Is Burke Handicapping Himself?

[Deebo]

.The two best examples of those contracts being able to be moved is obviously Richards and Carter, but they were both moved early on in their contract and they are young.

Campbell and Gomez come to mind as more akin to the Lecavalier situation.

Neither the Campbell or Gomez contracts I would describe as "cap-circumventing".

In terms of movablitiy there are lots of similar issues between moving Luongo or Lecavalier and Campbell or Gomez.

Very few suitors, no trade/no move clauses involvled, questionable contract (cap value, term length or both).

Any team in the league would have traded for Richards or Carter and they are much younger, they were easy players to trade.

 

[Rebel_1812]

.The two best examples of those contracts being able to be moved is obviously Richards and Carter, but they were both moved early on in their contract and they are young.

Campbell and Gomez come to mind as more akin to the Lecavalier situation.

Gomez was moved because the receiving GM is completely incompetent, and Campbell was re-acquired by the guy who signed him to that huge deal and had about $30 mil to spend to get to the cap floor.  He also had a fair bit left in the tank and was a pretty solid player, albeit on a crazy contract.

Yeah I was surprised that Campbell got a contract that big.  But I guess spenders gonna spend.

 

[jonlleafs]

Gomez was moved because the receiving GM is completely incompetent

Let's assume that's true for argument's sake. Won't there always be GM's who make bad decisions? Won't we probably always have teams who are struggling to get to the cap floor(assuming it survives)?

You know what happens when you assUme.  You can't bank on the fact that the same situation will occur again.  People learn from past experiences.  There was no other incompetent GM before that, that took on an albatross contract with those terms, length, and a proven decline in performance before that.  So people see how trying to take a shot in the dark to resurrect a player failed miserably and will avoid that situation in the future.  They will say, "I don't want to pull another Gomez".

 

[Kin]

You know what happens when you assUme.  You can't bank on the fact that the same situation will occur again.  People learn from past experiences.  There was no other incompetent GM before that, that took on an albatross contract with those terms, length, and a proven decline in performance before that.

Yeah, I was just soft selling it to be nice. I can say it more directly if it helps. There will always be GM's who are bad at their jobs. Who believe players will benefit from a change of scenery. There are GMs seemingly willing to take on Luongo's contract and Nash's contract and Campbell got traded with his terrible contract and on and on.

 

[Jalili]

.The two best examples of those contracts being able to be moved is obviously Richards and Carter, but they were both moved early on in their contract and they are young.

Campbell and Gomez come to mind as more akin to the Lecavalier situation.

Gomez was moved because the receiving GM is completely incompetent, and Campbell was re-acquired by the guy who signed him to that huge deal and had about $30 mil to spend to get to the cap floor.  He also had a fair bit left in the tank and was a pretty solid player, albeit on a crazy contract.

By acquiring Campbell they also rid themselves of a completely useless player at ~3M per year. That trade actually looks pretty good for Florida, at least so far.

 

[Corn Flake]

By acquiring Campbell they also rid themselves of a completely useless player at ~3M per year. That trade actually looks pretty good for Florida, at least so far.

Good point. I forgot about that part of the deal. Olesz became a complete boat anchor and only played 6 NHL games last year.  Yeesh.

 

[Hampreacher]

Great article in Burke's job as Gm mfreedman "Do the Leafs Have A Plan?" on Hockey Buzz. I think he is right on with Burke's job. Burke may have over paid for Kessel and he is very careful not to repeat by overpaying and taking on a big and or bad contract.

 

[moon111]

When I hear about the Leafs overpaying for Kessel, I wonder how many of them would accept a Patrick Kane for two 1st's and a 2nd rounder.

 

[Jalili]

When I hear about the Leafs overpaying for Kessel, I wonder how many of them would accept a Patrick Kane for two 1st's and a 2nd rounder.

I question the validity of that comparison, considering that kane has consistently outperformed kessel in every nhl season of his career, aside from the most recent one, despite being younger.

