Brian Burke has landed in Toronto

[mrusse01 0]

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/543010

Sounds like a 5 year deal, double his $1.4 million salary in Anaheim (wow, good for him)...and I like that they are bringing in Nonis as well.

Finally MLSE appears to understand there is no salary cap on coaching/player development and now the Leafs have a management/coaching structure that is second to none in the NHL.

[Stampeder 2]

Second to none? Everyone is second to Detroit in that category.

[Rustpot 1]

Second to none? Everyone is second to Detroit in that category.

Don't crush the man's hopes of the Leafs getting a cup this decade.

[Stampeder 2]

Sorry, 2017 is the year it's going to happen. Crazier things have happened.

Edit: I'm now guessing you meant 2000-10 but I think its more likely Megan Fox will make a cakefart vid before that happens.

[Chadd 916]

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/543010

Sounds like a 5 year deal, double his $1.4 million salary in Anaheim (wow, good for him)...and I like that they are bringing in Nonis as well.

Finally MLSE appears to understand there is no salary cap on coaching/player development and now the Leafs have a management/coaching structure that is second to none in the NHL.

How many cups did Burke win in Vancouver? How many players were drafted/developed in his tenure with the Ducks? Murray left a lot of talent there when he left and Burke did put the finishing touches on the roster to bring in the cup, but they have had serious cap concerns over the last couple years.

[kosydar 0]

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/543010

Sounds like a 5 year deal, double his $1.4 million salary in Anaheim (wow, good for him)...and I like that they are bringing in Nonis as well.

Finally MLSE appears to understand there is no salary cap on coaching/player development and now the Leafs have a management/coaching structure that is second to none in the NHL.

How many cups did Burke win in Vancouver? How many players were drafted/developed in his tenure with the Ducks? Murray left a lot of talent there when he left and Burke did put the finishing touches on the roster to bring in the cup, but they have had serious cap concerns over the last couple years.

I've heard that argument before, that most of the pieces were in place for him to win. But I remember hearing that he brought in the entire defense that won the Cup. His salary cap problems obviously aren't good, but hopefully he has learned from them. I don't think he is the perfect man for the job, but I can't see another realistic candidate that is better right now. I'd like to see him and Wilson together, the media will hate it.

[Chadd 916]

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/543010

Sounds like a 5 year deal, double his $1.4 million salary in Anaheim (wow, good for him)...and I like that they are bringing in Nonis as well.

Finally MLSE appears to understand there is no salary cap on coaching/player development and now the Leafs have a management/coaching structure that is second to none in the NHL.

How many cups did Burke win in Vancouver? How many players were drafted/developed in his tenure with the Ducks? Murray left a lot of talent there when he left and Burke did put the finishing touches on the roster to bring in the cup, but they have had serious cap concerns over the last couple years.

I've heard that argument before, that most of the pieces were in place for him to win. But I remember hearing that he brought in the entire defense that won the Cup. His salary cap problems obviously aren't good, but hopefully he has learned from them. I don't think he is the perfect man for the job, but I can't see another realistic candidate that is better right now. I'd like to see him and Wilson together, the media will hate it.

I agree that he's obviously a good choice, and maybe the only obvious candidate, I just want to remind people that he doesn't walk on water as so many of the Leafs fans seem to believe this week. The media will hate him if he doesn't win a cup next season, they will not allow him to abuse them for long without a visible reaction.

[mack 44]

He can't take too much credit for bringing in the big two, Pronger and Niedermayer. Pronger's wife and Rob Niedermayer deserve more credit than he.

[mrusse01 0]

How many GMs out there have more than 1 Cup on their resume (and Sather doesn't count any more)?

I would agree that Detroit has a better management structure, but I've also said for a long time that they simply got wildly lucky with their Lidstrom/Daysuk/Zetterberg picks. Any team that has a late round pick develop into arguably the second best defenseman of all-time, coupled with two late round picks that turn out to both be top 5 forwards in the game, there has to be some luck there. Transplant those three picks to any team in the league and they probably have a few Cups to show for it.

If not the best coaching/management structure in the league, at least the Leafs now have a team in place befitting of an elite franchise. After being subjected to the joke that was JFJ Jr. and Paul Maurice running the show, anybody has to admit this is a massive step forward for the team.

The media will give him next year and probably the one after that, after that though, all bets are off. I'm interested to hear what this deal means for Peddie, I still think he's a huge problem, but Burke has the balls to tell him where to go.

[mack 44]

Some of that is luck but most of it is scouting. Detroit scouted where no one else would and though there's some luck in players developing like those mentioned have, a lot of credit needs to go to having the people out there to scout them and then the scouts themselves.

[kosydar 0]

I'll give you Niedermayer because that one is pretty obvious. I give him credit for Pronger because there were a lot of other teams interested. Hell the Leafs were a front runner to land him until JFJ decided he didn't want to part with Steen. Good call. I think the Fedorov for Beauchamin trade is really good, too. In the end I'm just happy because I have faith Burke will built a tough, talented team like he did in Vancouver and Anaheim. I don't expect to win the Cup, but I expect to be contenders sooner rather than later.

[mack 44]

I don't disagree that he could get a good team going, but will he be able to? The Leafs as a business are more important to the owners than as a team. If he could do it without interference, I think he could get them back to the Quinn era teams.

[kosydar 0]

Some of that is luck but most of it is scouting. Detroit scouted where no one else would and though there's some luck in players developing like those mentioned have, a lot of credit needs to go to having the people out there to scout them and then the scouts themselves.

