Forge the whole “proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence” thing….Is it possible that our GM may suffer from a case of being to proud, stubborn and pigheaded?

Case #1:

“We shut down Vesa last year so he could get the medical attention he needed and come back fresh,” Burke said. “Obviously, things didn’t go like that. We know Vesa has not been great. But we also believe he is capable of being better. ”

Really? What is this belief in him being “capable” based upon? Is it possible that the adding of a new goalie guru who is of the belief that he can fix everything has led Burke to think that Toskala is “capable”? Would it mean that the guru isn’t a guru if Toskala remains a bust? I mean if Toskala is no better this year than he was last, why did get this goalie guru? We certainly could see certain people asking the question right? Will Burke be proud to admit it’s time to cut bait in net????

Case #2:

“We know Komisarek and Beauchemin aren’t playing up to expectations,” Burke said. “But does anyone really think it’s going to stay that way? We don’t. In fact, if July 1 came all over again, we’d do the exact same things.”

Hate to play devils advocate BUT- what if it only improves marginally? What if neither guy achieves up to expectations?? Then what??? I know, I know, I know, it’s only 7 games – but hey there isn’t anything else going on is there???!! I also know that Burke has provided the answer he has to- BUT- the he would do it all over again the same way does have to raise some eyebrows doesn’t it? Does this suggest a GM who is simply to stubborn to admit he made a mistake????? The good GM is the one who realizes he has made a mistake and moves on.

Case #3:

“Well, if I had known we’d be 0-6, I still would have done that trade,”

That one maybe the one that hurts the most. Again, we know what he has to say. The question is, is Burke too pigheaded to see the follies of his ways? If this move was a mistake (and I am not suggesting it was) can he admit it and undo it at all to the benefit of the team? Kessel hasn’t even played a game yet. The problem isn’t this years first round pick. I mean, Kessel for a first would be a fair deal. Kessel for a lottery pick may even be fair. The problem is next years first too. What if we are a non playoff team next year? What if we are a lottery team next year? Hello big problem. The question is the bravado. Is it a show, or is it genuine? Is he saying that which we know he has to or does he believe it too a fault??

By the way, is it me or is the pressure on Mr. Kessel going to be totally off the chart for him both to come back AND once he does come back???

As I said, I’m just asking questions on a night when I haven’t had Maple Leafs hockey to watch in what feels like eons.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

quotes from here and here

And there you have it. The big deal is done, and now all that is left to do is play the games. It says here that the pressure on the team just got turned up a few notches. No more tank nation that’s for sure! This team has to make the playoffs for this deal to make any sense whatsoever. Below is a list of the early returns on the deal, there isn’t much right now, so we’ll do it again tomorrow night. Here is my thought. Most of us believed in Burke when he got the job. We can’t think that over night he got stupid. We have to faith that he knows what he is doing. I hope that he can recover some semblance of these picks in moving some of his surplus defencemen and forwards too:

TSN:

“The drama surrounding Phil Kessel has finally come to an end as the Boston Bruins have traded their disgruntled sniper to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a first and a second round pick in 2010, and a first round pick in 2011. Kessel and the Maple Leafs then quickly agreed to terms on a new five-year, $27 million deal. The trade ends a saga that began during the lead-up to the NHL Draft when Kessel originally appeared to be headed to Toronto in exchange for defenceman Tomas Kaberle and a draft pick. However, the deal was scuttled at the last moment due to a miscommunication over the pick.”

That’s all you need to know in a nutshell.

The Star:

“The trade represents a possible change in strategy for Burke. Up until now, he’s been content to stock up on draft picks and defenceman, but has done little to bolster the Leafs’ thin offence. While giving up three high picks is a big price to pay for Kessel’s negotiating rights, the Leafs also have several promising rookies in Tyler Bozak, Viktor Stalberg, Nazem Kadri and Christian Hanson, all of whom have scored during in the team’s first two pre-season games.”

The pressure on these young kids to perform just got much greater don’t you think?

The Globe and Mail:

“The Leafs could have signed Kessel, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet at the cost of a first, second and third-round pick. But Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli stated he had ownership’s backing to match any offer sheet, therefore retaining the rights to the player. The University of Minnesota product was diagnosed with testicular cancer in his rookie season on Dec. 12, 2006. He missed 11 games to recover from surgery, played in a two-game in the AHL and scored once before returning to the Bruins. Later that season, he was given the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

In Burke we have to trust. I think that Burke looks at the college kids has found draft picks. Perhaps he thinks that he can dip into that well again next year for younger players.

The best article this evening (the Boston papers don’t have a word on the deal as of yet) belongs to the National Post and Bruce Arthur:

“Sure, the Leafs general manager risked ridicule by proclaiming he wanted to trade for the No. 1 pick in the draft and then failing to do so, but that didn’t exactly saddle the team with long-term liability. It just meant he swung, and missed. “I have no problem with failing publicly,” Burke said last week, “as long as out fans know we want to hit home runs.” Phil Kessel, however, could be different. Phil Kessel could be a home run.”

