Burke has already said he won’t be in on Heatley….and I’m glad he won’t be. Heatley is a selfish cock. The Kaberle for Kessel deal was the most promising…hopefully Burke can still make that materialize. If we could land Kessel and sign The Monster before the start of the season…we couldn’t ask for much more. Leafs can’t do too much to soon. Burke needs to see what he’s got before he signs too many contracts. Build slowly….adding more pieces at the draft and summer free agency next year.
Well, I certainly hope we get lots of scoring from guys like Poni and Blake. Just not too sure. But I’m happy with what Burke has done so far, and I’m 100% sure he’ll address the ’skill in the top 6′ issue in the next few years. Like the direction.
Everyone who is so concerned about us missing out on Cammalerri, Havlat, Gaborik, etc needs to seriously relax. The Leafs were 10th in the league last year in goals per game. While that’s certainly not something to get overly excited about, scoring is really not this teams problems (despite our lack of a legitimate top 6 forward.)
Grabovski showed some signs of brilliance last year and we have no idea what the late season signings (Bozak, Hanson) are capable of. The best thing we could do is trade Kabby for Kessel or someone of his caliber and head into next season with cap space to spare.
@Marvin …..Yeah I’m super happy with Burke’s moves so far too. A lot of people were giving him a hard time after not doing a lot at the trade deadline or the draft….but he knows how to value assets (both his own and those of other teams) and he’s not willing to overpay. He’s shown a lot of discipline in not making any desperate moves (aka Gainey) and is taking his time to do this rebuild right. He’s being very consistent as well with the types of players he is signing and the image he is creating. Cliff Fletcher was all over the map last year….and it didn’t seem like he had a logical, well thought out plan. He made some good moves and some terrible moves. Burke has been much more consistent. The only disappointment for me so far is the Leafs not being able to land Brayden Schenn….but you can’t fault Burke there either…. he actually showed amazing discipline in not overpaying….when you know deep down he really wanted to trade up and land him.
First off, I don’t ever comment on these sites since I never quite get the point, no rumours are ever correct and we can never predict how a trade or recent acquisition will pan out. BUT I am a die-hard leafs fan which lately is quite unfortunate. Leaf Nation is owed a playoff contender this year, the fans have stood by this team for four years with horrible teams year after year and yet we keep hearing still, ‘maybe next year…….we are rebuilding’. ENOUGH, Burke has done nothing except embarrass us with promises he can’t keep. The time is now, this year, do something or shut up and be ready to apologize to the fans for half a decade of incompetence. Be honest as fans, the team as it is right now is horrible, there is no scoring talent whatsoever. Of course the puck will go in the net at times but where is our 40+ goal scorer or top line centre. Yeah guys, who wants Heatley? He can’t score, Blake and Hagman are much better……..WAKE UP! We couldn’t get Heatley anyways but if we did, we would be ALOT better, don’t fool yourselves and listen to arrogant Burke’s comments that we are better off, we aren’t and haven’t been for many years now. From the looks of the team this year, we won’t be making the playoffs yet again but damn don’t go get a true sniper like Heatley, we might win a game.
Steven …maybe you would have been better off keeping with your non-posting ways. If you don’t think anything that is posted on these sites matters, what is the point in visiting and reading all of the comments?
To the point, the short-sightedness of your attitude and “plan” for our team is the exact reason that we haven’t made the playoffs for all of these years. This isn’t fantasy hockey, you need chemistry and a solid mix of different types of players to win or even make the playoffs. Do you think a guy like Heatley would ever be accepted in Detroit? No, because they know that winning starts with the right attitude and team first mentality – neither of which Heatley possesses.
I have a feeling we’ll lose out on the Monster (a stupid nickname) sweepstakes and will compete for a low draft position. That’s fine. We’ll have brutality to entertain us. It’s not like we were going to win the Cup next year with him either. Trade Kabs for a first rounder next year. Improve the odds of getting Taylor Hall!
The guy he laid out was none other than Mats Sundin, and looking back, I wonder why I was so mad, watched it on youtube tonite and loved it…Sorry Mats but you should sign with Edmonton so u can play with Heatley, another backstabber…
So Steven, you want Burke to apologize for “half a decade of incompetence” yet he’s only been here seven months????????
