tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Burke Knows Next Year Must Be The Year

Brian Burke's press conference yesterday was classic Burke and is why I'm glad he's in charge of the Maple Leafs.  It's obvious he has a plan to make this team relevant again.  It's obvious that he wants this team in the playoffs.  And it's obvious that Burke and his management team have put in place the building blocks to make it happen provided that the right decisions are made this summer.

What those right decisions are will be dictated by the marketplace and Burke is adept at dealing with that.  Brad Richards is the top free agent but I think it would be a major surprise if Richards ends up a Leaf.  After him the free agent pool falls off dramatically as far as getting a top six forward and Burke has acknowledged that he needs to get a center for Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul.  Which then would mean that the Leafs would have to look at a trade.

Trades of course mean you need to have a willing partner.  Time will tell if there is something out there for Burke to work on.  What's clear is that it will have to make sense as evidenced by how long Burke took to make the Kaberle trade which currently looks like could be a big win for the Leafs if Joe Colborne continues to develop.  Burke has been reluctant to trade for players 30 or over, a wise move as far as I'm concerned.  But the critical question for Burke will be: does it make sense to acquire a 20-something top six center by giving up a combination of draft picks and top prospects.

If he decides that there isn't a trade that makes sense and he holds on to his picks and prospects is there someone within the organization that will be able to fill out the line with Kessel and Lupul?  Could that person be Colborne??  I liked what I saw last Saturday particularly how Colborne went to the net and wasn't afraid to mix it up with Carey Price and Paul Mara.  It's something that is desperately needed.  However, one game is not enough to judge though Colborne has looked good with the Marlies.

The issue of special teams was raised with Burke yesterday and he acknowledged that if they were better the Leafs would be in the playoffs.  While to some extent I understand that the players bear responsibility for their dismal performance, I just find it hard to believe that the coaching staff does not have a hand in its performance.  Particularly, the penalty kill which I think is less dependent on offensive ability and the desire to go to the net, and more dependent on hard work, winning face offs and a lot of guts.  Definitely, goaltending is important but I think penalty killing is a mind set and I think the coach has a lot to do with setting that mind set by rewarding those who excel at it by giving them some added ice time in other situations.  I'm not advocating the firing of Ron Wilson, but I think Burke is giving his coach a pass by not holding him accountable for the dismal special teams play.  There are no more excuses here as these are Burke's players now and the dreaded Blue & White disease should be long gone.  Wilson should get an extension with a short leash.

The key questions are: do you make a trade for a top line center or do you rely on players in the system and keep all draft picks to add more assests?  Do you acquire a puck moving defenseman or are you convinced that Carl Gunnarsson or Jake Gardiner can fill that role?? Of the role players, Joey Crabb, Tim Brent and Darryl Boyce, who do you keep or do you go out and get these type of bottom six forwards elsewhere hopefully with more size??  Who will back-up James Reimer and what is the future of Jonas Gustavsson??

These are the questions that Brian Burke needs to answer.  The answers will determine whether the Leafs are in the post season next year and Brian Burke knows that.  He knows that its time to get into the playoffs.

Bring Back Stellick and Floyd Smith

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/2011/04/06/17903271.html

If you read the above column by Steve Simmons in the Toronto Sun, it appears that we need to go "back to the future".  You know the good old days of Gord Stellick, Floyd Smith, Gerry McNamara and the second term of Punch Imlach.  You know those great days when the Leaf farm system was barren, first round picks were blown with regularity, shipped out players who performed well elsewhere and a scouting staff that was a total joke.  And how about the end of the Pat Quinn era.  Yes, the team made the playoffs.  But it's interesting how I don't remember anyone screaming about trading draft picks and a weak farm system.  You know, moving Brad Boyes, forfeiting mulitple picks for Brian Leetch and getting the broken down power forward Owen Nolan.  Oh and by the way, Mats Sundin's linemates consisted of the likes of Jonas Hoglund and an over-the-hill Mikael Renberg.