It’s a hell of a price for a could be. Draft Schmaft got a certain former GM in a bit of trouble. Burke seems to be saying the same thing here.

“Why Kessel? Well, he scored 36 goals last season, he was a point-per-game player in Boston’s last two playoff runs, and he can flat-out fly. And did we mention he is 21 years old? For a Maple Leafs team whose forwards could best be described as a mixed and unappetizing bag, Kessel is a top-end sniper in the race to rebuild.”

Indeed, the upside is huge. Should the leafs be a lottery team this year or next, this is a disaster.

“And yet Boston refused to fit him into its admittedly jammed salary structure. Which seems odd, until you hear the whispers about Kessel’s inability to get along with teammates, or the way he and coaches tend to disagree when he is criticized, or his distaste for extra work.

There is a passage in Gare Joyce’s recent book, Future Greats and Heartbreaks, which details Kessel’s disastrous pre-draft interview with Columbus. All the Columbus guys said was “Teammates,” and Kessel said he didn’t understand. But after an uncomfortable silence, Kessel started to blurt out answers. “I don’t have a problem with my teammates,” he claimed. “I don’t have a problem with Jack Johnson,” he added. On and on he went. Apparently, he didn’t come across as a bad kid; just as a socially vacant one. And as badly as the interview went, after Kessel walked out, one of the Columbus guys said, a little dreamily, “Kessel’s a hell of a talent.”

The pressure on one Ron Wilson is much greater for next year isn’t it. His team has to win and win now. No more nice efforts. This team has to make the playoffs this season. Burke is betting that Wilson and Co. will be able to get Kessel to the next level. If not, who do you think goes overboard first, Kessel or Wilson?

“Eye of the beholder, indeed. If Kessel really is a media-shy problem child – well, this is not the right place for him. The most essential characteristic a Toronto Maple Leaf has to have is mental fortitude. The pressure in this hockey-crazy town can crack you; the celebrity can soften you like a lobster on the boil. Similarly, the two most essential characteristics a Toronto Maple Leafs general manager are simple. One, they need the ability to tell who can and cannot deal with this environment. Plenty of players are happier in the relatively calm climes of the United States, where nobody bothers you when you eat.”

One has to hope that Burke has done his homework on what he just bought. If the media pressure is too much for Kessel, we will know very quickly. The problem is there just isn’t enough veterans on the team to help him out. Who is going to show him the ways? There are a few guys, I guess. Enough??? We shall see.

“However the Kessel experiment goes, we will learn something about Brian Burke that we did not already know. If Kessel is a star who manages to fit into Ron Wilson’s program, then Burke’s vision will be proven to extend beyond whether a guy can make somebody else pick their teeth out of the glass. This could be, as we mentioned, a home run.

But if Kessel cracks, then the questions start. The road to perdition has traditionally been paved by GMs too willing to part with draft picks, in this town. Has Burke, like too many of his predecessors, been rendered overly impatient by the blue and white beast? Naturally, Burke insists that isn’t happening. We believe him. But we’ll see.

“Just started the first of five years,” Burke said in an informal gathering with reporters last week. “I’m not going to succumb to instant response. We’re going to stay on the long-term plan, but we think we’ve short-circuited it. We think we took a shortcut.”

Kessel is a shortcut, all right. The question is to where. ”

The last trade we made with the Bruins I believe was for a guy named Raycroft. That one didn’t turn out so good. Kessel had one good year in Boston. Much like Raycroft. Here’s hoping and betting that Kessel turns out better than Raycroft.

Berger of course is steadfast in his opposition to the deal. His last two blogs have told us why he doesn’t think this is a deal that the Leafs should make.

Mccown basically said today that if the deal was for a first and second pick he would do it in a heartbeat. He wasn’t sure after that.

Hanky??? This was not one of his best days. He missed on this one big time. All of his posts today had Kessel either going nowhere or to Nashville. Not the finest moment for hockey’s most infamous blogger.

Cliff was famous for draft schmaft. Burke has in essence said the same thing hasn’t he… In Burke we trust. His team has to not be a lottery team the next two years in order for this deal to survive basic scrutiny. If they are….look out.

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke didn’t do what almost every media outlet expected him to do, trade Tomas Kaberle. The question that should be pondered is why not. Is is possible that there simply is no market for Tomas Kaberle? Perhaps, Kaberle is another example of an fan overating Maple Leaf player. The difference this time, I suggest is that the media this time, lead the pack. Almost with out exception every member of the Maple Leaf reporter harram was predicting that Tomas Kaberle would be dealt and that it wouldn’t be until that time that Burke’s real makeover would take place.

Let’s look at Maple Leaf Guru Howard Berger:
“Now, the Maple Leafs’ GM has 23 days to prevent himself from negating much of the process. That’s the amount of time remaining until Tomas Kaberle’s limited no-movement clause goes back into effect through all of next season. And, though Burke continues to posture by “insisting” Kaberle will be in the Leafs’ opening-night line up, Oct. 1st, he must also understand there is hardly any rationale in retaining the veteran defenseman beyond this summer. In fact, it says here that only a bout of stubbornness – fueled by over-valuing the Czech-born blue-liner – can preclude Burke from pulling off a trade essential to the Maple Leafs’ development by the Aug. 15th contractual deadline. And, what a waste of an opportunity that would be for the hockey club.”