As Melon said, it’s fans like you that have kept this team from winning the cup.
Heatley is a soft, one dimensional player who cup contending teams want nothing to do with, just like another former Senator Alexei Yashin. I don’t want players like that anywhere near the Leafs
@ Steven – Burke has been GM for 8 months. He did not create this mess, he inherited it. It can take YEARS to shape a team. Your plea: “The time is now, this year, do something or shut up” represents the very mentality that has led to decades of mediocrity in Leaf Nation. Fans like you are content on making the playoffs even if we get blown out in the first round. Fans like you are content on trading away future draft picks and prospects to land the “big name veterans” that may lead to some mild temporary success. The mentality of fans like you is what WAS wrong with this organization. Thank God that mentality has changed under Brian Burke. He has a plan and he is sticking to it. He will not act out of desperation. He will not accept less than fair value for his assets and he will not pay more than what he deems to be fair value for assets that become available. He is as concerned about the future impact of his decisions as he is about their current impact. He is a prudent businessman and cautious investor. He understands what is needed to rebuild this team, and he will not rush it. In a couple of years we will have a team that can legitimately battle for the Stanley Cup. And we will have a team that can consistently battle for the Stanley Cup year after year…because Burke won’t have sacrificed the future to do it….like so many Leafs GM’s before him. Brian Burke’s approach in the last 8 months represents a completely new direction for this club. A winning direction. What you suggest represents – business-as-usual – mediocre bull-sh*t – more of the same.
Burke isn’t gonna sign a goalie until he finds out for sure what Gustavsson is going to do.
As for Orr beating up on Neil 8 times a year, does that mean that we’re gonna meet them in the playoffs and sweep them, with one of the two sitting out 2 games?? Cause last time I checked the Leafs only play the Sens 6 times in the regular season.
Another thing I picked up on was somebody said that J. Mitchell will be like Moore if he’s on a line with DiDo or Dale. Not sure where you’ve been, but Didominico has a very serious fracture in his leg and will most likely miss the entire 2009/10 season, while Dale will probably play out the year with the Spitfires in Windsor.
Don’t know if it’s just me, but wouldn’t trading White be a step away from rebuilding as he is still young with lots of potential??
Schenn I believe divisional opponents square off against each other 8x per NHL season.
Dale Mitchell will actually be on the AHL team this season, as he’s an overager and is unlikely to improve as much in the O as he would playing against AHL competition, quite possibly with guys like Hanson, Tlusly, Bozak, maybe even Nazim Kadri if he shows flashes of brilliance.
Ian White is 25, he’s not really all that young, I believe Tim Stapelton was just a year older than Ian, however he seems to be a late bloomer. He’s part of the reason I’d be willing to move Kaberle for Kessel because that would increase White’s playing time on PP situations and he could be a nice offensive weapon from our ruthless blueline corps.
Why hasn’t anyone picked up him, Biron or Fernadez yet? Colorado’s goaltending was brutal last year and they resign Budaj and I like Anderson, but it’s a big risk. Also Philli’s goaltending will be there achiles heel this year! They are taking a huge gamble on Emery.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:31 pm
hrm… dunno why i’ve thought Bozak was a dman all this time… was it Gilroy who was the college Dman star instead?
My bad on stuart too… BUT STILL that’s 4 extra guys lol.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Burke has already said he won’t be in on Heatley….and I’m glad he won’t be. Heatley is a selfish cock. The Kaberle for Kessel deal was the most promising…hopefully Burke can still make that materialize. If we could land Kessel and sign The Monster before the start of the season…we couldn’t ask for much more. Leafs can’t do too much to soon. Burke needs to see what he’s got before he signs too many contracts. Build slowly….adding more pieces at the draft and summer free agency next year.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Well, I certainly hope we get lots of scoring from guys like Poni and Blake. Just not too sure. But I’m happy with what Burke has done so far, and I’m 100% sure he’ll address the ’skill in the top 6′ issue in the next few years. Like the direction.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Everyone who is so concerned about us missing out on Cammalerri, Havlat, Gaborik, etc needs to seriously relax. The Leafs were 10th in the league last year in goals per game. While that’s certainly not something to get overly excited about, scoring is really not this teams problems (despite our lack of a legitimate top 6 forward.)
