Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
For me, the highlight of an otherwise pedestrian 2009 NHL Entry Draft came in the first round as Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke prepared to step to the podium to announce his team's pick. Stymied in his efforts to move higher, Burke had to settle for drafting Nazem Kadri of the London Knights with the seventh overall pick.
But just making the pick wasn't going to be enough for Burke, who had come to Toronto in the middle of last season after leaving his GM job in Anaheim. You see, Burke isn't only the smartest GM in all of hockey (just ask him, he'll tell you himself), he's also the one who's most skilled at leveraging the media for his own purposes.
Burke was wearing a microphone and had the cameras trained on him during the telecast. Having already sniffed out that the Ottawa Senators also were after Kadri, Burke couldn't help but tweak Ottawa GM Bryan Murray on camera before making the pick.
It was all just another day at the office for Burke, who is making the most of his first full offseason with the Leafs by following through with his promise to remake the squad. Though he's been stifled in his attempts to deal Tomas Kaberle to Boston in exchange for winger Phil Kessel, he's more than made up for it on the free agent front.
First, he signed tough guy Colton Orr away from the New York Rangers, a move perfectly in line with a GM who's said repeatedly that fighting is not only an integral part of the culture of hockey, but also an integral part of playing winning hockey.
Then he took a critical piece away from his team's greatest rival, the Montreal Canadiens, when he signed defenseman Mike Komisarek to a free agent contract. He beefed up his blue line again Monday by importing free agent defenseman Francois Beauchemin from Anaheim, and followed it up on Tuesday by snagging one of the more attractive second-tier free agents, goalie Jonas Gustavsson, from the Swedish Elite League.
Toss in a free agent tampering charge against head coach Ron Wilson, and all in all, it was a pretty good start to an offseason in which Burke's job demands not only that he rebuild the Leafs into a Cup contender as soon as possible, but that he also regularly feed the media beast that can't seem to get enough of covering Canada's favorite hockey team.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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I am sick of people talking about Burke’s brilliance. Sure the guy go toughness and bolstered the blueline. He also got a really good goalie prospect…but where is the #1 d-man the franchise needs? Where is the offense? It sure isn’t coming from his "fantastic" pickups. Komisarek is strickly a stay-at-home guy who needs to be paired with a skilled guy like he was when paired with Markov on the Habs. Beauchemin is a middle pairing guy who’s career best in points was 36 in 2005-2006. Sure they have Kubina and Kaberle…but at least one of those guys will be gone before the end of the season.
I’ll think that Burke is more genius than blowhard when I see the Leafs dig themselves out of the basement.
by Moester10 on Jul 7, 2009 8:40 PM EDT reply actions
Burke is gonna do the impossible ….make the Leafs worse.Leafs SUCK
by mikebry on Jul 8, 2009 1:29 AM EDT reply actions
In responds to Moester’s comments…
First, I’m not a Leafs fan. But I know that they traded Kubina and his big salary for Garnet Exelby, a tough, cheap defenseman. Komisarek and Beauchemin are both tough, solid, experienced players.
Burke is changing the culture of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a couple seasons’ time, they will have gone from a losing team with no identity to a losing team with lots of heart, character and toughness. It’s a smart step in the right direction.
As for your question of ‘where is the offense’? To win a hockey game you just need to outscore the other team. Last year the Leafs scored a lot of goals, but couldn’t outscore the other team consistently enough.
by Majstorovic on Jul 8, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions
In response to Moester’s comments…
First, I’m not a Leafs fan. But I know that they traded Kubina and his big salary for Garnet Exelby, a tough, cheap defenseman. Komisarek and Beauchemin are both tough, solid, experienced players.
Burke is changing the culture of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a couple seasons’ time, they will have gone from a losing team with no identity to a losing team with lots of heart, character and toughness. It’s a smart step in the right direction.