 

[moon111]

When I hear about the Leafs overpaying for Kessel, I wonder how many of them would accept a Patrick Kane for two 1st's and a 2nd rounder.

I question the validity of that comparison, considering that kane has consistently outperformed kessel in every nhl season of his career, aside from the most recent one, despite being younger.

Kane hasn't played with Bozak either.  It's hard for me to imagine Kessel being able to get five seasons of 43 or more assists with the linemates he's had.  Even Savard wasn't much more of a goal scorer then Bozak.  Kessel has had one option - shoot.  I think that's why they're looking at putting JVR going to the net.

 

[Jalili]

When I hear about the Leafs overpaying for Kessel, I wonder how many of them would accept a Patrick Kane for two 1st's and a 2nd rounder.

I question the validity of that comparison, considering that kane has consistently outperformed kessel in every nhl season of his career, aside from the most recent one, despite being younger.

Kane hasn't played with Bozak either.  It's hard for me to imagine Kessel being able to get five seasons of 43 or more assists with the linemates he's had.  Even Savard wasn't much more of a goal scorer then Bozak.  Kessel has had one option - shoot.  I think that's why they're looking at putting JVR going to the net.

Kane has produced in chicago before they were a good team, without toews in the lineup for extended periods of time. To me he is a talented and accomplished enough player that I wouldn't use the 'he benefits from his linemates' argument against him.

Maybe he doesn't fit in well with bozak and does much better with grabovski and kulemin? Either way, its all speculative.

The only concrete evidence we can go by is what theyve accomplished to date, and kane has him beat in 4 of the last 5 seasons.

 

[moon111]

Whether Kane is miles above Kessel, (Wonder if Kessel's cancer had any impact in his early career?) the question was would you do the deal for Kane?  Right now, would you do it?  You'd have to ask yourself how good are the Leafs going to be this year?  How good is the draft?  Like Burke had to do.

 

[Jalili]

Whether Kane is miles above Kessel, (Wonder if Kessel's cancer had any impact in his early career?) the question was would you do the deal for Kane?  Right now, would you do it?  You'd have to ask yourself how good are the Leafs going to be this year?  How good is the draft?  Like Burke had to do.

I would add some more questions to that. Who is my starting goaltender? Who is my #1 center? Who are my top wingers until Kessel is healthy and in the lineup?

The fact that the answers to those questions were Vesa Toskala, Stajan, Blake and Ponikarovsky should have been pretty big red flags, the type that would make you realize that there's a very significant chance of the deal backfiring.

As for Kane, that's not a trade I would make until other positions have been addressed.

 

[sickbeast]

Burke is a moron, that's the problem.  I don't know what all the hype was about before he came here.  I can't stand him in any way.

 

[Frank E]

Burke is a moron, that's the problem.  I don't know what all the hype was about before he came here.  I can't stand him in any way.

I do not like them Sam I am.

 

[Corn Flake]

Burke is a moron, that's the problem.  I don't know what all the hype was about before he came here.  I can't stand him in any way.

I do not like them Sam I am.

Would you could you with a goat?

 

[Knobby]

Not in a plane, nor on a train. Wah Wah! I hate Burke!

 

[Corn Flake]

Not in a plane, nor on a train. Wah Wah! I hate Burke!

not in a house
not with a mouse
not on a plane
not even in Spain
not when I'm hurt
not in a yurt
oh I so do not like him
that jerk Brian Burke!

 

[Knobby]

Not in a plane, nor on a train. Wah Wah! I hate Burke!

not in a house
not with a mouse
not on a plane
not even in Spain
not when I'm hurt
not in a yurt
oh I so do not like him
that jerk Brian Burke!

Very good! My laugh for today, thanks.

 

[Mike1]

Of course he is. The bottom line is that this management team isnt smart enough to overcome self- imposed restrictions. If they were able to do it, they would have alot better of a team then they currently do.

What Burke has done is kill the idea of ever getting any impact player in free agency because players arent going to turn down more money & term that another team is going to offer. The draft becomes essential because trading for impact players is going to be difficult. This teams scouting staff isnt good enough to get the job done.