Grabovski showed some signs of brilliance last year and we have no idea what the late season signings (Bozak, Hanson) are capable of. The best thing we could do is trade Kabby for Kessel or someone of his caliber and head into next season with cap space to spare.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:42 pm
@ndk yea Gilroy was the stud college defenseman, i think he won the hobey baker if i’m not mistaken?? anyways, he went to NYR
July 1st, 2009 at 10:46 pm
trade Van Ryn for a jug of gatorade and a carton of smokes
July 1st, 2009 at 10:49 pm
@Sean
Heatley’s talented no doubt, but keep him the hell away from this team. Spoiled manchild.
July 1st, 2009 at 10:53 pm
@Marvin …..Yeah I’m super happy with Burke’s moves so far too. A lot of people were giving him a hard time after not doing a lot at the trade deadline or the draft….but he knows how to value assets (both his own and those of other teams) and he’s not willing to overpay. He’s shown a lot of discipline in not making any desperate moves (aka Gainey) and is taking his time to do this rebuild right. He’s being very consistent as well with the types of players he is signing and the image he is creating. Cliff Fletcher was all over the map last year….and it didn’t seem like he had a logical, well thought out plan. He made some good moves and some terrible moves. Burke has been much more consistent. The only disappointment for me so far is the Leafs not being able to land Brayden Schenn….but you can’t fault Burke there either…. he actually showed amazing discipline in not overpaying….when you know deep down he really wanted to trade up and land him.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:21 pm
First off, I don’t ever comment on these sites since I never quite get the point, no rumours are ever correct and we can never predict how a trade or recent acquisition will pan out. BUT I am a die-hard leafs fan which lately is quite unfortunate. Leaf Nation is owed a playoff contender this year, the fans have stood by this team for four years with horrible teams year after year and yet we keep hearing still, ‘maybe next year…….we are rebuilding’. ENOUGH, Burke has done nothing except embarrass us with promises he can’t keep. The time is now, this year, do something or shut up and be ready to apologize to the fans for half a decade of incompetence. Be honest as fans, the team as it is right now is horrible, there is no scoring talent whatsoever. Of course the puck will go in the net at times but where is our 40+ goal scorer or top line centre. Yeah guys, who wants Heatley? He can’t score, Blake and Hagman are much better……..WAKE UP! We couldn’t get Heatley anyways but if we did, we would be ALOT better, don’t fool yourselves and listen to arrogant Burke’s comments that we are better off, we aren’t and haven’t been for many years now. From the looks of the team this year, we won’t be making the playoffs yet again but damn don’t go get a true sniper like Heatley, we might win a game.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:25 pm
I think you mean A LOT! This is the first year for a rebuild. The other years were bandaid fixes and total crap. We need patience.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Steven …maybe you would have been better off keeping with your non-posting ways. If you don’t think anything that is posted on these sites matters, what is the point in visiting and reading all of the comments?
To the point, the short-sightedness of your attitude and “plan” for our team is the exact reason that we haven’t made the playoffs for all of these years. This isn’t fantasy hockey, you need chemistry and a solid mix of different types of players to win or even make the playoffs. Do you think a guy like Heatley would ever be accepted in Detroit? No, because they know that winning starts with the right attitude and team first mentality – neither of which Heatley possesses.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:36 pm
“First off, I don’t ever comment on these site”
Why’d you have to go and ruin the streak?
July 1st, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I have a feeling we’ll lose out on the Monster (a stupid nickname) sweepstakes and will compete for a low draft position. That’s fine. We’ll have brutality to entertain us. It’s not like we were going to win the Cup next year with him either. Trade Kabs for a first rounder next year. Improve the odds of getting Taylor Hall!
July 1st, 2009 at 11:39 pm
must be heatley’s dad speaking
July 1st, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Lol, I think people overestimate what the monster will do to our playoff chances – he IS slated to be the backup goalie if he comes after all
July 1st, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I remember a game against Atlanta and Garnett laid out someone. I remember thinking, this kid is a mean SOB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlv5PA977Uc&feature=related
July 1st, 2009 at 11:48 pm
nice hit
July 1st, 2009 at 11:49 pm
The guy he laid out was none other than Mats Sundin, and looking back, I wonder why I was so mad, watched it on youtube tonite and loved it…Sorry Mats but you should sign with Edmonton so u can play with Heatley, another backstabber…
July 1st, 2009 at 11:50 pm
heatley not going to waive ntc, according to bob mckenzie
July 1st, 2009 at 11:50 pm
it was satan he hit
July 1st, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Exelby Owns Sundin (1:08) Great vidio on youtube.com
This guy is going to be a treat to watch !!