As for your question of ‘where is the offense’? To win a hockey game you just need to outscore the other team. Last year the Leafs scored a lot of goals, but couldn’t outscore the other team consistently enough.
by Majstorovic on Jul 8, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions
sorry about the double post, these new changes have me confused
by Majstorovic on Jul 8, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions
Kubina’s already gone (Atlanta)
Kaberle likely to follow
Expectations have risen here, though I don’t think they’re appreciably better. Their defence is solid, but the real problem lies up front.
The front line is small, not overly physical, and not really skilled.
Kadri’s the real deal, but he’s the only one up front… and he’s 18. Blake and Poni played well last year, but they’re second liners at best. I don’t rate Grabovski like many here do, and everyone else is a role player.
I guess Beauchemin will pair with Schenn while Kaberle will play with Komisarek if he stays, then Van Ryn with Exelby as the last pairing. One puck-moving guy with a stay-at-home guy, and an LD with an RD.
That is, until Beauchemin and/or Van Ryn get hurt. Though they’re pretty deep on the back line – White was a revealation last year and is solid insurance for the offensive-minded guys, they were really pushing Stralman last year (I don’t see it), while Frogren, Oreskovic and Harrison are defensive minded backups who didn’t embarass themselves (not really high on Frogren… takes too many chances to make big hits).
I don’t know what my original point is now, but I guess what I’m saying is that the D is the least of the worries in Leaf land. Oh, and the Monster won’t start… they’re expecting Toskala to bounce back while #50 sports the towel and hat combo.
by msgg139 on Jul 8, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions
Maj, you’re right… as a Leaf fan, I think the worst part about the Leafs last year was how soft they were. When the Habs of last year can push you around, you’re in trouble.
They hung Toskala et al out to dry last year. It was basically a season-long audition for everyone and they all decided that playing defense wasn’t important… though I think some of that blame falls on Wilson’s shoulders.
by msgg139 on Jul 8, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions
To Majstorovic:
Yes the Leafs have a completely different identity than the one they’ve had for the past 20 years…They went from a roster of overpaid sandpaper guys with limited talent with Sundin providing the offense to a roster of sandpaper guys with limited talent with no offensive star.
Complete and utter makeover that only Burke can do…
While I do believe that Burke is doing a capable job, this team is still a long way from being a contender.
by Moester10 on Jul 8, 2009 10:56 AM EDT reply actions
Moesterp—-your point about a #1 D-Man is true, but just how many teams in the league truly have an elite type D-man? (there just are not that many to go around). Defence is a team concept—and the Leafs are moving in that direction.
What the Leafs have lacked over the past few years is a game plan. Whether you agree/disagree with Burke’s tough guy approach, I do see a game plan.
The Leafs are looking for specific type of guys—that being tough. For too many years—we have had guys who could barely score/would not really muck/play tough, so what do they do.
I am not ready to offer sainthood to Burke just yet—but as a Leafs fan I am sure he has a plan. As for the basement—the gap between 14th and 6th/7th in the East is pretty nominal. In there own divisions—Montreal certainly has challenges, Buffalo has done absolutely nothing and Ottawa seems to be going backwards. I actually like there chances against any team in the division (outside of Boston).
by Goknight on Jul 8, 2009 4:20 PM EDT reply actions
It was a sad day in NY to see Orr go. This guy can fight, doesn’t always win but won’t back away from anyone. They worked very hard with him over the years and he is now a reliable defensive player. He doesn’t do stupid things. His downside is that he is a bit slow in the offensive end so he doesn’t contribute much to any kind of press or trying to rattle the goalie. But he’s been getting better every year.
The Rangers brought in Brashear to replace him. He’s more proactive, will nail someone for no reason just to let them know he’s there. He’s also more of a disturbance in the offensive zone. Up to now Avery has been getting mugged when he starts ticking people off. Now Brashear will have his back. It should be a circus.
by ivrydov on Jul 9, 2009 2:11 AM EDT reply actions
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