Off-Season Roster Breakdown

If the Leafs go out and sign a bunch of players to get them put out in the first round…. I will quit the Leafsssssssss……… Wait one more year and sign some free agents in 2010!

@ Wendel_Rules and Mizuno

Your both right, the best way to build a winning team is the draft. The way I see it though, with the good drafting JFJ did the last few years and the start from Fletcher, along with the few prospects Burke has brought in, we were basically in rebuild mode for a good 2-3 years now. People just figured the leaf depth was bare but really it is above average the below. After this years draft it will be better. So I would figure maybe one more full year and we should be in good standing. Theres no way we are bottom 5 so it wont matter really as long we draft in the first round.
The whole idea of signing UFA’s this summer (or even next to be honest) to make us compete better in for playoffs is a right off, and stupid to say the least. Next year will be a write off like it or not, if they play well they may be close to the playoffs or in but theres no way they will contend. Theres no way we are bottom 5 so it wont matter really as long we draft in the first round
Getting 4-5 guys UFA trying to buy a rebuild in less time because it never works….remember how stupid Pittsburg looked when they drafted Crosby in 2005. They went out and got Lyle Odelein, Sergei Gonchar, Steve Poapst, John Leclair, Zigmund Palffy, Andre Roy, then thought they would contend….well they ended up 29th, 1 point ahead of deadlast St Louis. But then got to the playoffs the next year, then the cup finals the next.
Remember when Tampa drafted Stamkos, then continued to sign Malone, Virbata, Meszaros, Prospal, Roberts and more….they ended up at 29th as well.
Signing UFA’s is not a bad idea but not to reshape your team. If a great player is out there for a good deal then you take it but only if he fits the age/size/skill/leadership/role your looking for. I dont think burke will make big moves but some decent ones for sure!

Thats exactly why I think they should forget bout guys like the Sedins, Gaborik, Cammalleri, Gaborik, Bouwmeester and other superstar players unless they come at a price that can’t be turned down.
Then Burke could concentrate on building a solid foundation by signing a few good depth players, while drafting as many blue-chippers as possible.
That way in a few years when the core of the team are used to playing together and he knows what he can expect outta his young guys that are just coming up he can go out and fill in the skilled spots through Free Agency!!

Ian White scored 10 goals in 71 games and was +6 on the 24th place team this year….thats pretty good. He then went on the play for team Canada….that also is pretty good. Hes a good 3,4,5 or 6 guy on any team, and worth more then just a second rounder who may very well never play a game in the NHL. Oh and hes only 24, everyone says give Grabovski more time and hes 25….something doesnt add up, isnt 24 younger then 25? yup….

@Jordan
Not to mention, he scored a couple of goals while being a forward =P

@Josh
Everybody id entitled to their opinion, but I watch every game with a keen eye and Ian White is a total stud. I wouldn’t move him. He plays 25 strong minutes of good three zone hockey. He is not a 5 or 6 guy.

In line with the above comments, I would further speculate that if Ellis ever makes it to the NHL and puts up numbers like those of White’s this season it would be considered a success.
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White has proven to everyone, including RW and BB, that he is a 1) hard worker who also stands up for his teammates, 2) mobile player with good hands with a good first pass out of the zone, 3) possessor of one of the more accurate shots from the point, 4) horse who can log big time minutes, 5) decent winger on a checking line, and last but not least, 6) owner of stache that makes Ron Jeremy whimper. Furthermore, he is young as hell, makes 850K, represented Canada at various international venues, and is a good ol’ Canadian boy from Manitoba.
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Does anyone still doubt BB’s choice of holding onto White over a 2nd round pick?

I could see White being in high demand in any deals Burke tries to make in an attempt to move into the Top 5.
Kaberle, White and a prospect might be enough to get the 2nd overall pick out of Tampa.

If it were to bring in that second pick I would consider trading White, but if not theres not really much upgrade you can get from him. Hes young, cheap, plays hard, puts up points, was a +6 on the team who game up the most goals in the league….theres really nothing bad to say about him

Actually one could argue that White was the Leafs #1 defencemen for the 2008-09 season and with guys like Kubina, Kaberle and Schenn around that means something!!
I don’t think I would include Tlusty in a trade along with Kaberle and White to Tampa for the 2nd overall pick.
Maybe a Ryan Malone type salary dump could be used along with the second overall pick for just Kaberle and White.
There are then many options to look at once Burke has secured the 2nd overall pick.
he could swap it along with a prospect or draft choice to New York for the 1st overall pick. He could dangle the 7th overall pick along with Kubina to move into the top 5.
Lots of different things could go down and that is why I’m glad the Leafs have Brian Burke in charge and not JFJ anymore.
The more I think about it the more I’d like the Leafs to draft Hedman 2nd overall and B. Schenn 7th overall.
Another scenerio would be Tavares at 1st or 2nd overall and Cowen at 7th overall, although I doubt he’ll fall that far. If he’s gone, then maybe Ekman-Larson or Kulikov would be a good pick at 7th, although if Cowen is gone, B. Schenn should still be available at 7th and then you could get Tavares and Schenn.
Like I said, so many possibilities!!