What do you think happened between the NHL draft when Kaberle was rumored to be headed to Boston and now? Burke’s most tradeable asset is now locked in for the rest of year. Burke said as recently as yesterday that he will not ask Kaberle to waive his no trade clause. That means, Burke is down to 2 roads with Kaberle, resign him or watch him leave for nothing. Unless Kaberle is going to take a pay cut, I don’t see Burke resigning him. Is this the start of another prime example of a Toronto team holding on to an asset too long or worse losing them for nothing?? It says here that no one will trade a kings ransom for the rights to negotiate early with Kaberle at the draft next year.

“[Kaberle] is, as Burke accurately contends, a low-maintenance, high-quality teammate; certainly among the classiest players I’ve been associated with in nearly 20 years on the Leafs beat. And, most attractively, Tomas carries with him an understated salary [and cap hit], with two years left at $4.25 million per season. That contractual allurement is no longer of benefit to the Maple Leafs, who will almost surely be in a structuring mode beyond its remaining term. But, it could be an economic and strategic God-send for a club at an advanced stage of development. That’s why it is almost impossible to conceive that Burke will not be presented an adequate trade proposal before Aug. 15th. Though the GM contends he will only move Kaberle if his “socks” are blown off, he knows he isn’t bartering Zdeno Chara, Nicklas Lidstrom, Dion Phaneuf, Dan Boyle, or any front-of-the-pack NHL defenseman. Kaberle is in the upper-middle echelon of blue-liners, but his value on the supply-and-demand market is likely never to be higher than right now. As such, Burke should attract at least one disproportionate offer for his services.”

So, I am willing to go on a limb and say that Burke is smart. If he received the right offer he would have taken it. Why wouldn’t he? It’s one thing to be stubborn as Howie suggests, it’s another to be so stubborn to the detriment of your hockey team. It says here that Burke hasn’t been here long enough to be in that stage yet. The only other possibility is that there was no market for Kaberle. If not, we have to ask at why not. Perhaps his injury last year played a major part. Perhaps, Kaberle just isn’t as good as we here in Toronto think he is (me included).

“Therefore, I continue to believe it is a foregone conclusion that Kaberle has played his final game in a Toronto jersey, and that the Leafs’ future will be further enhanced before the middle of next month.”

Well, just as they didn’t finish dead last, Howie was dead wrong. He can take solace in the fact that he wasn’t alone. I suspect in the giving days we will get a mea culpa blog from southern California. I also suspect that the only reason #15 isn’t an available jersey number is that Burke couldn’t trade him. Perhaps in this economy his $4.5m salary isn’t the “reasonable” one that we all thought it was.

Another reason to love Jim Balsillie- He has been able to shut the mouth of one Richard Peddie. Seriously think about, when was the last time Peddie was this quiet. Me thinks he may have been in diapers and using a pacifier. Since Balsilie’s offer on the Coyotes, Peddie hasn’t opened his mouth except to say ” no comment.” Those are the words he should stick to as his permanent response to questions. Thanks JB.

TSM

@yyzsortsmedia

Nasty day here, so while the kids catch a movie, thought I would try and wrap up the weekend. Lots out there being said, much of it accurate, all of it predictable. I have come away with one major conclusion. The NHL draft is yet another over hyped made for tv event. It’s great for the kids who get drafted. For the general public (excluding those who are die hard junior fans) it’s really a lot about nothing. It’s a time where media types create buzz and rumours to get idiots like me excited enough to watch.

“Burke was brought to Toronto to do more than the obvious. It’s a very difficult job, having inherited this mess. But as any sports executive will tell you, managing a team and managing expectations are very different roles. Burke has managed the team reasonably well. He needs to manage expectations better, and for him, that may include toning down the buildup rather than leaving Leaf fans in their all-too-normal state of wanting more.”

That’s entirely accurate and predictable. Simmons is right on all counts with that summation. Burke has no one but himself to blame for any negativity he his experiencing right now. That’s not a bad thing, and maybe that’s the way he likes it. The reality is he set big expectations and unfortunately didn’t fulfill them. There are consequences to that. He is a big boy and he can handle this.

Simmons’s by the way was also right in this assessment:

“Some things were meant to be forever, like late nights on The Fan 590 listening to Stormin’ Norman Rumack shmooze with the “future hall of famer” Jimmy Devellano or the NHL exec, Rick Dudley. For those of us who can’t sleep, and there are many, the abruptly fired Vampire was reason to be awake”

Graveyard shift aint sexy, but Norm did it well and got quality guests.

“Attendance at the union meetings in Las Vegas was so limited, it seemed as if one had wandered into a game in Glendale. Fact is, the PA did not have enough player reps at its own meeting to tally the vote on the critical issue of voting on the 5-percent cap escalator clause that eventually was adopted through e-mail tally”

I thought the same thing when I learned of the meetings. How freaking hard is it to get guys to go to Las Vegas for free?

