NY Post: Snow’s Counter Offer

@BlueBudBC. You’re right, the Leafs ARE trying to improve. Burke helps that. But, do they have the assets to pull off the quick turnaround Burke wants? I don’t know. Meanwhile, while the Island might be a losing organization right now, they’re doing things in what I think is the right way. Slowly and steadily. Much like Chicago and Pittsburgh and Washington. Will Tavares and Okposo be on a few losing teams? Probably. But so were Ovechkin, Crosby, etc.

What’s important is that they build a core the only way a less attractive to UFA’s team can — through the Draft. What’s kind of sad is that as an Islanders fan, I think they’ve got hope for the first time in years. And it’s not just Tavares. But he sure helps.

I’ll go buy tickets now. I’ll support the team with my hard earned cash. But I make no apologies for refusing to support a team with Yashin as its captain or a team that can convince me that Mike Comrie is a worthy first line center.

While the Isles and Leafs are in comparable building modes, this is probably the only similarity.

MLSE is the flagship franchise financially and remains a historical pillar even if they haven’t produced a champion in 42 years.

The media attention is relentless, and the new GM has decided to be upfront and blunt to defang the scribes. I’m not sure why it is wrong for Burke to make known that he wants to move up in the draft and if given the chance, he’ll take Tavares.

Snow’s reaction (on the Am640) was transparent when he refused to name Burke and noted that he prefers to operate more discreetly. Then Snow decides to play the game by letting it be known his interest in the 7th pick. So, Mr. Snow just ruins whatever credibility he had on the matter.

While it is understandable that those on the Island are feeling a bit underappreciated and beat up, a GM’s role is all about tactics. Rather than creating a maelstrom out of nothing, if Snow had laughed it off and thrown out his interest in the Leafs pick immediately, then the whole incident becomes nothing more than friendly banter.

At this stage of the rebuilding teams, I’d much prefer friendly banter than fans pissed off at literally nothing. Let’s leave the animosity when it means something like the next time the two teams meet on the ice in the playoffs.

@strickland
are you saying Leafs aren’t taking the step of slow and steady. Yeah, Burke said he wants to make the playoff next years, see the word here is “WANT”, every fucking GM wants to make the playoff, or maybe not your fucking Islander’s GM.
As for your comment of pushing real fans to the 3rd level. Well this is the culture of the Leafs, we don’t care we sit in the press box or standing in front of the TV, we are supporting our team. So what if our 100 level seat are coporate holders, it is not like they are not the fans of Toronto Maple Leafs, who cares about their position, if they are the Leafs fan, i don’t give a shit.
Yeah you should go support your team, and tell the ISLANDERS fans to do so too!!

sigh.

is it draft time yet?

@Roacho. You brought up a good point, the bandwagon fans. I’m sure the Leafs (like all popular teams ) have their fair share of bandwagon fans. That’s something the Isles lack, the casual fan. Let’s face it, to be an Islanders fan at this point, you’ve got to be nuts. That’s where JT helps. He gets the guy who had not interest in the Isles, interested in the Isles. Around the 2001-2002 season, the Isles sold out a ton of games. You guys remember how nuts the NVMC got for that playoff series. Except what was for you, a cool series in a string of series wins, was for a generation of Islanders fans, their one shining moment. A series we lost. I was 10 when David Volek scored to upset the Penguins. I’ve got that and Bates’ penalty shot. It’s all crap other than that. So I’m sorry if I come off as an ass. Isles fans need this. We don’t need a bigger team coming in and trying to bully Tavares to them. It’d kill the franchise.

@OldMan
that sums it up quite well. I’m not going to sit here and say that Ballard ruined my team cause I was born in ’83, but from what I gather he sure did suck the life out of the fanbase.
@strickland
once the arena issues are settled, JT shows his stuff and the team becomes respectable, I’m sure you’ll see some fans jump on the bandwagon.

JFJ was indeed a nightmare for Leafs fans…that trade will hunt me for life, Rask for Raycroft *shivering*

Burke was offered a 2nd rounder for White and he turned it down. Although that is the right price for his services, I see upside in keeping him cause in my mind he’s a poor man’s Brian Rafalski and he fits under the cap quite nicely. He’s not untouchable, but he’s hard to move, cause lets say the most you get offered for him is a 2nd rd pick, but that gets turned down and you know nobody will offer up a 1st rounder, so you’re then stuck unable to trade he guy. Maybe he’s overvalued in Toronto, but at his minimal cap hit and consistent game I think he’s worth keeping unless a 1st rounder comes our way which is unlikely.

If Burke could have gottten a second rd pick for White im sure he would have taken it . He’s ok for a 5th or 6th D but we have 8 of them. He had a good year with more ice time than he would have got on a good team just like Moore and Grabo 3 rd line players.We do not have a 1st or 2nd line player on D or up front on this team maybe Schenn in a year or 2 .Only time will tell. thats why BB is looking to sign top line players. Some of the kids we have may turn out to be top line players..We have a lot of good PROSPECTS , do i have to explain what that is ,don’t try and over rate them till they play in the NHL….We will SEE……..

Ian White shares the team lead in plus minus at a +6 on a team that allowed a staggering 286 goals against and he averaged 22:50 mins/sec for second highest on the team…that’s right more than Kubina, Schenn, Finger…etc. So please with this business that he is a 5/6 man because of the “lack of depth” on the Leafs blue line.

To all non leaf fans on this site, why be here? this is leafs news. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the greatest sports franchise on the EARTH and this just kills the rest of you. I remember a lot of people questioning Burke and saying he ruined Anaheim, well last time I checked there beating the Stanly Cup Fav’s 2-0. My point is the future has never been brighter for the Leafs, and I beleive the winnings seasons will be at our door much sooner, then expected. If we had stronger goaltending this year, we would of been playing Boston last night. Sure we may of been stinking it up, but at least we would of got some playoff hockey. Anyway again, to all you leaf haters, why dont you hit up NYIhotstove.com. I’m thinking the reason you dont is because Garth Snow is the only one on there, messaging himself. GO LEAFS GO!!!