Shortened season, Burke needs to make the playoffs, if everyone else stays hot for the usual half season they are playoff, nay, cup final bound with this guy.

What a bunch of horse sh!t. I wonder how many concussions Johnny Bower got playing against the likes of JFJ senior and his ilk playing for three grand a year. I play real hockey too so I don't have to worry about watching hockey like the rest of you losers.

If the deal is as rumoured then IMO it's a steal for Toronto.

I called it

If the deal is as rumoured then IMO it's a steal for Toronto.
- willey101

what bozak kadri and a pick? thats TERRIBLE

what bozak kadri and a pick? thats TERRIBLE
- nightmare3020

Its all about perspective.

Its all about perspective.
- Pie

yes, trading bozak kadri and a pic for lunongo and his contract is terrible from the perspective of leaf fans

Its all about perspective.
- Pie

It's terrible because we're not ready to compete yet. We don't need good goaltending until we're at that stage... At the moment, picks and prospects are more important.

It's terrible because we're not ready to compete yet. We don't need good goaltending until we're at that stage... At the moment, picks and prospects are more important.
- mfreedman

This guy gets it. Toronto needs to stop cutting corners. Draft and develop elite cornerstones to build around..... THEN build around them.

This guy gets it. Toronto needs to stop cutting corners. Draft and develop elite cornerstones to build around..... THEN build around them.
- gretzky

It's a tough one. The team has been suffering for some time now and biting the bullet and sucking for another five years will be a tough pill to swallow for many of its fans.

It's a tough one. The team has been suffering for some time now and biting the bullet and sucking for another five years will be a tough pill to swallow for many of its fans.
- Cptmjl

True. Only Burke and his predecessors to blame though..

Problem is, IMO Toronto ownership won't allow the team to go through the "slum" years to reap the rewards down the road. They will likely continue to make short sighted moves to fast track themselves back into the playoffs.

True. Only Burke and his predecessors to blame though..

Problem is, IMO Toronto ownership won't allow the team to go through the "slum" years to reap the rewards down the road. They will likely continue to make short sighted moves to fast track themselves back into the playoffs.
- gretzky

Burke can't really be blamed for Toronto sucking right now. That's really all on the guys who came before him.

The only truly bad move he made hasn't had a negative impact on them yet. So far Kessel has been better than Seguin and Hamilton/Knight haven't played in the NHL yet. In the future they'll feel it but their lack of success up to now has more to do with JFJ than Burke.

Burke can't really be blamed for Toronto sucking right now. That's really all on the guys who came before him.

The only truly bad move he made hasn't had a negative impact on them yet. So far Kessel has been better than Seguin and Hamilton/Knight haven't played in the NHL yet. In the future they'll feel it but their lack of success up to now has more to do with JFJ than Burke.
- daeth

It was Burke's lack of a true direction that was the problem. He cut waaay too many corners in your "rebuild".

You had a great opportunity to tank the last few years and you would be building around 18-20 year old elite prospects/players right now. Burke left you guys a much smaller window to win

Burke can't really be blamed for Toronto sucking right now. That's really all on the guys who came before him.

The only truly bad move he made hasn't had a negative impact on them yet. So far Kessel has been better than Seguin and Hamilton/Knight haven't played in the NHL yet. In the future they'll feel it but their lack of success up to now has more to do with JFJ than Burke.
- daeth

The leafs sucking now is not really the problem. The problem with burke is he tried to speed up the rebuild and the team is suffering because of it. The kessel deal was bad and i think they should have tried to get prospects and picks in the Phaneuf deal as well as the Kubina deal. If they would have traded Grabovski and maybe Lupul you would have been stacked with prospects. Instead you have a non playoff team with some prospects

It's a gamble either way. I would've preferred a full blown tank job but at the same time it would not have guaranteed anything either. There are teams like the Jackets and Islanders who've been awful forever and still aren't showing any signs of ever being any good.

True. Only Burke and his predecessors to blame though..

Problem is, IMO Toronto ownership won't allow the team to go through the "slum" years to reap the rewards down the road. They will likely continue to make short sighted moves to fast track themselves back into the playoffs.
- gretzky

I've been slumming it for about twelve years since we have had an even decent team, It's a tough racket and I got probably a few years to go before we are competing. Sucking doesn't always work.

I've been slumming it for about twelve years since we have had an even decent team, It's a tough racket and I got probably a few years to go before we are competing. Sucking doesn't always work.
- Cptmjl

Ya you have to have a decent scouting department as well. NYI has had some tough breaks with prospects. That being said, I think NYI has some nice pieces to build around and will be a much better team in the future.

Ya you have to have a decent scouting department as well. NYI has had some tough breaks with prospects. That being said, I think NYI has some nice pieces to build around and will be a much better team in the future.
- gretzky

They have a couple nice players and one blue chip and some decent prospects. It's time to start adding pieces. You can't do it solely through the draft.

It's a gamble either way. I would've preferred a full blown tank job but at the same time it would not have guaranteed anything either. There are teams like the Jackets and Islanders who've been awful forever and still aren't showing any signs of ever being any good.
- daeth

It is always a gamble but wouldn't you rather take a chance with some high picks over hoping later picks pan out?

The Leafs have three top 5 picks from 2006 or later on their roster, and one top 7 pick. It's not like the Leafs have been stuck with 12th overall picks or anything.

They have a couple nice players and one blue chip and some decent prospects. It's time to start adding pieces. You can't do it solely through the draft.
- Cptmjl

The cornerstones need to be acquired thru draft as they are rarely traded. The rest of the puzzle can be filled in via trade/UFA signings.

The Leafs have three top 5 picks from 2006 or later on their roster, and one top 7 pick. It's not like the Leafs have been stuck with 12th overall picks or anything.
- daeth

TBH there is a huge talent gap between 1/2/3 overall picks and 5/6/7 overalls.

You guys needed to TANK. Not just under perform.

TBH there is a huge talent gap between 1/2/3 overall picks and 5/6/7 overalls.

You guys needed to TANK. Not just under perform.
- gretzky

We need to tank to get a #1 Centre... Other than that, we are pretty set. Goalies will develop, D will develop, and more than enough offensive support. Mackinnon or McDavid would be a really nice addition