“Much worse, and perhaps scandalous, is that a number of players went to Las Vegas on the union’s dime, partied, and never bothered to actually, you know, attend the meetings. Wait until the summer meetings in Rome.”

Now that’s funny, I mean these guys really are all Peter Pans. Not wanting to grow up, ya know. So it’s no surprise that they go to Vegas….VEGAS….and party right? But some allegedly got so hammered they didn’t make it to the meetings… Classic! Sounds like the Olympic games when certain players trashed their rooms. Good news is that hockey players are the “nice guys” of the professional athletes.

“Players who voted against the escalator did so in order to reduce escrow for the coming season. But their votes were short-sighted and selfish, for it always is important to have the cap as high as possible and the most money possible in the system. A higher cap means more available money for free agents — and approximately five-sixths of the players in the NHL will become free agents during the term of the labor agreement……The members of the NHLPA should understand they will be facing a negotiation in which Bettman and the Board will seek significant givebacks in nearly every area. Their performance last week that was marked by apathy, self-interest and greed, does not bode well for their future.”

Is Larry Brooks really name David Miller???? Has their been a more ardent supporter of Unions over the last 10-15 years than Larry “David Miller” Brooks?

“Finally, we asked Lamoriello who would be coaching the Devils this season.

“I might have a surprise,” said the man who is never surprised.

Introducing Mike Keenan.”

Now that would be awesome. Can you imagine Keenan coaching a Lou team? Talk about a fun place to play….

File this under stupid:

“Greater Toronto Area hockey organizers are happy to have Nazem Kadri as the new poster boy for the Maple Leafs, but they don’t expect the Middle Eastern community to start flooding minor hockey.”

Really?
Really?
I mean Really?

Did someone suggest they would? I mean come on. Why even write a story like that? Don’t get me wrong, I think the fact the Kadri has been drafted is fantastic, but to put pressure on the kid that all of the sudden throngs of kids are going to start playing hockey is, unrealistic and not necessary.

Want to know why I went to the University of Vermont?

“It’s hard to believe two Harvard-educated hockey executives like Brian Burke and Peter Chiarelli would have, in the famous words of Strother Martin, such a failure to communicate. There they were on the NHL draft floor Friday night, both poised to consummate a major trade that had been negotiated over the previous two days. Burke wandered over to Chiarelli at the Boston Bruins table and said he planned to wait until after he’d made the seventh pick in the draft, and then announce a deal that would send veteran Maple Leaf defenceman Tomas Kaberle to the B’s in exchange for winger Phil Kessel and a 2010 first-round pick. “What do you mean? I’m making that pick,” responded Chiarelli. The Bruins GM believed the Leafs had included the seventh pick in this draft in the transaction, something Burke didn’t think he’d tossed into the mix. The deal collapsed then and there and the hockey world will have to wait to see if it’s resuscitated next week, next month or never”

Clearly a Harvard education is all that it’s cracked up to be. Come on folks. It can’t really be that complicated. Easy words to follow, I will trade you ___ if you trade me ____, the response is one of only 3 possibilities, yes, no, or what about ____. I mean, next your going to tell me you didn’t make a trade because of a fax machine jam…WHAT!!!!!???

These guys make big bucks and they can’t the details right in a trade?? I either have too much faith in the system or these guys pay as much attention to detail as little TSM does. One word, PATHETIC.

“Including yesterday’s draft, Burke has successfully added some youth and hope to the Leafs in the form of Christian Hanson, Tyler Bozak and first-rounder Nazem Kadri. He could know as early as today whether Swedish free-agent goalie Jonas Gustavsson will sign with the Leafs, and at noon on Wednesday will begin trolling for free agent help along with 29 other talent-hungry clubs. If Burke can realize a profitable deal for Kaberle, the club’s most talented European, the club’s new North American-first direction will be furthered and another younger talent will be added to the pile. Maybe he and Chiarelli didn’t combine their Ivy League educations successfully on Friday. But nothing was lost, with much still to be gained.”

Accurate assessment by Damien, one that isn’t really all that predictable. It’s good to see that the scribes in town aren’t dumping on Burke just yet. I think that time will be saved for just prior to training camp. If Burke hasn’t produced by then…well, he won’t face the same type of positive outlook from the likes of Cox. I think we all need to remember that Burke inherited crap. Those before him, left him next to nothing. We all know it. This isn’t going to come easy or quick. However, I still say that if Toskala played as well as he did 2 seasons ago, the leafs would have made the playoffs last year. Is this team far from a cup? HELL YES. Is it far from the playoffs? I doubt it. What this means is that Burke has to play his cards right. You can make the playoffs and still build a franchise. Don’t overpay for players, don’t sign stupid contracts. Make good draft choices, give players time to mature. Sign younger free agents and manage the cap properly. You can’t win the cup if you aren’t in the playoffs.