Steve Simmons suggests that Brian Wilson and Ron Wilson need to be on a short leash.  Not making the playoffs again under the Burke regime means its time to consider pulling the plug with no contract extensions.  There is no one more disappointed that the Leafs are not in the playoffs (again) than me.  However, I think you have to be cynical and negative to not see that things are starting to turn around.

I think we need to look at Burke and Wilson separately.  As far as the coach goes, I think that Ron Wilson needs to be held accountable for special teams.  3 consecutive years of being terrible on the penalty kill and the power play cannot be tolerated.  In fact, if the Leaf power play was just middle of the pack, they would be in the playoffs.

In January, Ron Wilson won a poll done of NHL players as being the coach who players would not want to play for.  But it appears that this Leaf team did not quit on their coach.  They played hard for two months after the poll and pulled the Leafs close to getting into the playoffs even though many of the critics took issue with Wilson holding his players accountable in the media.

Simmons contention that no extension should be given unless the team makes the playoffs is one opinion.  But giving Wilson a one-year extension eliminates all the talk of Wilson being a lame duck coach next year and certainly does not prevent Brian Burke from firing Wilson if the team starts out poorly or does not improve.  Certainly, MLSE can afford to eat a year of Wilson's contract.  My opinion, Wilson gets a one year extension but is expected to get this team in the playoffs.

As far as Brian Burke goes, his biggest problem was his proclamation last year that the team was going to make the playoffs and they didn't.  In fact, they failed miserably.  But when you look at the dramatic change in the roster of the Leafs and the infusion of young prospects throughout the organization, you have to have another agenda not to admit that Burke has set up this team well for next year and the future.

Burke has made four major trades since being GM.  Trade #1: Phaneuf-Sjostrom and Aulie for Stajan-Hagman- Mayers-White.  Advantage: Leafs.  Trade #2: Giguere for Blake-Toskala.  Advantage: Leafs.  Trade #3: Lupul-Gardiner for Beauchimen. Advantage: Jury is still out, but if Lupul starts the next season like he's ending this year, Leafs win this one going away without even seeing what Gardiner will bring who by the way is a former number 1 draft pick.  I also remember when this trade was made the comments of resident sour puss Bill Watters stating that Lupul was soft yet Lupul has been excellent going to the net and in the corners.

Trade # 4: Philly's 1st round and 3rd round pick for Versteeg.  Advantage: Leafs.  All we heard about after the Kessel trade was how can this team rebuild without first rounders.  While granted it is a lower round 1st round, its in the first round.  And by the way, Versteeg is not doing anything special with the Flyers.  Trade #5: Joe Colborne - Boston's 1st round pick for Kaberle.  Advantage: Leafs.  Colborne has played well in the AHL and once again another 1st round pick which could allow Burke some flexibility in making a trade for a top forward or moving up in the draft.  By the way, the Bruin power play has been less than stellar since acquiring Kaberle.

The Leaf farm system is in much better shape than I can ever remember.  Besides the aforementioned Colborne and Gardiner, there is Jesse Blacker, Greg McKegg, Jerry D'amigo, Ben Scrivens, Jussi Rynnas, Marcel Mueller and Matt Frattin.  In addition, the acquisition of college free agents has also helped to strengthen the farm system.

The Leafs upper management is incredibly strong.  Burke, Nonis and Fletcher.  Not sure if you can find better hockey minds.  Speaking of Fletcher, many of the cynics point to Cliff's signing of Jeff Finger.  But let's not forget the selection of Luke Schenn and the trade that brought Mikhail Grabovski to Toronto.  Oh in case you forgot:  giving Montreal the right to talk to Mats Sundin for Mikhail Grabovski.  How did the Canadiens make out.

Should Burke be criticized for free agent signings Versteeg, Beauchimen and Komsarek.  Yes.  However, he recognized his mistake and moved Versteeg and Beauchimen.  Must the pressure be put on him to get this team in the playoffs?? Yes.  But to start clamoring for the removal of Burke is ridiculous.  The Leafs finally have a respected GM and an outstanding management team.  To move them out makes no sense and would be a major step backwards.