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Sure, and again I'm not saying he's a talented guy. But like I said, nobody else seemed to be inclined to pick him with the first overall pick, so regardless of what one or two scouts may have said or whether it was injuries that prevented him from going higher, it still makes Burke's original...

Wins, Tigger, sell hockey. Nonsense does not.

Interesting read for sure, but the CSS didn't even rank him the #1 defenseman. So, without wanting to be bogged down in this argument I'll finish with this; consensus was that Yakupov was the top pick and Rielly was anywhere from 4th to 9th. So there is a disconnet between what Burke is saying...

I think that comparing the Leafs to an expansion team is really disingenuous. Burke inherited guys like Kulemin, Grabovski, Gunarsson, Schenn, etc. You don't inherit young players like that when you're an expansion team. It's just not a comparable situation. Even with that comparison though...

You're right, the Leafs are the second youngest team in the league. But that fact alone means very little. I think we can all agree, Edmonton's team has a ton more potential and better young players than the Leafs and yet their average age is 27.197 to the Leafs' 26.113. Average age does not...

Well no one has a crystal ball, but as of right now, the vast consensus is that Yakupov was the best player in the draft - and that hasn't changed. I don't want to get bogged down in this argument because I only used it as an example of Burke's nonsense, but this is a great example of what I'm...

Well it's not impossible, but as of what we know now, the statement is untrue. So, why say it? Oh I'm sure he is. I'm sure most of the NHL draftees are. But in terms of pre-draft rankings, it was a very large exaggeration. In most cases, Rielly was picked ahead of where he was ranked. Now that...

Maybe, but I don't think it's a stretch to say he was probably exaggerating to make Rielly feel good about himself and maybe to feel really valued.

The problem with that is that if Burke didn't think that Rielly was the best player in the draft, why would he suggest he would pick him 1st overall? I mean, wt kind of GM picks a player that he doesn't think is as good over other players who he acknowledges are better?

Anyone who isn't Burke isn't responsible for solving his problems. We're all under-qualified to be the GM of the Leafs. But just like if we see a heart surgeon using a hammer, we have enough common sense to point out that there's probably a better way.  You're acting like he's doing a full...

I like to think I'm a patient guy. I am, after all, a Toronto sports fan. If say, Burke's teams have been getting better steadily, I'd be ok with that. The problem is that the results haven't improved. For all his moves and bluster, he's been throwing out 80 point teams year after year. And...

Is there hope though? I mean, we're looking at a terribly disenchanted fanbase of a team whose struggles have no end in sight. The decline in interest is palpable. Is there hope for the future? The best player in the draft aside, do the Leafs have any big time prospects? Who is going to...

In fairness to Burke, I do think he's a far better GM than JFJ.

Is that really the case though? The Leafs are 10th in the league in salary cap payroll. Now granted, they haven't yet maxed out their capspace with this mediocre team, but they're not in an particularly beneficial position. After this season, the Leafs lose some contracts, but their highest paid...

By several, I mean several. Hey, I'm with you - they were a bad team. Where we disagree is I think the 2011-2012 Leafs were also a bad team. Same with the 2010-2011 Leafs. And the 2009-2010 Leafs. That is all speculation. Sure, Burke might take advantage of the CBA. Or the CBA might hinder...

The team he took over finished with 83 points in 2007-2008. Under Burke, the Leafs have averaged 80 points per year. It's a sexier team, but no, I'm not terribly impressed. And maybe you shouldn't be either.

Yeah, I think that goes without saying. I'm sure Burke's job is difficult, but I'm also pretty sure he's had several years to build a team and what he's built in that time is underwhelming.

What bothers me the most about Burke is he said he thought it was highly unlikely that this would be the team he ices on opening night. That means he sees the same deficiencies that we see. And yet, despite these holes, he has done very little, if anything, to improve the roster. That's not good.

Not exactly going out on a limb there.

Sure he didn't have a ton to work with, but trading two high firsts for Kessel didn't do him any favours. I think, this far into his tenure, his lack of limited success can now be attributed to him and him alone.