Its hard to say anything negative about Detroit's scouting because of the results. But if their management was really that high up on all those players, why wait until the latest rounds to draft them? If anyone saw the true potential of Lidstrom/Zetterberg/Datsyuk they would draft them with their first picks and not risk them being taken by someone else.

[ArcArsenal 0]

This is a great move....Burke may not be the greatest GM in terms of drafting/developing players...but he is a great people guy.

With so many solid UFA's coming onto the market it helps to have someone like him at the helm making a players decision easier.

I wonder what will happen to Cliff "The Silver Fox" Fletcher? I am guessing he will move into a Senior Advisor position or something like that.

[mack 44]

Its hard to say anything negative about Detroit's scouting because of the results. But if their management was really that high up on all those players, why wait until the latest rounds to draft them? If anyone saw the true potential of Lidstrom/Zetterberg/Datsyuk they would draft them with their first picks and not risk them being taken by someone else.

Good point, but I think that Detroit knew no one else was out there. Scouting has changed since those guys have been picked so there's no way a team wouldn't take them early rather than risk another team taking them, but back then it had to be different. I can't imagine the scout (forget his name) not bothering to see if other scouts were checking out the same players he was.

[Rustpot 1]

Step forward - most likely.

Salvation for the Leafs - not any time soon.

As far as Detroit getting lucky... it's not like Datsyuk and Zetterberg showed up and rocked the league, they were in the system for quite a few years doing not much of anything. I'd say their success shows Detroit's ability to develop carbon into diamonds. Their scouting talent also gets props for that, they've made great moves in things like sticking with Kronwall when he was nothing but suspect, bringing in Stewart who meshed very well, nabbing Drake and Downey for their roles. It's an organization that shows it knows what it's doing and doesn't sign dead weight (Bertuzzi and Calder come to mind) just because of the name and a few great games.

The Leafs did not make a wholesale change, and it will take quite a few years of shuffling talent, probably fully restructuring, before you're contending.

[mrusse01 0]

Some of that is luck but most of it is scouting. Detroit scouted where no one else would and though there's some luck in players developing like those mentioned have, a lot of credit needs to go to having the people out there to scout them and then the scouts themselves.

True enough, and there is also the talent to take those players once they have developed and lock them up like Detroit has, and to take advantage of your good fortune and turn that into championships.

I still think the scouting aspect is a lot of smoke and mirrors, I'm sure every team especially knew about guys like Datsyuk and Zetterberg, maybe Lidstrom was a bit different due to the era. If Detroit's scouting was all it's cracked up to be, I don't think they would have screwed up as many early round picks as they have.

Regarding the Leafs though, I really have to give it to Fletcher (or somebody running the show because I can't believe Fletcher is competent given his performances in the media), but the year to date has basically gone perfectly for the Leafs as far as re-building goes. They are fast, they are competitive, they are exciting to watch...and they lose almost all the time. I hope they can keep it up under Burke.

[RadioGaGa 162]

According to Bobby Mac it's close, but not done:

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=257272&lid...s=topStory_main

TSN was reporting that he's at home until after US T'Giving....so later this week everything will be confirmed.

[mrusse01 0]

The Leafs did not make a wholesale change, and it will take quite a few years of shuffling talent, probably fully restructuring, before you're contending.

Look at the roster, and the management, from 2 years ago to right now and tell me how you can suggest they haven't made a wholesale change.

[kosydar 0]

I think that the changes are going to go even further during/after this season. I can see Poni, Mayers, Stajan, Blake (hopefully), White, and Kaberle and/or Kubina moved in the next year. Hell I can even see Toskala traded if there is a good deal in place. The only players who appear to be safe are Schenn, Grabs, Hagman, Kulemin and possibly Antropov.

[mrusse01 0]

I think that the changes are going to go even further during/after this season. I can see Poni, Mayers, Stajan, Blake (hopefully), White, and Kaberle and/or Kubina moved in the next year. Hell I can even see Toskala traded if there is a good deal in place. The only players who appear to be safe are Schenn, Grabs, Hagman, Kulemin and possibly Antropov.

I concur.

You hope Toskala can get hot again this season so they can move him to someone for a decent return, but the way he's playing now, he's a below average NHL goalie, and those are a dime a dozen.

I could see Nik getting moved just because of his contract status, I'm not sure he is kind of player Burke will want to sign long term.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Its hard to say anything negative about Detroit's scouting because of the results. But if their management was really that high up on all those players, why wait until the latest rounds to draft them? If anyone saw the true potential of Lidstrom/Zetterberg/Datsyuk they would draft them with their first picks and not risk them being taken by someone else.

Good point, but I think that Detroit knew no one else was out there. Scouting has changed since those guys have been picked so there's no way a team wouldn't take them early rather than risk another team taking them, but back then it had to be different. I can't imagine the scout (forget his name) not bothering to see if other scouts were checking out the same players he was.

Christer Rockstrom, and it was exactly that. They were scouting in areas that nobody else was at the time and it allowed them to get those sleeper picks.

Must chap the Canadians' asses to have Americans running their team. Sorry, just had to. :)

[habsfan87 0]

I must say living in the Leaf area, I look forward to listening to Burke and to see what he has to do. Watching the press conference, you can see how intelligent he is, his exact goals and structure he wants to lead with. Accountability with the community was interesting as well, I have respect for that and alot of his other beliefs, the holiday trade freeze, how he spends the teams money and his philosophy on putting an entertaining team on the ice every night. Good luck to him

[chippa13 1844]

Burke screwed up the Ducks more last year than he helped them to the Cup the year before.

[DarkStar50 679]

Scott Niedermayer's three month hiatus with a valid contract helped screw that situation up a lot. Selanne had no contract with the Ducks during his "retirement."