Brian Burke has taken a step backwards in terms of direction.
"We have never changed our plan," Burke said at a recent press conference, but his actions would say otherwise.
Francois Beauchemin and Kris Versteeg were part of this plan 8 months ago and now their wearing other teams uniforms.
Burke was touting the Versteeg deal his the biggest deal of the summer. He paid the premium of three prospects to get him as you would do if you coveted a player as essential. But he didn't even finish one season and was traded him to the Flyers for two draft picks.
Francois Beauchemin was also supposed to be the part of the master plan. The Leafs signed him in the off-season for depth at their blueline because Burke was certain he was going to trade Kaberle when his no-trade clause was on hiatus last summer. Now he's wearing a Ducks jersey.
Although the return on Beauchemin was a fairly decent one in Lupul and Gardiner, the Leafs now look further away from the playoffs then they did at the start of the season, as they are now collecting draft picks and prospects.
Kaberle.
The second ranked player in the Leafs history for career points by a defenceman was traded to Boston for Joe Colborne and a couple draft picks. Kaberle wanted an extension and wanted to finish his career in Toronto. in his 12 season with the blue and white, Kaberle only played less than 69 games 3 times including 6 seasons of not missing a single game. Reliable, consistent, a veteran presence, and not prone to injury, I will never understand why Burke was so adament about trading Kaberle. Class act, and was the only leaf remaining to play a playoff game for the franchise (whenever that was).
Joe Colborne is a solid prospect but he's not a sure thing. The former University of Denver Pioneer has his size, 6'5 216 lbs., and his soft hands as his biggest assets, but he still hasn't played a single game in the NHL. In fact he's only played 6 games in the AHL with Boston's minor league team, Providence. Burke is taking a gamble here by giving up a sure thing for an unproven player.
This hasn't worked out well for the Leafs in the past, even if they have gotten two more first round draft picks, only roughly 30% of first round draft picks traditionally make it in the NHL, and the picks are well into the latter half of the first round. It looks like Burke is deciding his first way didn't work and now he's going to try to build through the draft. But he'll never say that, which irks me that he still says his plans haven't changed.
He's traded 3 veterans for four draft picks and a prospect, and unless Burke's going to pull off another blockbuster trade before the season ends, the Leafs will still be missing a legitimate set-up man for Kessel, as they have all season.
While the media are saying that the Leafs are going to take a run at highly touted Brad Richards in July, that's going to be easier said then done. Why would Richards give up an opportunity to play on a serious contender to come to the Leafs who are nowhere near that status? I'm not saying it's impossible but why not go back to Tampa? Why not got to L.A or Detroit? If they leafs are putting all their chips on the table for Richards, they're waiting on disappointment, and taking a huge risk of yet again not having any offence going into next season.
Another player the Leafs should be looking at in the upcoming free agent season is Colorado centre Tomas Fleischmann. He was traded from Washington to Colorado earlier this year and has done well with a change of scenery. In 22 games with the Avalanche he has collected 8 goals and 13 assists for 21 points. The Leafs need this type of consistency in their lineup. Fleischmann's salary? A third of Richards, at $2.6 million.
The Leafs could also use that extra money to sign a few more role players, or even take a stab at the Sabres Tim Connelly. With Connelly, Fleischmann, Grabovski, Bozak, and Kadri filling out the roster, they're would be some desperately needed competition up the middle for the Leafs.
Word is Burke is close to bringing in another defenceman to compensate for the loss of Beauchemin and Kaberle, and whatever he pulls in, but more importantly what he doesn't have to give up will be the indicator where the Leafs officially stand heading into the Summer.
Clarke McArthur's name has been thrown around recently and it would be a huge mistake to trade him. The most consistent player on the Leafs roster this year, McArthur has played with a lot of heart and is easily the Leafs best pick-up of the past off-season. He would be a key player in a playoff run, as he provides some nice secondary scoring, and he plays defence rather well.
These next weeks will show the Leafs immediate future....Stay tuned Leafs Nation
