You're spouting foolishness again. First of all, it's widely agreed that Burke has improved the prospect pool by a significant margin. If it isn't in the top 3rd of the league, it's far above where it was. Second, there is no way that he could cover up the Kessel trade. It is perhaps the most widely discussed trade of the decade, and everyone already has a (negative) opinion about it. So that's just nonsense.
Thirdly, if Phaneuf isn't a no. 1 d-man, he's young, he's a captain and he's two seasons removed from not only being a #1 dman, but a top 10 dman in the league.
Fourth, there are lots of teams with a sterling level of success that don't have the toughest centres.
- Morris

Look where the Leafs prospect pool was, it was garbage, and he inherited a top 10 pick. I don't see very many blue chippers in their system maybe 2 or 3 also name me the last star the Leafs drafted and developed, Kaberle? yet they have a long history of overhyping their prospects, I say let's wait and see until they prove something before proclaiming how good they are.

remove the Kessel trade, Add Seguin(future franchise center, something the leafs desperately need) and this past years top 10 pick and there is a substantial difference in perception.

Look where the Leafs prospect pool was, it was garbage, and he inherited a top 10 pick. I don't see very many blue chippers in their system maybe 2 or 3 also name me the last star the Leafs drafted and developed, Kaberle? yet they have a long history of overhyping their prospects, I say let's wait and see until they prove something before proclaiming how good they are.

remove the Kessel trade, Add Seguin(future franchise center, something the leafs desperately need) and this past years top 10 pick and there is a substantial difference in perception.
- FirstClass

Pretty good since Burke as only been here for 3 drafts....

Pretty good since Burke as only been here for 3 drafts....
- burn

4 actually. He has only drafted twice. But he could of had 4 top 10 picks altogether.

4 actually. He has only drafted twice. But he could of had 4 top 10 picks altogether.
- sens rock

Burke was hired in Nov 2008. He has been here for 3 drafts (09, 10 and 11).

Nice try.

Burke was hired in Nov 2008. He has been here for 3 drafts (09, 10 and 11).

Nice try.
- burn

wow, math isn't my friend this early. haha. my bad.

4 actually. He has only drafted twice. But he could of had 4 top 10 picks altogether.
- sens rock

And if he's got "2 or 3" blue chippers and has traded 2 of his 3 1st rounders, I'd say he's doing pretty good (at acquiring prospects/young talent).

And if he's got "2 or 3" blue chippers and has traded 2 of his 3 1st rounders, I'd say he's doing pretty good (at acquiring prospects/young talent).
- burn

On the TSN broadcast of the Bruins/Senators game they called the Kessel trade the gift that keeps on giving. Point being made is that the Bruins will be stronger this year and over the next bunch of years because they have so much youth and talent in their system. In the game Seguin, Knight and Hamilton all played. Knight, in particular, has had a very good camp, Hamilton played solid and everyone knows the talent that Seguin brings to the rink.

So, you really can't say that Burke has done pretty good in acquiring talent. There is nothing in the Leaf system that compares to what they have given up and to pretend otherwise is an attempt to rewrite history. I do not understand why people are so anxious to whitewash the mess that Burke has created.

The idea that the Leafs are so much better off is just plain silly. If the stars all align in a right position they might compete for a playoff spot. More likely they finish 10th (my prediction). The larger problem is that they do not have a very high talent ceiling. Even if they get a bit better it does not lead to anything much. Before long we will be talking about another deal (3 1st round picks for Spezza) in order to try and get to the next level. Insanity!

So, you really can't say that Burke has done pretty good in acquiring talent. There is nothing in the Leaf system that compares to what they have given up and to pretend otherwise is an attempt to rewrite history. I do not understand why people are so anxious to whitewash the mess that Burke has created.

- spatso

The leafs team is as good as it was but younger, and with room to grow.

The leafs prospect pool is much better than it was. It would be even better without the Kessel trade, but it's stil far far better than it was. If Burke was going to get fired because of the Kessel trade, he'd have already been fired. He hasn't maximally improved his team, but which GM has? There's no re-writing history in saying that he's improved the franchise. And there's a difference between acknowledging he made a mistake with the kessel trade (which I, and most others including the leafs fans) do, and reasoning that because he made that trade he couldn't possibly have improved the team in any substantial way.

We get it, the trade was bad and the leafs could have been better. Either proclaim your bias now that there's really nothing that Burke could do to win you back over to passability or shut the (frank) up about it.

On the TSN broadcast of the Bruins/Senators game they called the Kessel trade the gift that keeps on giving. Point being made is that the Bruins will be stronger this year and over the next bunch of years because they have so much youth and talent in their system. In the game Seguin, Knight and Hamilton all played. Knight, in particular, has had a very good camp, Hamilton played solid and everyone knows the talent that Seguin brings to the rink.

