Burke's To Do List after the All Star Break

Ducksplatt · Post #1 » by **Ducksplatt** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:36 pm

The Leafs are currently 14 points out of a playoff position at the All Star break. If you think we will be able to "sneak in", then you are a true Maple Leaf fan (aka: sucker). IMO, the Leafs again will be out of the playoffs again this here. So, here is my To Do List for Burke to do after the All Star break to begin a true "rebuilding" effort.

1. Trade Kaberle to Boston for the Leafs draft pick
Yes, I know Kaberle needs to waive his not trade clause, but the Leafs are going no-where this year, and the draft pick is becoming more and more important. Thus, the Kessel trade will look a little better and for the fans, losing is not so bad anymore now that the pick is back. Kaberle apparently wants to stay in the Eastern division and Boston has been interested in him. Leafs could even take back Ryder so Boston does not go over the Cap (I understand he is available but if not him, anyone else as long as their contract does not extend past this year).

If we do get that pick back, then these must follow:

2. Trade J.S. Gigere as soon as possible
Yes, Burke could hold on to him to raise his stock, but if it is between getting a 3rd rounder or 4th rounder, dump him now. If we are indeed going no-where, why not start the 2 young goalies (Reimer and Jonas) to see what we have an know going into training camp next year if they are long term solutions. OF course, JS needs to prove his groin is going to hold up but when he does, move him (hey, I heard Detroit lost out on Nabokov).

3. Trade Armstrong, Versteeg to playoff teams
These guys are valuable pieces to be added to a playoff team (Versteeg has a Cup ring). Although these guys would be great to have on the Leafs, I think they hold more value in getting some assets back now. Though I would rather see young players coming back than draft picks...players who are young and almost ready to be in the NHL.

4. Trade Beauchemin
As long as no long term contracts come back, if someone want this turnover machine, take him. Clear that salary for next year.

5. Do no trade Kulemin, Grabovski and MacArthur
These guys are young enough to be part of a core going forward. Unless a blue chip is coming back, these guys should be kept.

6. The rest of the Defence
Unfortunately, these ugly contracts cannot be moved with any value coming back so might as well keep them. Also, better to have an experieced blue line in front of young goalies

7. Get rid of Wilson (OK, OK, that was a cheap shot but at least tell him to play the young guys and throw in a positive remark once a week).

Anyway, those are my thoughts.

Brew666 · Post #2 » by **Brew666** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 5:59 pm

I like your train of thought but unfortunately I don't think it'll play out like you want

There is zero chance that Boston is trading a top 10 pick for Kabs even if it supposed to be one of the worst drafts in 15 years...and I'm done dealing with Boston for a while...no point on continually making their current team even better while we'd probably be getting someone who'd likely be a larger question mark (draft pick or prospect)...it'll just make it that much harder on us if deal another piece to a division rival that we have to play 8 times a year...

I'd like to trade J.S. as well but not sure what others teams would be willling to give up for him...I'd be happy with a late pick or a low ceiling prospect as a return....if a deal couldn't be had, I'd put him on the waiver wire if he has a say on who he signs with...he's a stand up guy with a sick child, and it wouldn't be the right to expose him to every NHL team...

I'd rather hold on to Versteeg and Armstrong b/c we just signed Armstrong and it's not a good sign to pending FA's that we'll trade you for assets and for Versteeg, I think he's going to get a lot better than what we might actually get in return for him...I don't think his trade value has really increased since being in Toronto

I'm up for trading Beauchemin as well and if the talks of a bidding war between Anaheim and San Jose are true, then that could really net us something of value in return...not much, but something.

Other options might be seeing what the value of Bozak, Grabo and McArthur are on the market...see what people are willing to give up...the reason I mention these three is b/c maybe the best bet with Grabo and McArthur is to sell high...definately wouldnt give them away but if they can get us a proven top three/six forward or a blue chip prospect, I'd be willing to flirt with the idea...as for Bozer, I see Grabo and Bozer competing for the same position, second line center...so if we're going w/ Grabo then deal Bozak to another team for a vet center...I'm sure a lot posters think we should be going younger but the thing is we have youth up front, they're still developing and I don't think we shoud give up on them yet but I'd like to see Burke bring in some immediate help to lessen the blow of the dealt 1st rounder...of course if anyone is offering a 1st or a blue chip prospect then you take it b/c the future has more value to this team...

Anyhow, I don't think there are any moves that Burke can make that will change the currrent course we're on (of course this is when he did those two big trades out of nowhere last year)...so that said, I'd like to see him work the waiver wire and try and add some vets for the remainder of the year...I wouldn't want him to take on any extra salary for upcoming years but I'd like to see him bring in some proven players if they become available...other then trying to deal Kabs, Beau and J.S. there isn't really anything else I'd do...call up Reimer, Zigomanis and Lashoff if they get picks/prospects and not NHL players for Kabs, Beau & J.S....

