wants a guy who puts laxatives in his teammates' energy drink before a playoff game and who doesn't hand in his best friend's research paper on the astrological significance of Stonehenge because he put it in his hockey bag and it got all wet but he said he did causing his friend to fail school and his parents to divorce.
- Mr. Shocky

what?

Brutal for the LEafs.
- burn

Gives us our much needed 1st line center, Kulemin is a question mark, was his 30 goal season a fluke? Grabovski is overpaid for a second line center, Bozak can fill that spot much cheaper and basically with the same results. If all the said moves were made, they'd be expendable.

Our top 2 lines would be set.

Parise/Stastny/Kessel
JVR/Bozak/Lupul

Burkie makes his own free agent frenzy starting date.


Burkie rule # 117
- robin_steele264

"I won't bother players on July 1st because I think that's the time they want to spend with their families. So I tell my guys, don't worry. You'll get an offer from me, just at a time that's more convenient for all of us."

right, I did see that.... so he'll get crap for that. Marching in the parade instead of signing UFAs.
- burn

Meh, Loiselle is the one who deals with all the contracts anyways. Burke only gives the okay.

Which can easily be done by a phone call.


Plus, marching in the pride parade will probably take him an hour or soemthing.

I doubt it'll be that long. So really, depending on the time he's marching in it, I don't think it'll make much of a difference.

My only thing about his not being around to do his job on Free Agency days is what are all the other GMs doing? Are there other GMs who aren't in the "war room" as they like to say? If so then it's just overblown because it's in Toronto and who cares.

But if 29 other GMs are all in their office, personally making calls to players/agents and showing up in person to things like the Parise (or Richards last year) pitches, then I have a problem with it.
- deerow84

I have a problem with it regardless. You should be personally approaching Parise. I'm sure he'll find it offensive if the GM of a club cannot make it to the presentation. Shows how much the club really wants him. I just don't get Burke sometimes.

My only thing about his not being around to do his job on Free Agency days is what are all the other GMs doing? Are there other GMs who aren't in the "war room" as they like to say? If so then it's just overblown because it's in Toronto and who cares.

But if 29 other GMs are all in their office, personally making calls to players/agents and showing up in person to things like the Parise (or Richards last year) pitches, then I have a problem with it.
- deerow84

A. You don't think that Burke was connected? It's the 21st century, you don't have to be sitting next to each other to talk.

B. Burke has full confidence in his group (Nonis and Loiselle handle the contract).

It was overblown BS because it's Toronto and it's the Leafs.

I said he should be a major player in the sweepstakes. As in make a legit attempt at landing him. I never said he fails if we don't land him. I just don't want him to shy away from overpaying or a longer term.
- harza

Until he figures out that the league has changed and if you want to get a big name guy you have to give them a contract more than 5 years he will never land a big name free agent. It just won't happen. Richards got a big long deal, Parise will get a big long one today...even Staal got a 10 year deal, Luongo with his team, etc. etc.

I have a problem with it regardless. You should be personally approaching Parise. I'm sure he'll find it offensive if the GM of a club cannot make it to the presentation. Shows how much the club really wants him. I just don't get Burke sometimes.
- harza

burke doesnt even want parise or suter

I heard that Burke was at a BBQ when he made the Phaneuf deal. He actually made the deal holding a rib in one hand and sauce all over his face - he was using an earpiece. So yeah, he doesn't have to be at his desk today.

I have a problem with it regardless. You should be personally approaching Parise. I'm sure he'll find it offensive if the GM of a club cannot make it to the presentation. Shows how much the club really wants him. I just don't get Burke sometimes.
- harza

Is Burke supposed to sign Parise with money he doesn't have?



Better yet, how do you know Burke hasn't already talked to his agent, and he was told Parise has 0 interest in playing for the Leafs?

A. You don't think that Burke was connected? It's the 21st century, you don't have to be sitting next to each other to talk.

B. Burke has full confidence in his group (Nonis and Loiselle handle the contract).

It was overblown BS because it's Toronto and it's the Leafs.
- burn

It is clear disrespect to a player like Parise if the GM of the club does not show up to the meeting. It is unprofessional, and if I was the player I'd feel the club didn't truly value my services. Especially if I've heard stories of the GM flying out to Sweden to sign an overhyped goalie and a pair of soft sisters.

Gives us our much needed 1st line center, Kulemin is a question mark, was his 30 goal season a fluke? Grabovski is overpaid for a second line center, Bozak can fill that spot much cheaper and basically with the same results. If all the said moves were made, they'd be expendable.

Our top 2 lines would be set.