So, you really can't say that Burke has done pretty good in acquiring talent. There is nothing in the Leaf system that compares to what they have given up and to pretend otherwise is an attempt to rewrite history. I do not understand why people are so anxious to whitewash the mess that Burke has created.

The idea that the Leafs are so much better off is just plain silly. If the stars all align in a right position they might compete for a playoff spot. More likely they finish 10th (my prediction). The larger problem is that they do not have a very high talent ceiling. Even if they get a bit better it does not lead to anything much. Before long we will be talking about another deal (3 1st round picks for Spezza) in order to try and get to the next level. Insanity!
- spatso

Seguin? Yes. Hamilton and Knight? Hell no. Knight is a prospect that no one would know anything about if he wasn't involved in the Kessel deal. Knight will likely be a third liner. Ever hear of guys like Kadri, Colburne, Gardiner?

And the shot at the Leafs is typical on a Sens broadcast.

You know so much about who the Leafs gave up in the Kessel deal, it's time for you to learn what fantastic trades Burke made getting guys like Phaneuf, Aulie, Colburne, Gardiner, Percy.

Ya Stalberg was great in the pre-season 2 years ago, how did that translate?
- FirstClass

Not good, but Bozak will be fine.

Look where the Leafs prospect pool was, it was garbage, and he inherited a top 10 pick. I don't see very many blue chippers in their system maybe 2 or 3 also name me the last star the Leafs drafted and developed, Kaberle? yet they have a long history of overhyping their prospects, I say let's wait and see until they prove something before proclaiming how good they are.

remove the Kessel trade, Add Seguin(future franchise center, something the leafs desperately need) and this past years top 10 pick and there is a substantial difference in perception.
- FirstClass

You're right. It's too early to tell. I don't really overhype leafs, oilers or any teams prospects, but I'll shut my mouth about them completely if you do too. If you really worry about spouting off about prospects than you should cut out the talk about how bad/overhyped they are, and consequently how poor a job Burke has been doing.

Look where the Leafs prospect pool was, it was garbage, and he inherited a top 10 pick. I don't see very many blue chippers in their system maybe 2 or 3 also name me the last star the Leafs drafted and developed, Kaberle? yet they have a long history of overhyping their prospects, I say let's wait and see until they prove something before proclaiming how good they are.

remove the Kessel trade, Add Seguin(future franchise center, something the leafs desperately need) and this past years top 10 pick and there is a substantial difference in perception.
- FirstClass

You don't use your own philosophy for prospects the Leafs trade though.

You don't use your own philosophy for prospects the Leafs trade though.
- RogerRoeper

Of course not, that just wouldn't be logical.

Seguin? Yes. Hamilton and Knight? Hell no. Knight is a prospect that no one would know anything about if he wasn't involved in the Kessel deal. Knight will likely be a third liner. Ever hear of guys like Kadri, Colburne, Gardiner?

And the shot at the Leafs is typical on a Sens broadcast.

You know so much about who the Leafs gave up in the Kessel deal, it's time for you to learn what fantastic trades Burke made getting guys like Phaneuf, Aulie, Colburne, Gardiner, Percy.
- RogerRoeper

The fact is that Knight is having a great camp for Boston.

Do you really think you can match up players like Phaneuf, Aulie, Colborne, Gardiner and Percy with what other teams have done with their picks over the last few years? None of those players even come close to meeting the test of a top line player. Phaneuf has never been able to duplicate his early career. Aulie, Colborne, Gardinder and Percy are unproven. None seem to come close to some of the other players taken during their draft year. This is what is at the root of the problem. Leaf fans continue to throw names on a wall hoping that something will stick. But, just take your list of names and compare them with their piers out of the same draft. It starts to look very ugly.

The fact is that Knight is having a great camp for Boston.

Do you really think you can match up players like Phaneuf, Aulie, Colborne, Gardiner and Percy with what other teams have done with their picks over the last few years. None of those players even come close to meeting the test of a top line player. Phaneuf has never been able to duplicate his early career. Aulie, Colborne, Gardinder and Percy are unproven. None seem to come close to some of the other players taken during their draft year. This is what is at the root of the problem. Leaf fans continue to throw names on a wall hoping that something will stick. But, just take your list of names and compare them with their piers out of the same draft. It starts to look very ugly.
- spatso

Well Phaneuf is the second best D-man taken in his draft year and shown as much in his career as any dman drafted in Burke's leaf tenure, so I don't know what you're getting at there. He's about 2-3 years removed from being a top 10 dman in the league.

The fact is that Knight is having a great camp for Boston.

