2 major trades by Toronto.

[mjlegend 155]

Joe Bowen's voice makes me throw up in my mouth a little.

[Guest zackmorris]

Exactly Barrie.

Burke's just going for the flashy moves that make him look good enough to get a job somewhere else after he screws up the Leafs.

Fact remains, adn Calgary can attest to this-if you don't draft well, you don't perform well in the long term. They get new players and somehow get worse. Toronto can't build a team solely through trades and FA just like any other team can't-you need to groom your prospects well and ensure your future has some nright young depth and possibly stars.

They should've just bottomed out. But that's nto Burke management, ho ho. Noooo way. He's all about the here and now and the big deal and the names in lights. Nevermind that they'll keep pushing as hard as they can for 10th place when they had a better chance at having their troubles solved by 4 easy-going years in 15th place.

Brian Burke is the Michael Bay of the NHL.

Edited January 31, 2010 by zackmorris

[dragonballgtz 273]

The closer I look at the standings the worse I feel. It looks as if Colorado, LA and Phoenix are going to make it to the post season, unless they melt down. The top 3 seeds right now probably won't change.

It's basically down to Detroit, Nashville, Calgary, with Dallas/Anaheim playing spoiler, for the last 2 spots. The problem I have is, the Western play-offs will be VOID of upsets unless Calgary/Detroit or Dallas/Anaheim don't make it in. I'm 100% confident that LA, Colorado and Phoenix will lose in the first round in blow-outs.

The West NEEDS Detroit/Calgary to make the play-offs to even make the first round worth watching. Those two teams at least have a chance at an upset. The rest are going to blow it.

The Wings making the play-offs is almost out of their own hands. Their basically fighting toe to toe for 7th/8th against Calgary/Nashville, with little chance to climb higher. They NEED to win all their remaining games against the Central (minus the Blackhawks), and they basically NEED to win their remaining games against everyone below them, AND LA/Phoenix.

It comes down to winning the games they should be winning, and playing well against teams they should be statistically losing to (Chicago, San Jose, Vancouver).

The only thing that gives me hope is Detroit's last 10 games should all be winnable, except for the last game against Chicago. All those games are against teams currently not in the play-offs, or on the verge (Philly/Nashville).

Spot on, Calgary is taking care of their scoring issue with adding some depth. Losing while Calgary was in the mid of their 8 game losing streak and LA having a few bad games was the biggest ball drop of all season long. We could of had at least a 2 or 4 points cushion on Calgary right now and fighting with LA for the next spot in the standings.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

A forged birth certificate for Phaneuf, from some high school student, and Burke suddenly has a replacement for Komisarek for the Olympics on Team USA.

Win / Win.

I like it, a lot.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

I don't think that anyone outside Ian White was a big loss for the Leafs. They're all players that haven't worked out too well for Toronto, so Burke's essentially just re-vamping the team and letting the younger players in to change things up. I think if they show themselves to be incapable during the rest of the season, he'll pick up some free agents to insulate them.

Re-shuffling for a struggling team isn't a bad idea. That being said, both Phaneuf and Giguere are still overrated, and they won't save anyone... but there still is the chance that Dion could blossom into an all-around defenseman. If that happens then he'll be better than anyone involved in this trade.

[adubs 8]

Calgary also has/had a poor faceoff percentage. Stajan is just above 50% and Mayers is around 58%.

I like the idea of a Prust-Mayers-McGrattan fourth line..

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

lolol like another poster said it KILLS me how so many people think phaneuf is crap, overrated ETC. yet, at the same age they think ericsson will be a norris candidate someday LOLOLOOL

he is a defensemen to build a team around, a cornerstone. sure the last couple years he hasnt been as great as expected but still. hagman is inconsistent, stajan is a decent 2nd line center, white is good for his pricetag, and mayers is crap. nothing earth shattering comming from the leafs. aulie is a good prospect whos 6'6" and teamed up with myers on the blueline for canada and the world junoirs. sjostrom, is better then mayers and will help toronto on the PP.

win for the leafs.