Parise/Stastny/Kessel
JVR/Bozak/Lupul
- ThePresident

Grabs last 2 years>>>>>>> better than Stastny and he's cheaper. It's (frank)ing brutal.

How is Grabs overpaied 2nd liner when he makes less than the guy you are getting and is producing more. Brutal.

He was out east (Nova Scotia??) earlier this week...... No doubt not in Toronto and going to take big heat (Stupid) for it.
- burn

That's right... I forgot the heat from last year for the Richards sweepstakes.

Gives us our much needed 1st line center, Kulemin is a question mark, was his 30 goal season a fluke? Grabovski is overpaid for a second line center, Bozak can fill that spot much cheaper and basically with the same results. If all the said moves were made, they'd be expendable.

Our top 2 lines would be set.

Parise/Stastny/Kessel
JVR/Bozak/Lupul
- ThePresident

I love the skillset but holy crap that would be the smallest first line in league history...

"I won't bother players on July 1st because I think that's the time they want to spend with their families. So I tell my guys, don't worry. You'll get an offer from me, just at a time that's more convenient for all of us."
- weirdoh

Meh, Loiselle is the one who deals with all the contracts anyways. Burke only gives the okay.

Which can easily be done by a phone call.


Plus, marching in the pride parade will probably take him an hour or soemthing.

I doubt it'll be that long. So really, depending on the time he's marching in it, I don't think it'll make much of a difference.
- jbold

I know.

I have a problem with it regardless. You should be personally approaching Parise. I'm sure he'll find it offensive if the GM of a club cannot make it to the presentation. Shows how much the club really wants him. I just don't get Burke sometimes.
- harza

Why does this poop come up EVERY year? You have no idea what goes on, for all you know they could have a meeting scheduled for 2pm; they may not even be in on Parise or Suter (which Burke said last week when he was in Nova Scotia).

And here's a newsflash: this crop of FAs is garbage; there's very very little worth taking on salary-wise because we still have three ugly contracts we'd have to deal with. Anybody worth bidding on has already been decided, has already had a price tag associated with it, and Loiselle, Nonis, etc. are all more than capable of signing a bottom 6 guy.

If I was a GM, I could easily circumvent the salary cap. Say I had only 4 mill to work with and Aki Berg wanted 6 mill. Well, I would give him 4 on the contract, but then give his son the extra 2 mill over the year out of petty cash.

I heard that Burke was at a BBQ when he made the Phaneuf deal. He actually made the deal holding a rib in one hand and sauce all over his face - he was using an earpiece. So yeah, he doesn't have to be at his desk today.
- Mr. Shocky

Are you high?

It is clear disrespect to a player like Parise if the GM of the club does not show up to the meeting. It is unprofessional, and if I was the player I'd feel the club didn't truly value my services. Especially if I've heard stories of the GM flying out to Sweden to sign an overhyped goalie and a pair of soft sisters.
- harza

Is Burke supposed to sign Parise with money he doesn't have?



Better yet, how do you know Burke hasn't already talked to his agent, and he was told Parise has 0 interest in playing for the Leafs?
- jbold

We have 14m in cap space. What money do we not have?

The 0 interest thing is a stupid argument, because its something none of us know. All I'm saying is that Burke should be prepared to overpay for Parise. I understand we're not his top destination. But an extra 2m/year might change his mind.

I have a problem with it regardless. You should be personally approaching Parise. I'm sure he'll find it offensive if the GM of a club cannot make it to the presentation. Shows how much the club really wants him. I just don't get Burke sometimes.
- harza

Maybe the Parade route finishes at Newport sports in Mississauga???

A. You don't think that Burke was connected? It's the 21st century, you don't have to be sitting next to each other to talk.

B. Burke has full confidence in his group (Nonis and Loiselle handle the contract).

It was overblown BS because it's Toronto and it's the Leafs.
- burn

The best way to do business is face to face.... belly to belly....

It is clear disrespect to a player like Parise if the GM of the club does not show up to the meeting. It is unprofessional, and if I was the player I'd feel the club didn't truly value my services. Especially if I've heard stories of the GM flying out to Sweden to sign an overhyped goalie and a pair of soft sisters.
- harza

Meh.

It is clear disrespect to a player like Parise if the GM of the club does not show up to the meeting. It is unprofessional, and if I was the player I'd feel the club didn't truly value my services. Especially if I've heard stories of the GM flying out to Sweden to sign an overhyped goalie and a pair of soft sisters.
- harza

He.

Is.

Not.

Signing.

Parise.

Grow up, Christ.