Post #3 » by **bryant08** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:47 pm

I don't see the Leafs being able to get enough back for MacArthur to justify trading him. As an impending UFA I don't see why a team would take that much of a risk in dealing something of real value for him.

SDM · Post #4 » by **SDM** » Tue Feb 1, 2011 2:06 pm

1. Fire Wilson
2. Fire himself

Post #5 » by **Crowned** » Wed Feb 2, 2011 5:28 am

1. Do whatever it takes to pry Cody Hodgson out of Vancouver. I don't care what reports say about his back, the kid is going to be a player.

2. Trade Giguere for anything.

3. Trade Kaberle. Get a prospect and/or draft pick, and move on.

4. Consider trading Beauch. I like him, but we need help up front in the worst way. He's the likely candidate to get us a decent forward. If we deal Kaberle, keep him. If we keep Kaberle, deal him.

5. Call up Rynnas for 2 weeks (while Gusto spends his 14 days in the minors on a conditioning stint). See what you have with the kid.

whysoserious · Post #6 » by **whysoserious** » Wed Feb 2, 2011 4:40 pm

Without mortgaging the Future, he needs to make some moves that help now. He needs to get this team away from a top ten pick cause that is just going to make the Kessel deal worse.

Other than that, try and clear some salary and hope that you can sign a real front line center this summer.

Brew666 · Post #7 » by **Brew666** » Wed Feb 2, 2011 5:47 pm

bryant08 wrote:I don't see the Leafs being able to get enough back for MacArthur to justify trading him. As an impending UFA I don't see why a team would take that much of a risk in dealing something of real value for him.

Didn't even realize that...lets just hope that he isn't asking for a ridiculous contract based on one year and resign him.

Ducksplatt · Post #8 » by **Ducksplatt** » Wed Feb 2, 2011 6:02 pm

Brew666 wrote:
bryant08 wrote:I don't see the Leafs being able to get enough back for MacArthur to justify trading him. As an impending UFA I don't see why a team would take that much of a risk in dealing something of real value for him.

Didn't even realize that...lets just hope that he isn't asking for a ridiculous contract based on one year and resign him.

According to CapGeek, he is an RFA next year:

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=4

Post #9 » by **YogiStewart** » Wed Feb 2, 2011 8:58 pm

Crowned wrote:1. Do whatever it takes to pry Cody Hodgson out of Vancouver. I don't care what reports say about his back, the kid is going to be a player.

2. Trade Giguere for anything.

3. Trade Kaberle. Get a prospect and/or draft pick, and move on.

4. Consider trading Beauch. I like him, but we need help up front in the worst way. He's the likely candidate to get us a decent forward. If we deal Kaberle, keep him. If we keep Kaberle, deal him.

5. Call up Rynnas for 2 weeks (while Gusto spends his 14 days in the minors on a conditioning stint). See what you have with the kid.

1 won't happen.
2 = you will get a 4th round pick at best for J-S. just let the guy walk at the end of the season and stop playing him in net!!!
3. this HAS to be done. take whatever you can for him. enough teams need D. i would look at TBay as a target.
4. for the love of god, get rid of Beaucheman. he's so horrible that he makes Komisarek look, well, horrible as well.
5 will not happen. Reimer will get the starts.

Post #10 » by **Crowned** » Fri Feb 4, 2011 4:49 am

YogiStewart wrote:
Crowned wrote:1. Do whatever it takes to pry Cody Hodgson out of Vancouver. I don't care what reports say about his back, the kid is going to be a player.

2. Trade Giguere for anything.

3. Trade Kaberle. Get a prospect and/or draft pick, and move on.

4. Consider trading Beauch. I like him, but we need help up front in the worst way. He's the likely candidate to get us a decent forward. If we deal Kaberle, keep him. If we keep Kaberle, deal him.

5. Call up Rynnas for 2 weeks (while Gusto spends his 14 days in the minors on a conditioning stint). See what you have with the kid.

1 won't happen.
2 = you will get a 4th round pick at best for J-S. just let the guy walk at the end of the season and stop playing him in net!!!
3. this HAS to be done. take whatever you can for him. enough teams need D. i would look at TBay as a target.
4. for the love of god, get rid of Beaucheman. he's so horrible that he makes Komisarek look, well, horrible as well.
5 will not happen. Reimer will get the starts.

1. Prior to this season, he likely could've been attained in a Kaberle deal. Their defense is too good this year. Another player I'd love to get my hands on in Vancouver is Corey Schenider.

2. Take that pick and run. Use it to keep building up your prospect depth.

3. Either an extension or a trade needs to be completed before the deadline. Anything apart from that would be an utter disaster.

4. There are some teams that would take Beauch, and I've heard rumblings that San Jose wants him.

5. Of course you want Reimer to start. However, if JS is dealt, give Rynnas a look in a game or two to monitor his progress. He has played well in the Marlies, which is great considering he looked like a disaster in the preseason.