he's not a depth centre when he's healthy and on his game. He scores at a 70 to 80 point pace, and he's responsible defensively. from the 07/08 season, to the 09/10 season, he was nothing less than a first line centre (again, when healthy).

You may think it's retarded, but try to find some comparables. You won't, because there are none. If a guy like him was healthy consistently, he'd be a $6M player, on a long term contract.

All of that said.... who cares? The Leafs needed to plug a hole, in a summer with next to no one available (he was probably the best guy available too), and did so. It's not like they were going to be cup contenders this year or next, so the contract means SFA.
- prock

and if bure still played, WHEN HEALTHY, he could most likely still be a 50 goal scorer, when you have to put a WHEN HEALTHY tag along with it, its pointless because that is Connolly main down side, he's rarely healthy...

He is on the record saying they would make the playoffs the off season they aquired Kessel. That was what? Three full seasons ago? His ability to properly take the temperature of the team he managers has to be called into question to a certain extent IMO.
- Cape Breton Bruins

You wanna give me a link to that please?

and if bure still played, WHEN HEALTHY, he could most likely still be a 50 goal scorer, when you have to put a WHEN HEALTHY tag along with it, its pointless because that is Connolly main down side, he's rarely healthy...
- annoyance_101

Hence the reason he didn't get the $6m long term contract. Hellllooooo.

Hence the reason he didn't get the $6m long term contract. Hellllooooo.
- prock

hiiiiiiiiii

hiiiiiiiiii
- Shutdown

buonjouuuuuurno

hiiiiiiiiii
- Shutdown

i read this as a depope hi

i read this as a depope hi
- Crimsoninja

well...yeah

well...yeah
- Shutdown

just making sure

You wanna give me a link to that please?
- prock

Forgive me the exact quote was that the His goal was to make the playoffs before the Kessel deal even took place citing Matt Stajan was a top 6 forward.

http://www.thestar.com/sp...fs-built-to-make-playoffs

And after misreading the quality of his team, he comes back next year, admits they needed changes, and says he expects the next group to make the playoffs.

http://www.thestar.com/sp...ts-leafs-to-make-playoffs

"I'm not interested ... in a five-year rebuild like some of these teams have done,"

keep on spinning those tires Burkie.

"I like the group that finished the year, I think just on internal improvement we will be better. I think we will be good enough with this group and a couple additions to say in training camp that the playoffs are a reasonable goal."

ahhhhh ok lol

Forgive me the exact quote was that the His goal was to make the playoffs before the Kessel deal even took place citing Matt Stajan was a top 6 forward.

http://www.thestar.com/sp...fs-built-to-make-playoffs

And after misreading the quality of his team, he comes back next year, admits they needed changes, and says he expects the next group to make the playoffs.

http://www.thestar.com/sp...ts-leafs-to-make-playoffs

"I'm not interested ... in a five-year rebuild like some of these teams have done,"

keep on spinning those tires Burkie.

"I like the group that finished the year, I think just on internal improvement we will be better. I think we will be good enough with this group and a couple additions to say in training camp that the playoffs are a reasonable goal."

ahhhhh ok lol
- Cape Breton Bruins

Yeah, I'm aware of what he said. And there is a world of difference between "we're making the playoffs", and "our goal is to make the playoffs". The full quote, in fact is "our goal is to make the playoffs. That is always the goal", and I believe he also talked about how every team should want to make the playoffs, no one should WANT to miss them, and how he hates it when his teams miss them.

Does that really sound unreasonable to you? Certainly nowhere near what you're saying.

Yeah, I'm aware of what he said. And there is a world of difference between "we're making the playoffs", and "our goal is to make the playoffs". The full quote, in fact is "our goal is to make the playoffs. That is always the goal", and I believe he also talked about how every team should want to make the playoffs, no one should WANT to miss them, and how he hates it when his teams miss them.

Does that really sound unreasonable to you? Certainly nowhere near what you're saying.
- prock

He says he didn't want to commit to a five year rebuild, yet, here we are 3 years later and absoulutely nothing has been accomplished and now the Leafs are the only team in the entire NHL to not make the playoffs since the lockout.

Its a sad state for a proud franchise that was always a staple in the playoffs and should be there every year with the fans and resources they have at their disposal. Some fans are finally starting to turn on this overrated mouthpiece.

He says he didn't want to commit to a five year rebuild, yet, here we are 3 years later and absoulutely nothing has been accomplished and now the Leafs are the only team in the entire NHL to not make the playoffs since the lockout.

Its a sad state for a proud franchise that was always a staple in the playoffs and should be there every year with the fans and resources they have at their disposal. Some fans are finally starting to turn on this overrated mouthpiece.
- Cape Breton Bruins

do you really believe that?

Look at this f*&king roster.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ons/teams/0000382009.html

I believe the Leafs top prospect in those days was Robbie Earl? Or Dale Mitchell?

do you really believe that?
- prock

he built the best AHL team EVER!

he built the best AHL team EVER!
- Pecafan Fan

Did he call them the Montreal Canadiens?

do you really believe that?
- prock

I guess I'm just a sucker for results. He obviously still has time to improve the team because he still holds the position as team GM but to date, starting with the whole "Truculence" speech until now, the product is no better at the NHL level.

My grade for Burke to date. C-

Yours?

Did he call them the Montreal Canadiens?
- prock

I was talking about the Marlies.

But hey, feel free to take shots at the habs while defending your pathetic franchise and GM.

I, at least, am aware and can attest that the habs stink. Meanwhile, you're in complete denial.

I guess I'm just a sucker for results. He obviously still has time to improve the team because he still holds the position as team GM but to date, starting with the whole "Truculence" speech until now, the product is no better at the NHL level.

My grade for Burke to date. C-

Yours?
- Cape Breton Bruins

the roster, system, everything has improved. That's results, as far as I'm concerned. The standings will follow.

the roster, system, everything has improved. That's results, as far as I'm concerned. The standings will follow.
- prock

wow...

the roster, system, everything has improved. That's results, as far as I'm concerned. The standings will follow.
- prock

Alrighty then.

i suppose there is nothing wrong with having a different idea or different opinion as to what constitutes results. If you're happy with the state of the team in its current form under Burke's management you're obviously an easy to please individual which is a good thing.

i suppose there is nothing wrong with having a different idea or different opinion as to what constitutes results. If you're happy with the state of the team in its current form under Burke's management you're obviously an easy to please individual which is a good thing.
- Cape Breton Bruins

Can you honestly look at the 08 roster, compare it to this roster, look at the state of the organization then, and now, and say you don't think it's improved?

Can you honestly look at the 08 roster, compare it to this roster, look at the state of the organization then, and now, and say you don't think it's improved?
- prock

not sure how that roster could be anything but improved since then... even if a chimp ran the team.

not sure how that roster could be anything but improved since then... even if a chimp ran the team.
- Crimsoninja

Nearly the entire organization has been revamped. Would I like the results in the standings to come faster? Of course. But the state of the Leafs is considerably better now than it was.

i suppose there is nothing wrong with having a different idea or different opinion as to what constitutes results. If you're happy with the state of the team in its current form under Burke's management you're obviously an easy to please individual which is a good thing.
- Cape Breton Bruins

Which roster would you prefer?

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ons/teams/0000322004.html

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ons/teams/0000322007.html

How bout these two?

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ons/teams/0000412003.html

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ons/teams/0000412011.html

Can you honestly look at the 08 roster, compare it to this roster, look at the state of the organization then, and now, and say you don't think it's improved?
- prock

Its marginal with absolutely no improvments in terms of results at the NHL level.