Brian Burke, General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs
By Dan O’Shea
I know this as fact because I am a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Sure, there are some out there who will disagree with me. They live in Ottawa. They’ll point to the leafs goals against average or comment on the terrible start to our season. They will say we gave up too much for Kessel. Fact of the matter is Brian Burke saw this coming. He planned it. Hell, he probably ran it by Pat Quinn and they both had a good chuckle over it, then discussed how Dustin Penner was great with Burke is great with Quinn but sucked with McTavish. Then they’ll laugh at Kevin Lowe (I assume). That being said, the leafs are exactly what Brian Burke wanted them to be;
Overachievers.
Let’s face it, it’s not like our roster is chalk full of “Brian Burke type players” Kuliman, Grabo, Poni, Stajan.. Yet it’s apparent the sum is worth more than its parts. We are the highest shooting team in the league. We are a tough team and a tough team to play against (especially on the road…) we’re hard working, and there is little quit in these leafs. More importantly – for the 1st time since the lockout we are playing exciting hockey. No offense Jason Allison.
If you don’t believe me here is my evidence – I live in Southern California yet I haven’t missed a game this year. I’m wearing my Wendel t-shirt on Saturdays and my American born Girlfriend knows how to spell “Ponikarovsky”. I begrudgingly follow @mapleleafs and @leafspacemonika on twitter (relax leafspacers, they’re good sports) and more importantly there are only 2 things that will bring me back to Toronto in the dead of winter
1. Steaks with my father
2. The Toronto Maple Leafs
And all this from the 2nd worst team in the league.
See – we’re over achievers. Always have been. Now we are starting to hear there “may be” a market out there for Hagman, Blake (and his 5 goals) or Poni. Now, Hagman I get – but Blake or Ponikarovsky? We couldn’t give these players away a year ago! That said, it’s starting to make sense right? Blake (and all of his 5 goals) is a proven goal scorer when paired with a decent center. Alexi Yashin proved that and so did Dominic Moore (that’s right Yashin, we are NOT in the business of giving out complements) Blake (and all of his 5 goals) works his ass off every night (5 goals). He’s quick, skates hard and plays with (kindof) an edge. Burke and Wilson (sorry Grapes) have created a market for him (and his 5 goals)and if you don’t believe me just think of the “ever lacking depth on the wing” Pittsburgh Penguins they could use a (kindof) feisty, quick, proven goal scorer on Crosby’s wing, right? Or Malkin’s? Or Staal’s? Seriously, Blake’s contract isn’t what it used to be.
Or maybe I just want Blake out of town .
Either way – All of a sudden the leafs have quietly established a core (Kessel, Komisarik, Schenn and Beaucheman) and a market for their “spare parts” (the rest) all while icing a very entertaining team. That sounds like a Burke Kind of rebuild to me. Not Convinced? Let’s keep going –
You can’t have a leafs article containing the word “trade” without the words “Thomas Kaberle”. So let’s get it out of the way.
1. Thomas Kaberle is playing out of his mind right now.
2. I would hate to see him go.
3. Thomas Kaberle is playing out of his mind right now.
4. Kessel was expensive.
Burke has every right to entertain offers for Kaberle. That’s right folks, “entertain”. For the 1st time, when it comes to Kaberle we are in the drivers seat. As we all know Toronto was offered Carter and a 1st rounder while shopping Kaberle 2 years ago. I expect this year there will be something of a bidding war for his services. Kaberle will waive in order to go to a contender if burke gets an offer that “blows his doors off”. Again, I feel we are a better team with him then without, but his contract will expire before we will be contending for the Cup (playoffs first) If we can get some Kessel picks back along with a top 6 forward then lets do what we can to help Kaberle get a cup and shut up his brother Frank.
If Kaberle goes Ian White gets his minutes. If Kaberle stays then I think we all agree Ian White is a legit NHL defenseman, right? (note: Ian White got good the day Hal Gill was shipped out of town. Just saying). There is always a market for a top 6 defenseman in the NHL.
As for Stajan I say trade him and give Primeau his minutes. Yes, I said it and I stand by it. Primeau has been the biggest surprise of the season for me. The more ice he gets the better he plays. Either way trade Stajan. Just trade him. Trade him for Mike Danton. I don’t care.
Or keep them all (except Stajan). They are a fast team that forechecks well and plays hard. I will continue to watch. Happily. That’s the thing about this team – There is a good core in place and I don’t really care if the rest get traded or are leafs till the end of the year.
Genius.
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