“But for all the bluster about truculence, Burke also wants the organization to be as light on its feet as a dancer in case the salary cap drops the season after next, and that’s why it’s what he does from this morning on that will really require prudence and forethought. It’s why even though Tomas Kaberle makes just $4.25-million (all currency U.S.) these next two years, now’s the time to move him because $4.25-million against the 2010-11 salary cap will likely be much more significant than $4.25-million against this year’s cap; certainly to any team looking to acquire Kaberle. It’s why keeping Pavel Kubina, a free agent after this year, makes sense, unless somebody seriously makes an offer that includes a top-two defenceman. There is value to having his ice time without needing to worry about having it in 2010-11.”

Jeff Blair has nailed it I think. I think that is entirely the plan. If the cap drops dramatically next year, can you imagine the position Burke will be in if he has been able to expand on his available cap space? Teams needing to dump players, free agents available and Burke with cash to spend. Can we hit fast forward to next year????

“You could argue that it will be easier to make hay in the free-agent market next summer; that Burke could very well come out of this summer with less than $20-million committed beyond next season. That would give him even more power next summer because in a market with a lower salary cap, free-agent prices could be diminished, and surprises could be in store as teams try to shed salary (let alone what might happen if there’s anything to Jarome Iginla tiring of life with My Five Sutters). That, too, is something Burke will think about. At any rate, for all the good work Burke wants to do in the draft and all the talk about building from within, it’s apparent that the Maple Leafs’ ability to manoeuvre in the free-agent marketplace will determine how soon they become the force Burke wants them to be. The draft will provide the base to build on, but his wallet remains Burke’s biggest ally in his bid to make everyone start hating the Leafs for the right reasons. ”

That sounds good to me!

“Sather meanwhile categorized the contract demands from impending unrestricted free agent Nik Antropov, whom the Blueshirts acquired from Toronto at the deadline for a second-round pick, as “ridiculous.” “Based on the first volley from [agent] Mark Gandler, there is a slim chance [of Antropov returning],” the general manager said following the fifth round of the Entry Draft. “There’s a snowball’s chance in hell that’s going to happen. It’s ridiculous. I hate to criticize an agent, but let’s have a little bit of reality here.”
Antropov, who scored seven goals in 18 regular-season games for the Blueshirts but was barely a factor in the first-round defeat by Washington, earned $2.05 million last year. He’s believed seeking a long-term deal for at least $5 million per. Good luck to him.”

Ok, let the bring back Antropov banter begin. I think his agent missed the memo on the current state of the economy. When people say that the big players will get their money, the reference isn’t to height. I would be stunned if Antropov got anywhere near 5 million a year. Sather makes mistakes, but I can’t see him being that dumb. Gandler needs JFJ to get hired quickly. That from Larry Miller here

“I’m not proud of that fact and I’m not happy about it. I feel for this kid. Unfortunately, that’s the flip-side of this business. I don’t know yet what we’re going to do with him, but, when in doubt, what you do with a good, young player is send him a qualifying offer and then figure out [the next step] later.” That’s Howie quoting BB on Justin Pogge. Personally I don’t get the hesitation. You signed a good goalie coach. You are going to hire your own minor league coach. Why not qualify him and see what happens. There is no real downside whatsoever. Berger is here

There are a ton of rumours out there right now. I am not ready to buy many of them. Not questioning the sources, rather the substance. Lots of sites are claiming that LA took Bryden Schenn out of spite for Burke. I am having a tough time believing that. Guys don’t get to be GM’s and draft based on spite. It just doesn’t work that way. Now could a deal be worked out as suggested, where Kaberle becomes a King in exchnage for Schenn, sure it could. I love reading the banter on the various blogs. I especially love it when they don’t have E’s next to the rumours. I hope they are all true and Burke is talking deal with almost every team across the league. I think a lot of it is, however hot air and should be treated as nothing more than entertainment.

Speaking of entertainment, going to take the kids to UP.

Happy rainy Sunday.

TSM

Simmons is here
Brooks is here
Blair is here

Started with a bang, ended with a thud. It was a wild day in rumor land. First we have the Kaberle rumor. Then we have the news that there was a misunderstanding. Did this misunderstanding involve Bill Watters fingers in a fax machine?? I get the sense that whatever Burke was working on get totally thrown off course with the Kaberle thing. It just seemed that there was no wind in his sails. Seems pretty clear that he refused to include Schenn in a deal to move up. Why? Well, I assume he viewed it as making one step forward and one step back. I get that. Is it the right move? I have no idea. At one time another leaf GM wouldn’t deal a few players for Pronger… Hindsight is too easy… I am glad he didn’t make a deal for deals sake. I loved that he got to the podium and just announced his pick- no 5 minute speeches. Personally, I wish he had moved down to get some more picks.

Do you think Burke has a credibility problem now? I am not so sure. The promise was to try to trade up. I doubt anyone can say that he didn’t try. Problem is, in this town, both the media and the fans hang on every word and expectations were set. All eyes and ears were on him and he came up empty handed. Entered at 7 and left at 7, never to be heard from again. How good is Nazem Kadri, you guys tell me. I saw the interviews, sounds like a bright kid…Looks like he has decent hands and can skate.

