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Is Burke Handicapping Himself?

McPwnage

New member
With the free agent system the way it is does Burke's stubborness to sign free agents to long contracts hold him back from acquiring players he could?

blog: http://www.tmlfans.ca/blogs/6368-burkehandicap
 
I think Burke is being prudent.  By signing Kovalchuk to that massive deal, one could argue they were handcuffed in being able to resign Parise (I know there were other factors at play).  I would have loved for Parise to suit up for the Leafs but a 13 year, nearly $100M contract, to me at least, is outrageous.
 
I can see both sides of this argument. On the one hand there's people who want the Leafs to go all in and offer these mega contracts for the big FAs every year and if we don't we're at a competitive disadvantage.

On the other hand, 13 years is a long, long time to commit to one player. What if Parise suddenly turns into Scott Gomez in year 3 of that 13?  Then you're stuck with a stiff for the remainder of the contract and your team suffers.  I have no answers. :)
 
Champ Kind said:
I think Burke is being prudent.  By signing Kovalchuk to that massive deal, one could argue they were handcuffed in being able to resign Parise (I know there were other factors at play).  I would have loved for Parise to suit up for the Leafs but a 13 year, nearly $100M contract, to me at least, is outrageous.

When you think about inflation and where players salaries are heading, that contract will probably look much, much better in about 5 or 6 years. I think Burke will take on a long term contract when the time is right and the right player is available. Although most people are guessing the new CBA will eliminate those 10+ year contracts all together. My guess is they will probably max out at 6-8 years.
 
For an interesting perspective,  check out this blog on the redwings:

http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/

Especially here:

http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2012/7/4/3137174/go-ahead-and-panic-here-if-youd-like-wings-miss-big-free-agents#comments

So many Red Wings fans are chewing out Ken Holland for not getting any of the big free agents.  So many claims of Ken Holland isn't that great.  What has he done for us lately?  He can't operate in a cap-world. etc.

I don't mean to point you to this as a direct comment on Burke or a comparison of Burke and Holland.  I just think it is interesting.  Fan bases are amazingly inward-looking.  There's no sense of the fact that there are 30 teams in the league who all want to win.  Which starts you out at a 3% change of winning the cup every year.  A 6% chance of getting to the finals, etc.
 
Zee said:
I can see both sides of this argument. On the one hand there's people who want the Leafs to go all in and offer these mega contracts for the big FAs every year and if we don't we're at a competitive disadvantage.

On the other hand, 13 years is a long, long time to commit to one player. What if Parise suddenly turns into Scott Gomez in year 3 of that 13?  Then you're stuck with a stiff for the remainder of the contract and your team suffers.  I have no answers. :)

... or gets injured a la Dipietro.
 
Zee said:
I can see both sides of this argument. On the one hand there's people who want the Leafs to go all in and offer these mega contracts for the big FAs every year and if we don't we're at a competitive disadvantage.

On the other hand, 13 years is a long, long time to commit to one player. What if Parise suddenly turns into Scott Gomez in year 3 of that 13?  Then you're stuck with a stiff for the remainder of the contract and your team suffers.  I have no answers. :)

Injury has to be a worry. A bad concussion and you could be looking at a different player all together. But to Parise's credit, he has had more than one successful season before getting this contract, and is still very young. Less risk in him crapping the bed all of a sudden than, say, Jason Garrison (I can't wait for that contract to fizzle).
 
Madferret said:
Omallley said:
Madferret said:
Noone on the Leafs can be / is bigger than Brian Buke

They'd be a little too out of shape for hockey, so I think we can agree here.

Are you suggesting Buke is out of shape?
How / where you been lately?

He might need to lay off on the hot dogs...

Been good, busy though. Glad to have some time back in these parts.
 
Champ Kind said:
I think Burke is being prudent.  By signing Kovalchuk to that massive deal, one could argue they were handcuffed in being able to resign Parise (I know there were other factors at play).

Could one really argue that without A) knowing the Devils financial situation, which we don't and B) knowing what offer the Devils made to Parise, which we don't? It's not like New Jersey didn't have the cap space to sign Parise because Kovalchuk's cap hit, when all is said and done, is actually pretty good.

As to the thread question...I think there's a fair argument that can be made that deals of long term are riskier than deals of shorter term and so Burke preferring not to sign them has some legitimacy. What I think can't be argued, however, is that Burke's views on long term deals that are frontloaded are examples of his personal views getting in the way of using the resources of MLSE to their fullest advantage.
 
Omallley said:
Madferret said:
Omallley said:
Madferret said:
Noone on the Leafs can be / is bigger than Brian Buke

They'd be a little too out of shape for hockey, so I think we can agree here.

Are you suggesting Buke is out of shape?
How / where you been lately?

He might need to lay off on the hot dogs...

Been good, busy though. Glad to have some time back in these parts.

Good busy or bad busy? Good to see you around these parts
 
$7.54mil/year for 13 years for 69pts last season?  Ok ok he had seasons of 82 and 94 prior to that not including his injury season.  But is he on the decline?  Seems like he's heading down the wrong direction.  Regardless, 13yrs is a LONG time and anything can happen.  I think the Leafs are making the right decision here.
 
Madferret said:
Omallley said:
Madferret said:
Omallley said:
Madferret said:
Noone on the Leafs can be / is bigger than Brian Buke

They'd be a little too out of shape for hockey, so I think we can agree here.

Are you suggesting Buke is out of shape?
How / where you been lately?

He might need to lay off on the hot dogs...

Been good, busy though. Glad to have some time back in these parts.

Good busy or bad busy? Good to see you around these parts

Work busy, so I guess a little bit of both.
 

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