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Burke on Prime Time Sports

by on July 22, 2009 in Uncategorized - 104 Comments

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Brian Burke was on Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown on Wednesday afternoon to discuss a variety of Leaf topics. An audio link to the interview can be found on the FAN 590′s website here. Although none of the news was of the earth-shattering variety, there were a couple interesting tidbits dropped as it pertains to the Leafs‘ plans over the next few weeks and going into the regular season.

- Burke believes that the media is a good venue to get word out to opposing GM’s about possible trade intentions

- Burke is looking to move at least one, if not two defensemen. I’m inclined to believe that Tomas Kaberle the most obvious candidate, and I wonder if someone like Jonas Frogren, who may be an attractive option to a club needing a cheap, bottom pairing stay-at-home defender (Hello Chicago?).

- Burke has no qualms with sending a player on a one-way contract down to the minors. This is encouraging news because it means that deserving young players will not be pushed out of roster spots or quality ice-time because of commitments to veteran players. I’d imagine that Jamal Mayers and Jonas Frogren would be among the most concerned.

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Around the rest of the league:

- The New Jerseys Devils have re-upped Travis Zajac to a 4 year deal expected to be worth in the neighborhood of $3.9M/season. A fine signing and good value for a player on the verge of breaking out.

- The New York Islanders have signed free agent goaltender Martin Biron to a 1 year deal worth $1.4M. When quality #1a goaltenders are going for this type of money, you’ve got to figure that the goalie market is pretty dry. It’s going to be interesting to see whether or not Burke decides to peddle Vesa Toskala mid-season if Gustavsson shows early on that he’s the real deal.

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  • Charlie

    @ Garrett

    Just so you know, I’m hanging by a thread here waiting for a trade. And you my friend, you are that thread.

    No pressure, eh?!!

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  • Leaf Erikson

    I find it funny how so many people are wondering why the Isles have signed Biron.

    Its pretty Obvious here. RD is not healthy and has had 3 knee surgeries and 2 hip surgeries.

    Now it looks like the Tandem of Rolli and Biron will be playing the majority of the games for the Ilse this season.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if RD is done for the year on LD list.

    This way they will save on the cap hit.

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  • Pingback: Burke on Prime Time Sports : Maple Leafs Hot Stove | Jordan today

  • sNoT

    @Jes
    No that possible trade does not help us. That puts playoff chances this year to nil.

    Keep Kaberle
    Keep White (who can play forward)
    Sign Tanguay
    trade other defensemen
    package Stefanafich in a deal (people think he’s an asset)

    Start the year out and see what we got.

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  • jes

    Stefanafich could be better than Tlusty. he scored 49 goals in 56 games this past season in the QMJHL. So if I don’t want to deal Tlusty he is definitely a no as well. IMO Bozak, Tlusty, Stefanafich , and Stalberg all should be untouchable. We don’t need to deal our top prospects for Schenn. I’ll be really pissed if we do. I think most of you look at Schenn as a top 5 pick and think a deal with one of our guys is a good deal without really knowing anything about them.

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  • changeisgood

    Is there any value or truth in the rumours of a trade with Anaheim including Toskala/Giguere and Ryan/Kaberle-or a prospect like tlusty?

    @jes

    True Stef “could” be better than tlusty, we don’t know yet of course. He could also end up going to the KHL

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  • Trevor

    @changeisgood

    True that we don’t know if Stefanovich is better than Tlusty, but he does have loads of potential and I would keep him on the same level of importance.

    And, I am pretty sure Stef won’t leave for the KHL. He was drafted 2nd overall in their draft, true, but he still signed with the Leafs. Plus he chose to come to the CHL for junior hockey instead of staying in Europe/Russia so he seems to be the type to want to make it big.

