Jay_Hawk wrote:The Sedin twins trade was masterfully orchestrated, but the pair weren't considered to be "franchise players" and the 1999 draft is considered to be one of the weakest in history. And the Pronger trade? Sure it was great, but it was 20 damn years ago!!! Prior to the lockout and the introduction of the 'new' NHL. And he was fired after one year and worked for the league afterwards.
I'm sorry, but that wasn't prime Linden. That was Linden in 2001, nowhere near his superstar form. And Gardiner a 'Franchise player?" I think very highly of Gardiner, but I don't see him being a 'superstar'. If you think Linden in 2001 was a superstar and that Gardiner will be, then you and I clearly have different opinions of what 'franchise player' means. If those are the best examples of 'franchise players' that Burke has accumulated, then my point is clearly made.
First of all I'm an idiot b/c I thought BB initiated a trade with WAS to get Linden initially in 88 not 2001 which of course doesn't make sense on more than one level so I'll eat some crow on that. As for Gardiner, I"m not saying he is a superstar but for someone whose 21 on the backend he's looking pretty good right now. who knows how it's going to pan out. And I'd probably say outside of Kessel he would be our most wanted asset, not bad for Beauchemin.
I don't think that every move Burke has made is great and I do disagree with the way he goes about it and don't agree with some of the decisions but as a whole he's been good. His asset management has been pretty good, when it comes to trades he's coming out on top. He hasn't landed us that superstar or #1 centre but he's trading scrubs and getting quality players. He's given us a respectable farm system and it's only a matter of time before that diamond in the rough appears.
It's been 4 years and he's made his mistakes but look what he was given as well. Tlusty was our best prospect. How can you get anything of value when you don't have any assets? He's had to build a franchise not just a team. And this core will eventually will be a playoff team once they get some experience under their belt.
How many GMs get a franchise player through a trade or FA in the new nhl anyhow? MIke Richards? Jeff Carter? Brad Richards? Who is that player we missed out on?
I just think people's expectations are too high. People expect perfection with no bumps on the road. When you compare where we are now and what we had, it's night and day and that's due to BB and management. I have no problems talking about his faults but it just seems typical of leafs fan to focus on all the negatives and negating all the positives. Is he the best GM in the league? No. But he's a very competent GM who has done a good job for the team and fans need to recognize this.
And i don't think Burke was fired either, I thought he wanted to be on the east coast, he wanted to be closer to his family.