The Prnger trade is quite amazing. Anaheim, in my mind made off like bandits. The Flyers meanwhile never seem to learn that no matter who is playing on the ice, you are only as strong as your goalie. They paid a steep price for Pronger says he is going to be looking for a long 5 year deal at 6 per.

I get the sense that Maple Leaf nation is down and depressed. That is nothing more than impatience and unrealistic expectations set by Burke himself.

I thought the broadcast team did well on TSN. The most interesting part to me was Burke being miked up. Listening to his dialogue with Murray, Nonis and Gainey was fantastic.

Once again, in my opinion the real winner of the day was technology. Twitter was in full effect. People were tweeting from the draft, others from around the league. For those of you who haven’t taken part in a coveritlive event, you should. It’s very cool. It’s your normal chat room on steroids. In our room I had programmed feeds of several people I follow on twitter that I thought would make for interesting updates throughout. PPP for example, everytime you guys tweeted it showed up as an update in our chat. I had also uploaded videos of most of the guys drafted tonight. We had a great group of 10-15 people out and there was some good stuff.

Norm Rumack is on Casino Grill Room right now, he just said, and this was before the fact, that he would have included Luke Schenn in a deal for any of the (then projected) top three picks.

So, day one done. Tomorrow is day 2 of the draft and then we march on to July 1. Lots to do in a short amount of time. One does have to wonder if Burke had difficulty today, how much success is he going to have over the next couple of weeks. I don’t know, just asking.

So get this…. I am driving home from work tonight. Have to stop at the store to pick up some burgers for the fellas come to watch the draft. I make an illegal right turn and of course get pulled over. Officer asks for my license, insurance and registration, which of course I give him. He is gone for 10 minutes, comes back and says there is a problem. My license plates aren’t coming up in his comptuer as being tied to my car and he has to seize the vehicle. I was given no opportunity to explain, to ask any questions, tow truck arrived car is gone…end of story! Will keep you up to date as this goes on.

Love this quote from Burke in Damien’s blog at this hour explaining why he didn’t deal Luke to Tampa to get to 2 (after the Islanders took Tavares)

“”We’d be without Luke Schenn and I’d look like an idiot,” said Burke.”

enough said.

Cox is here

How did Burke like the boos he got?

“”I will tell you this – the best hockey fans on the planet are not in Montreal, they’re in Toronto,” said Burke. “When we host this event in a couple years this will seem like child’s play for the booing they get in Toronto.”

Ummm, do people remember how brutal the turnout was the last time the draft was here???

So there is another bid on the Coyotes. Much less than Jim, I won’t attend my own rally, Balsillie’s bid. Then the public action group sues the city over lack of information about potential lease concessions. What a mess. Can this story go away any quicker please?

Comment of the night? Mike S, reminded us all that a few weeks ago the Score reported that Chris Pronger had been dealt to LA. Done deal was the report. “The Score had same sources as Mccown”.

Kaberle and Kubina can now be traded…Here’s hoping that if they are he gets something we can rally behind.

Have a good night, more tomorrow.

TSM

I admit it, there is one song of his I liked and that was it…Clearly, his passing lead to the death of any progress on the NHL draft front- I AM KIDDING- ONLY A COMPLETE MORON would suggest that no trades were made because MJ died! One last point on MJ- wholly shit did 640 Toronto and their uber producer Josh Rimmer bring their A game on the Jackson thing! Greg Brady spoke to Pat O’Brien and Jesse flippin Jackson shortly after the official word broke that MJ died. I am not kidding, Brady did an interview with Jesse Jackson. Whether or not you like or dislike MJ, you have to, I say, have to be impressed that Rimmer got JJ on the post Watters show…WOW….

So, here we are draft day. So far, doesn’t look so good for those of us thinking Burke is going to hit a homer. He has all but thrown cold water on our hopes for a splash, but who knows what gets said amongst GM’s in the Sheraton Montreal lobby bar… Here’s hoping Brian Lawton, who had to resort to emails to the league that he was in charge (but Bettman says this is all over blown) downs one to many and takes that last offer Burke has for the #2 pick. Time will tell.

Do you like the Raptors pick? Should I? Vince carter got dealt, now he can go not try for Orlando- good luck to them.

TSM will be hosting a live NHL draft blog tomorrow- right here- myself, LT, Dan and some fellas will be online chatting it up so please stop by. I will post links and info tomorrow….

Hats off to Andy Strikland, Kaberle’s NTC doesn’t apparently go quiet until after the start of the draft tomorrow! I love the banter of multiple draft picks for TK.

So, it was one year ago today that I got off my ass and decided to start putting finger to keyboard and launch Torontosportsmedia.com. Who would have guessed that one year later, my little site would be home to 30,000 set of unique eyeballs a month and over a 100,000 pageviews. I must say I am humbled.