Edited January 31, 2010 by 10 Minute Misconduct

[Finnish Wing 110]

lolol like another poster said it KILLS me how so many people think phaneuf is crap, overrated ETC. yet, at the same age they think ericsson will be a norris candidate someday LOLOLOOL

he is a defensemen to build a team around, a cornerstone. sure the last couple years he hasnt been as great as expected but still. hagman is inconsistent, stajan is a decent 2nd line center, white is good for his pricetag, and mayers is crap. nothing earth shattering comming from the leafs. aulie is a good prospect whos 6'6" and teamed up with myers on the blueline for canada and the world junoirs. sjostrom, is better then mayers and will help toronto on the PP.

win for the leafs.

Hagman is inconsistent maybe between the games. But what does it matter if he'll have a 30+ goal season and has had 20+ goal seasons three times in a row now? Flames win easily.

[stuck in socal 56]

They should trade Jay-Bo while they are at it.

[adubs 8]

lolol like another poster said it KILLS me how so many people think phaneuf is crap, overrated ETC. yet, at the same age they think ericsson will be a norris candidate someday LOLOLOOL

he is a defensemen to build a team around, a cornerstone. sure the last couple years he hasnt been as great as expected but still. hagman is inconsistent, stajan is a decent 2nd line center, white is good for his pricetag, and mayers is crap. nothing earth shattering comming from the leafs. aulie is a good prospect whos 6'6" and teamed up with myers on the blueline for canada and the world junoirs. sjostrom, is better then mayers and will help toronto on the PP.

win for the leafs.

Yeah it's a win already without having seen what the affect on the Flames will be.

[Guest zackmorris]

lolol like another poster said it KILLS me how so many people think phaneuf is crap, overrated ETC. yet, at the same age they think ericsson will be a norris candidate someday LOLOLOOL

he is a defensemen to build a team around, a cornerstone. sure the last couple years he hasnt been as great as expected but still. hagman is inconsistent, stajan is a decent 2nd line center, white is good for his pricetag, and mayers is crap. nothing earth shattering comming from the leafs. aulie is a good prospect whos 6'6" and teamed up with myers on the blueline for canada and the world junoirs. sjostrom, is better then mayers and will help toronto on the PP.

win for the leafs.

Age? C'mon, if you're a Wings fan you should know age doesn't mean much. Our guys sit in the AHL longer and come out looking better in the long run, while the Flames can't develop young talent at all.

[Tane 17]

Leafs unloaded 6 players who were in my mind, Junk, Spare parts and Wastes of contracts. I think they've improved their team a lot. even though I live in Windsor, at the heart of the Wings/Leafs rivalry, It'd be nice to see an original 6 team take up playoff spots instead of Carolina, Florida, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, etc.

[adubs 8]

Age? C'mon, if you're a Wings fan you should know age doesn't mean much. Our guys sit in the AHL longer and come out looking better in the long run, while the Flames can't develop young talent at all.

The Flames can't develop young talent? On average how long does a Wings sit in the AHL until being called up?

Edited January 31, 2010 by adubs

[Guest zackmorris]

Long enough.

I'm sorry, maybe I'm just tired....btu I don't see your point.

[RedWings Gone Wild 6]

woot, two more big-named under-performers for the Leafs. Burke is taking a page out of the New York Knicks team building philosophy. As usual, Leafs fans will think they have a cup in the bag, and as usual they will miss the playoffs.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

woot, two more big-named under-performers for the Leafs. Burke is taking a page out of the New York Knicks team building philosophy. As usual, Leafs fans will think they have a cup in the bag, and as usual they will miss the playoffs.

At least Giguere will bring a bit of stability to their net. Toskala was far too streaky.

[RedWings Gone Wild 6]

At least Giguere will bring a bit of stability to their net. Toskala was far too streaky.

Giguere is the walking embodiment of streaky. He looks like a HOF bound goalie for a month, then like an AHL backup the next.

[evilmrt 636]

Leafs unloaded 6 players who were in my mind, Junk, Spare parts and Wastes of contracts. I think they've improved their team a lot. even though I live in Windsor, at the heart of the Wings/Leafs rivalry, It'd be nice to see an original 6 team take up playoff spots instead of Carolina, Florida, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, etc.

woot, two more big-named under-performers for the Leafs. Burke is taking a page out of the New York Knicks (RANGERS) team building philosophy. As usual, Leafs fans will think they have a cup in the bag, and as usual they will miss the playoffs.