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  • Jordan

    I wouldnt want to see Tlusty be added in ANY trade right now. His AHL numbers last year compair to all the top guys in the NHL and what they had at the same age. I think some people have to also remember, he is ahead of almost everyone on our prospects chart, other then the obvious Kadri. He is more NHL ready then Bozak, Hason, Stalberg and the others. He was a 13th overall pick remember, and was just thrown into an NHL spot on a line with Sundin at only 19 years old. No wonder he took so long to mature. I cant wait to see what he can do playing with Bozak, Blake or Hagman

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  • changeisgood

    @Jordan

    I agree with you on not trading Tlusty, but I’d be really thinking about it if it got me Ryan. I’m sure it’s pure rumour, but toskala for Giguere makes sense for ducks and we could absorb his contract. if there was a salary dump trade then we would be getting a prospect too, i’m sure we’d have to sacrifice something though

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  • Jordan

    Oh for sure if it gets you Ryan….but honestly, that ant gonna happen. I dont think Anaheim would EVER consider trading him

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  • mydnyte

    @jes

    The trade would be an absolute steal for the Leafs.

    Kaberle could not get us a top 5 pick on his own at the draft i.e. Schenn

    and that still leaves

    Tlusty for Frolov and a 1st …a total and utter steal.

    Frolov would be our best player by a large margin, and adding another 1st rounder on a team that is ‘hoping’ to make the playoffs, but, doesnt have an NHL goalie yet…

    need i say more?

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  • Leafey_84

    @jes: I would do that deal for sure.
    .
    @snot: First of all I don’t think it hurts our chances at all this year as it adds what we really need: a top line forward. Losing Kabs will hurt a bit but not as bad as you are making it out to be. Although, I’ll admit, I don’t think we’ll make the playoffs this year anyway even with Kabs, White and Tanguay. Secondly, this move would improve our chances for the next few years significantly…we’d be adding a top line forward, a guy projected as a top 6 if not top line forward as well as a first round pick. We’ve got guys like Komi, Beauchemin and (eventually) Schenn locked up as our defensive core for years, but the only forwards we have signed for the next three years are Grabovski, Hagman, Blake and Orr. If you add B. Schenn, Frolov and Kadri (eventually) to that list you’ve got a pretty good looking top six without taking into account other draft picks making the jump, UFAs and trades made along the way.

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  • Charlie

    Substitute Poni for Tlusty, and I make that deal for sure. I just don’t want to get rid of prospects anymore. Not for a guy like Frolov. Hell, Tanguay will give us better numbers without giving away assets.

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  • jonez

    If any vets are getting sent to the minors, look for Finger to be the odd man out on D, and possibly Blake the odd man out at forward.
    .
    Frogren likely won’t be the one sitting out as he was probably a contributing factor to former teammates Wallin and Gustavsson signing in Toronto.
    .
    And Blake… just has to go. He’s never going to live up to the ether-induced contract JFJ gave him. Might as well bury him in the minors and let one of the youngsters (Bozak/Tlusty) take his roster spot. In a perfect world, both of them would be contributing at the NHL level this year.

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  • jes

    Giving away assets is exactly the type of problems we got ourselves into in the past that I hope we are past now. Frolov could bolt after this season, and LA’s pick wont be a good one. So you basically want to deal one of our top prospects who is as NHL ready as any of our prospects for a guy that will be UFA, and a pick in the high teens, add to the fact next year draft isn’t deep down the middle? How the hell is this a good deal?

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  • whitey7

    @jonez

    I know Blake hasn`t lived up to his contract, but there is no way Burke’s going to send him to the minors. He was the point leader last year and you have to understand that Blake was going through rough times during the 2007-2008 season.

    If Blake is able to produce during the season, Burke should maybe consider trading him. But you have to give the guy a chance.

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  • jonez

    Nobody is taking that contract off of Burke’s hands, nobody. His only option is to let him rot and eat his salary.

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  • jonez

    I think you need to listen to Burke’s interview again. He’s got no problems sending guys on one way contracts to the minors. The only two that make sense in terms of clearing cap room are Blake and Finger.

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  • canucksnaphook

    Alec we need to get rid of that picture of the idiot Bobcat…..as soon as I open this page I want to punch his arrogant ass right in the face, which conveniently look the same.

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  • http://danvertising.com danvertising

    Dustin Penner: $4.25
    .
    Blake is getting paid the right amount of money.

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  • toleafs

    i could be mistaken, but i believe after this season Blake’s salary drops to maybe 2 mil?

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  • http://danvertising.com danvertising

    @ toleafs
    It drops to $3M, but his cap hit remains the same at $4M

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