TSM started in part out of frustration and in part out of the love of the game. Frustration with how our teams and games are covered and I think the love the of the game thing is obvious. I was fortunate enough to spend some time in the business when I wore a younger man’s clothes and I realized that I missed it and wanted a way to stay involved. This site has allowed me to do just that. I don’t fancy myself an insider or one who knows much of anything more than the average fan. I just like taking the time to talk to people, to listen and then to express myself on my Apple Macintosh laptop (when it’s not dead).

I have to say I owe a lot to several folks for getting the site to where it is. There are, of course the oopmah loompas behind the scene who have helped a non-techy look sharp and sophisticated (the good folks at hooplah, onroad, Alan, Slava and anyone else I am forgetting). I have had the helping hand of my good man LT from day one. He is a super fan, a great fill in and loves the teams and games as much as I do. The many many sites that link to TSM on a daily basis are just awesome. I am in awe of the spectacular work that you folks to each and every day. Whether or not blogging is accepted in the mainstream sports media, there are some amazing, truly amazing writers out there and I tip my hats to each of you.

To those of you who have emailed me, reached to me, offering advice, information and news and just plain support I hope that the site is what you have hoped. I enjoy “speaking” to you about the business and look forward to doing so in the future. Thanks to those who have also taken the time to do a podcast, there should be more time to do more this year as I have help in doing so and learned the tricks of the trade.

To the many folks who have been kind enough to write for the site, I thank you on behalf of all the readers as well, Anthony, Victor, RotoRob Dan and Lilly.

Most of all, I thank those of you who come back each and every day to read what I have to say. I especially appreciate all those who comment, post and take part in the conversation. I know many don’t agree with me or my views or those of other readers, but you have validated my hunch, that there is an appettie for this type of information on a daily basis. To my man Mike S for helping with the radio lineups, to Eggbert, Daniel, Julian, Wendel, PPP, The Meatriarchy, Mike, EYE, Al from Burlignton, and of course Nealio, keep it coming fellas….If I forgot someone shame on me.

Here’s to another good year of sports in the Toronto and cheers to those who cover it.

Make sure you check out Dan’s NBA draft coverage tonight, we will be back tomorrow afternoon with NHL draft coverage.

This little tidbit just popped up on the Globe site:

“Maybe Brian Burke has a trading partner before the NHL entry draft, after all. Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell admitted Wednesday he is listening to tenders for the fourth overall selection at the draft Friday evening, and he revealed he has swapped trade ideas with his Toronto Maple Leafs counterpart. “We’re certainly going to look at the trade market, but we’ve had no serious offers,” said Waddell, who was asked if he has been contacted by Burke. “We have talked to everyone. He has a better chance of getting to No.1 if he already has the [No.]4.”

Earlier tonight Darren Dreger announced that he has learned that Burke is actively shopping the #7 overall pick in attempt to secure a current roster player who can help now, and no that roster player is not, according to double D, Vincent Lecavailier. Dreger is saying that the Isles are going to stay away from John Tavares and draft Victor Hedman. This to me should be good news for Burke. If he really wants to get Tavares, he has a better shot trading to 2 then he does to 1. I can’t imagine too many current roster guys he can get in exchange for the 7th pick that I would really want (and that are realistic returns).

rumour on the globe is here

I love this quote from Bettman on the Tampa situation:

“I think sometimes they get a little overblown. When you have partnerships, people don’t always see eye to eye on everything, it’s like a marriage, like friendships, like all relationships,” he told a news conference in Montreal after a meeting of the league’s board of governors. “Sometimes these issues come to more of a head because people in other businesses are under more pressure. I don’t think any of them warrant the amount of attention that they’re getting, but they’re there and they’re all being dealt with.”

Ummmm, given your history with honesty on these matters mr. commissioner, I am finding this response to be anything but credible or the least bit believable.

Bettman is here

Andy Strickland has a pretty good rumour on his ESPN blog:

“Word is Phoenix turned down an offer from Toronto that would have sent Ed Jovanovski and the 6th overall pick to the Leafs for Kaberle. I hear Phoenix didn’t want to give up the pick.”

Let’s hope they change their mind, eh EYE??

The next couple of days should be amazing folks, lots of speculation and tons to talk about…Keep tuned to all the outlets and of course to TSM for the updates…

Thanks again to all, this has been really, really fun.

TSM

Is the garbage back flow causing usually reliable writer Tim Wharnsby to hallucinate?:

“There is belief the Maple Leafs have been zeroing in on New York Rangers defenceman Wade Redden and forward Peter Schaefer of the Boston Bruins. Schaefer, 31, was buried in the minors by the Bruins last season because of salary cap concerns. He has one more year on his contract at $2.3-million (U.S.). Redden, 32, was signed to a six-year, $39-million unrestricted free-agent deal last summer, and the Rangers would not be averse to moving him.”

Yes there is belief in a lot of things out there, the question is how many of these beliefs are based on any sense of reality. So here is the question I have to ask you, let’s assume Burke is indeed looking at Redden, WHY?