Do you really think you can match up players like Phaneuf, Aulie, Colborne, Gardiner and Percy with what other teams have done with their picks over the last few years? None of those players even come close to meeting the test of a top line player. Phaneuf has never been able to duplicate his early career. Aulie, Colborne, Gardinder and Percy are unproven. None seem to come close to some of the other players taken during their draft year. This is what is at the root of the problem. Leaf fans continue to throw names on a wall hoping that something will stick. But, just take your list of names and compare them with their piers out of the same draft. It starts to look very ugly.
- spatso

If you compare seguin to the other guys that made the NHL in his draft year, he looks bad.

Knight's a bad piece to give away because he's having a great camp, but Gardiner is just a name we're hoping will stick? Aulie is unproven? Yup, but what he's shown is pretty damned good so far. Looks to be far ahead of most of his draft peers.

Is Percy unproven? Yup, but that's because he was just drafted. He's no less proven than Hamilton.

Colborne may not be in the NHL yet, but as a Leafs fan( ), surely you've been seeing the type of player he can become, while watching him in these preseason games.

Phaneuf's offense may not be replicated, but his overall game is better than it's ever been.

But please, don't let that stop you from poopting all over every single player the Leafs have acquired, while pumping up every one they've let go, or while pumping up every one of your favorite team's prospects.

The fact is that Knight is having a great camp for Boston.

Do you really think you can match up players like Phaneuf, Aulie, Colborne, Gardiner and Percy with what other teams have done with their picks over the last few years? None of those players even come close to meeting the test of a top line player. Phaneuf has never been able to duplicate his early career. Aulie, Colborne, Gardinder and Percy are unproven. None seem to come close to some of the other players taken during their draft year. This is what is at the root of the problem. Leaf fans continue to throw names on a wall hoping that something will stick. But, just take your list of names and compare them with their piers out of the same draft. It starts to look very ugly.
- spatso

What do you mean duplicate his early years? He had years of 49, 50, 60, and 47 points in his first 4 years. He duplicates those years, he'd be a multiple Norris trophy finalist...considering he's young and has already proven himself for more than one season, I'm pretty content growing as a team with him as the captain.

And the shot at the Leafs is typical on a Sens broadcast.


- RogerRoeper

It was a TSN broadcast.

The fact is that Knight is having a great camp for Boston.

Do you really think you can match up players like Phaneuf, Aulie, Colborne, Gardiner and Percy with what other teams have done with their picks over the last few years? None of those players even come close to meeting the test of a top line player. Phaneuf has never been able to duplicate his early career. Aulie, Colborne, Gardinder and Percy are unproven. None seem to come close to some of the other players taken during their draft year. This is what is at the root of the problem. Leaf fans continue to throw names on a wall hoping that something will stick. But, just take your list of names and compare them with their piers out of the same draft. It starts to look very ugly.
- spatso

You mention the great camp Knight is having yet no mention of Gardiner's fantastic play thus far? Gardiner was taken 17th overall, Colburne, 16th overall, Knight 32nd overall.

It was a TSN broadcast.
- Doppleganger

Was it national?

You mention the great camp Knight is having yet no mention of Gardiner's fantastic play thus far? Gardiner was taken 17th overall, Colburne, 16th overall, Gardiner 32nd overall.
- RogerRoeper

you cannot acknowledge Leaf players doing well. Higher rated players taken earlier in the draft that are doing well for the Leafs are quite clearly inferior to lower rated players taken later in the draft by other players.

You mention the great camp Knight is having yet no mention of Gardiner's fantastic play thus far? Gardiner was taken 17th overall, Colburne, 16th overall, Gardiner 32nd overall.
- RogerRoeper

They suck because they play for Toronto. I'm just being objective here!

I'm allowed to have some fun sometimes

You don't use your own philosophy for prospects the Leafs trade though.
- RogerRoeper

How? I am reasonable, when you tell me the greatness of Jake Gardiner, a player I followed for 3 years before who you even knew who he was, well it is my job to tell you the truth, the fact of the matter is his own coach questions his hockey sense offensively he has much to prove.

How? I am reasonable, when you tell me the greatness of Jake Gardiner, a player I followed for 3 years before who you even knew who he was, well it is my job to tell you the truth, the fact of the matter is his own coach questions his hockey sense offensively he has much to prove.
- FirstClass

Well from what I've seen his offensive skills are unquestionable, his vision is uncanny and his hockey sense is outstanding. Pretty much exact opposite of everything you said he was.

Was it national?
- RogerRoeper

Does TSN do regional broadcasts? As far as I know the game was televised nationally, but would have to have confirmation from people from other markets, as I am in the Senators' market.