I agree with both of these posts. The leafs did dump alot of junk/spare parts, for sure. I'm not really sure if they improved though? Where is the Leafs' offense???? DUMP KABERLE AND GET SOME FORWARDS!!!!!!

And why is Finger still there?

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Giguere is the walking embodiment of streaky. He looks like a HOF bound goalie for a month, then like an AHL backup the next.

Eh. At least those bomb proof pads he has are going to Toronto with him.

[TheOwl 77]

Maybe the Wings should consider some sort of 2-3 semi-useless player roster swap.

Lebda-Meech-Leino-May-Williams can all be traded for 3-4 guys on some other roster. Get er done Kenny. Once the Mule and Homer get back, lots of people need to be waived anyways.

[Grim 5]

Kenny won't think that far ahead... when the roster crunch comes, he'll waive Leino. ho-hum.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Looks like there are a lot of crazy people on LGW these days.

For starters, pretty much everybody poo-pooing Phaneuf falls into the loony bin category.

What's wrong with Phaneuf?

Size check

physicality check

offense check

defense ? meh, don't watch him enough to know just how good or bad he is but i've not heard anyone compare him to Mike Green defensively so.......and he's typically a plus player.

The kid averages over 50 points a year. Do people realize how few dmen put up 50 points in a season?

Last year 13

2008 11

2007 16

2006 13

For a dman, you put up 50 or more points. You have had one heck of a good season offensively. 15+ goals 3 times in 4 years and on his way to another 15+ this season.

If the Wings got Phaneuf, we'd all be s***ting our pants with glee.

Of the top dmen in the league age 25 or under, Phaneuf is right there near the top.

I'm sure the Leafs will still suck. But it won't be b/c of Phaneuf. He'll be there best player most likely.

One thing is for sure, Boston/Toronto games ought to be even more exciting now.

[Grim 5]

I agree with both of these posts. The leafs did dump alot of junk/spare parts, for sure. I'm not really sure if they improved though? Where is the Leafs' offense???? DUMP KABERLE AND GET SOME FORWARDS!!!!!!

And why is Finger still there?

this season is a lost cause for the Leafs. essentially they gave up spare parts for Giggy and Phaneuf. things will look brighter for them next year. sucks that they spent that first rounder for Kessel, oh well... not as if our Red Wings aren't guilty of doing the same.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

wow thats crazy...it seems to me that the Leafs gave up A LOT in these deals.

To Toronto:

Phaneuf, Sjostrom, Auley, Giguere

Out of Toronto:

Hagman, Stajan, Mayers, White, Toskala, and Blake

I dont know if these trades make them any better....

Nah...

Toskala sucks. Giggy might not be much better at this point but I think he an upgrade. Seriously, Toskala hasn't looked right since leaving San Jose.

Mayers, while I love this guy and think on a team like the Wings he would be a godsend, he's almost worthless in Toronto. They already have Orr and Rosehill, Komisarek and Phaneuf. They've got size and toughness so they don't really need Mayers. And it ain't like Mayers does any scoring for them.

Ian White, decent little dman but Phaneuf is an overall upgrade

Blake, here's a guy I think is overrated.

Hagman is probably the best forward of the bunch. Underrated IMO.

Stajan, meh...never lived up to the hype.

I don't think anybody fleeced anybody else here.

If I had to guess which player was going to have the biggest overall impact over the long run, I gotta go with Phaneuf. He's the best player of all involved.

[RedWings Gone Wild 6]

Looks like there are a lot of crazy people on LGW these days.

For starters, pretty much everybody poo-pooing Phaneuf falls into the loony bin category.

What's wrong with Phaneuf?

Yes yes, he's big and gets some points... that's not everything in the NHL.

He's the type that beefs with GMs, he's regressed in every facet of his game the past 2 seasons, he takes stupid penalties, delivers Pronger-style cheap-shots, and isn't superb defensively.. I really don't think there are to many fans in Calgary sorry to see him go.

And no, I would not want him on Detroit. Just because someone is a good player, doesn't mean he is a good teammate, or the kind of guy that is conducive to creating a winning mentality in a franchise. Granted, Phaneuf is young enough to turn things back around, but with this trade the Flames basically said "we doubt it."