Well, let’s start with the assumption that Burke isn’t an idiot. He does have cap room to use as a bargaining chip. You don’t however give that away. Cap room is worth more than gold these days. So what does Burke want back in return for taking on an albatross of a contract? The one thing he can demand is that the other team ingest one of Burke’s bad contracts…. HELLO JASON BLAKE. The other thing he can demand back is prospects and or draft picks.

If Burke peddles away Kubina and or Kaberle, he will need someone to eat minutes on a young blueline. Either of these guys can do that. Also, while I think Leaf nation is a defenceman killer, the fact that he trades for someone else’s bad contract make it easier to digest. Hypothetically, and I say again, hypothetically, let’s say Larry Brooks, I mean Glen Sather takes on one of our bad contracts and gives us a top ranked prospect and or a draft pick for taking Redden off the Rangers. Do you really care that Redden signed a fat contract a year ago? I know we will be paying the contract, and I know it sits on our books, but Burke does have options in dealing with that down the road too. All I am saying is that, in my mind anyway (and maybe the garbage is getting to me) there is a difference in paying the salary as opposed to being the one who offered it up in the first place.

So, I am going to give Tim the benefit of the doubt on this one. He isn’t our version of Bruce Garrioch. He doesn’t usually float rumours out of nowhere.

Howard meanwhile has a good blurb in his blog and a nice tribute to Norm Rumack too- here is Howard’s take on possible Leafs moving…
“IT WON’T SURPRISE ME IF: All of Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt Stajan and Mikhail Grabovski are traded by Burke this summer. Not to mention at least one of Tomas Kaberle or Pavel Kubina. This may seem excessive and it might suggest to some of you that I consider these players castoffs. Not true. The reason I believe Burke may peddle the abovementioned is three-fold: a) they have varying levels of marketability, but all can still play in the NHL, assuring the Leafs of return value; b) three of the five [Ponikarovsky, Stajan and Kaberle] badly need a change of address after wallowing in team mediocrity for half-a-decade, and c) Burke cannot affect real change by hanging on to the same nucleus of veteran players. If that requires him to make a sideways move or two – change for the sake of change – then it’s something he’ll have to strongly consider. The Leafs (and their followers) have traditionally over-valued players out of concern they may go elsewhere and burst into stardom. It’s the attitude that prevented John Ferguson, in 2006, from parting with Alex Steen in a deal that would have landed the Leafs Chris Pronger. How absurd does that sound today? Matt Stajan, similarly, is a good player and a quality person. But, he’ll never be more to the Leafs than he is right now… same with Ponikarovsky; same with Kaberle. A change of scenery may refresh the careers of these veterans to some extent (none, I can guarantee you, will begin to contend for individual trophies) and it may provide the Leafs with ingredients they do not currently possess. It will certainly begin to alter what has proven, without question, to be a losing hand. Grabovski is more of an isolated issue. Though he was too streaky to be a legitimate top-six forward last season, the Montreal castoff has undeniable talent and competitiveness. He is worthy of being retained as a building block for the franchise, pending his decision to seek arbitration as a method of landing a contract extension. Burke has limited patience for the arbitration process, beyond respecting its rightful place in the collective bargaining agreement. Once a player chooses that route, there is no back-pedaling – or, as Burke put it, “there will not be any settlements on the courthouse steps”. The sense I have is this: If Grabovski takes the Leafs to arbitration and wins, Burke will trade him. He won’t walk away from a ruling, which is also the Leafs’ right, but neither will he continue to look upon Grabovski as truly a part of the team.”

The chatter is starting to pick up…. Eyes and ears open (except around the garbage dumps)

TSM

Tim is here

Howard is here

I had the chance to talk to a long time NHL executive today about a myriad of topics, the bulk of which centered around the upcoming weeks in the NHL off-season. I asked the draft guru 2 questions. First, if you were Garth Snow, who would you pick first?

“To be honest, I would trade down. There is no real consensus pick this year, and given that, I would trade down, assuming I could get some other assets for doing so. However, I get the sense that the Islanders have are really focused on a new building and the need for a marquee name, if that’s the case then the only pick they can make is John Tavares.”

The second question i asked, not surprisingly was,if you were picking first for any other team, who would you pick?

“There are some exceptionally talented players available this year. The reason i said I would trade down is simply because you could throw a blanket on the top 8 players in the draft and have no clue who is the best player of the lot. The differences in them is so slight that you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Having said that, if I pass on Tavares, I had better be pretty comfortable with my position and the kid I am picking because the hype is big on him and he is the one player who could turn out to be really special. If you pass on him and he lives up to the hype, then your reputation will be tied to passing over him. That isn’t easy to overcome in our business.”

As you may have noticed, I don’t do mock drafts or really comment on them. I leave that to the guru’s and those smarter than I. However, I find it intriguing that someone as experienced as this guy is said just how deep this years draft is. This is one of my favorite times of year as a hockey fan, I guess it comes with not having our team in the playoffs for so long.

Thursday night come to TSM for a live NBA/Toronto Raptor blog, where Dan and a basketball crew will be breaking down the 2009 NBA draft for you.

As for the draft…….