July 1st, 2009 at 11:55 pm
So Steven, you want Burke to apologize for “half a decade of incompetence” yet he’s only been here seven months????????
As Melon said, it’s fans like you that have kept this team from winning the cup.
Heatley is a soft, one dimensional player who cup contending teams want nothing to do with, just like another former Senator Alexei Yashin. I don’t want players like that anywhere near the Leafs
July 1st, 2009 at 11:56 pm
@ Steven – Burke has been GM for 8 months. He did not create this mess, he inherited it. It can take YEARS to shape a team. Your plea: “The time is now, this year, do something or shut up” represents the very mentality that has led to decades of mediocrity in Leaf Nation. Fans like you are content on making the playoffs even if we get blown out in the first round. Fans like you are content on trading away future draft picks and prospects to land the “big name veterans” that may lead to some mild temporary success. The mentality of fans like you is what WAS wrong with this organization. Thank God that mentality has changed under Brian Burke. He has a plan and he is sticking to it. He will not act out of desperation. He will not accept less than fair value for his assets and he will not pay more than what he deems to be fair value for assets that become available. He is as concerned about the future impact of his decisions as he is about their current impact. He is a prudent businessman and cautious investor. He understands what is needed to rebuild this team, and he will not rush it. In a couple of years we will have a team that can legitimately battle for the Stanley Cup. And we will have a team that can consistently battle for the Stanley Cup year after year…because Burke won’t have sacrificed the future to do it….like so many Leafs GM’s before him. Brian Burke’s approach in the last 8 months represents a completely new direction for this club. A winning direction. What you suggest represents – business-as-usual – mediocre bull-sh*t – more of the same.
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 am
Anyone like Fernandez , cheap ? Maybe , thoughts….
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:39 am
Burke isn’t gonna sign a goalie until he finds out for sure what Gustavsson is going to do.
As for Orr beating up on Neil 8 times a year, does that mean that we’re gonna meet them in the playoffs and sweep them, with one of the two sitting out 2 games?? Cause last time I checked the Leafs only play the Sens 6 times in the regular season.
Another thing I picked up on was somebody said that J. Mitchell will be like Moore if he’s on a line with DiDo or Dale. Not sure where you’ve been, but Didominico has a very serious fracture in his leg and will most likely miss the entire 2009/10 season, while Dale will probably play out the year with the Spitfires in Windsor.
Don’t know if it’s just me, but wouldn’t trading White be a step away from rebuilding as he is still young with lots of potential??
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:11 am
Schenn I believe divisional opponents square off against each other 8x per NHL season.
Dale Mitchell will actually be on the AHL team this season, as he’s an overager and is unlikely to improve as much in the O as he would playing against AHL competition, quite possibly with guys like Hanson, Tlusly, Bozak, maybe even Nazim Kadri if he shows flashes of brilliance.
Ian White is 25, he’s not really all that young, I believe Tim Stapelton was just a year older than Ian, however he seems to be a late bloomer. He’s part of the reason I’d be willing to move Kaberle for Kessel because that would increase White’s playing time on PP situations and he could be a nice offensive weapon from our ruthless blueline corps.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:54 am
Divisional rivals meet 6 times a year now starting with last season. Even I knew that.
I also agree with Smythe, we won’t get Brayden Schenn.
But trades will now come to the fore front….
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 am
If Gustavsson doesnt sign, I like Fernandez but I dont think hes cheap. Hes one of the top 10 goalies IMO so I dont see how hes not getting picked up
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 am
I think I’d rather see them pick up Nittymaki(sp?) he’s younger, likely cheaper and still has some upside.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:04 am
Why hasn’t anyone picked up him, Biron or Fernadez yet? Colorado’s goaltending was brutal last year and they resign Budaj and I like Anderson, but it’s a big risk. Also Philli’s goaltending will be there achiles heel this year! They are taking a huge gamble on Emery.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
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