If you were Brian Burke

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

*Big Deep Breath*

Here's a bit of what I expect to go down:

- Kaberle dealt at the draft

- Kadri makes team, plays in a second-line role

- Grabovski traded for something, anything

- Finger will be one rich Marlie

- No major UFA signings. No Marleau or anything like that.

- Sign guys like Raffi Torres to cheaper deals.

Kaberle is the one that I'm sure will be gone. He was dropped down the depth chart with the arrival of Phaneuf, playing less than 20 minutes a night quite often. I really like Carl Gunnarsson, another one of those Swedes with unlimited panic threshold and just does the little things right. Good top-four potential there. But it's clear that Kaberle's time is up and he knew it with how disinterested he played after the Olympics.

I don't want to put any line combos out there because I have no idea what will be coming back in some of the trades. I hate hypothetical scenarios like some wannabe-GM's love to throw out there.

As much as Burke gets ripped on (I like to throw jabs out there as well) and likes to whine, no one can deny the guy is stellar at turning teams around. That said, the moves he made prior to the deadline had an immediate impact on the team and their play showed it. I completely agree that keeping his head on straight and signing the "right" guys rather than the high-priced UFA's is the right move for that team. Their D is vastly improving and Kaberle being moved (or having his contract expire) is another step in the right direction. With Phaneuf, Komisarek, Beauchemin, Schenn, Van Ryn and Gunnarsson all in the mix, their D looks better than it has in years.

Toronto is in fine shape between the pipes and now adding the right mix up front will be huge in determining the type of success they'll have going forward. Adding some fair scoring, tough-to-play-against guys up front will go a long way for the type of team Burke is known to put together.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

I'm kinda surprised Burke didn't see this before he offered him an additional 3 years.

He'll most likely be more challenging to move than Kaberle at the draft.

Why exactly do you have a picture of Kaberle in your avatar?

You don't actually want him in Detroit, do you?

[Guest Lidstromboli]

i think i would throw up in my mouth a little bit if we got Kaberle

[henrik40 76]

If I'm not mistaken, didn't Grabovski play a year in Montreal and him and the Kostitsyn brothers had some run-ins, among others. If this is the case, and they are already getting sick of him in Toronto, it sounds like Grabovski will have a short life in the NHL.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

We need a tuff guy to replace our soon to be drinking from a straw Lilja

A few days ago there was a rumor flying around that Kaberle would be heading to Detroit if Lidstrom were to retire...If Lids does retire - I for one would welcome Kaberle (it's not as though Holland is gonna add any toughness).

A boy with rosy red cheeks who can't grow facial hair is going to replace Lilja?

Besides, he's terrible in his own zone. Just like Rafalski. We don't need another guy like that on our team.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Raffi Torres is apparently going around telling people that he's going to sign with the Leafs. Whether that's true or not, I could see it being a fit.

That would create a good third line of Torres - Hanson - Sjostrom

That would leave Orr and probably John Mitchell on the 4th line, with maybe Philippe Paradis, whom Burke said could make the team to play a bottom-six role next season.

The Marlies will at least have some prospects for a change next season with:

- Jussi Rynnas

- Korbinian Holzer

- Juraj Mikus

- Chris DiDomenico

- Dale Mitchell

- Keith Aulie

- James Reimer

- Mikhail Stefanovich

- Phil Oreskovic (who might be a guy they keep with the Leafs to be a 6th/7th defenceman)

Nothing special, but better than the borderline AHL/ECHL'ers that they've been having to use the past couple years.

[newfy 695]

Raffi Torres is apparently going around telling people that he's going to sign with the Leafs. Whether that's true or not, I could see it being a fit.

That would create a good third line of Torres - Hanson - Sjostrom

That would leave Orr and probably John Mitchell on the 4th line, with maybe Philippe Paradis, whom Burke said could make the team to play a bottom-six role next season.

The Marlies will at least have some prospects for a change next season with:

- Jussi Rynnas

- Korbinian Holzer

- Juraj Mikus

- Chris DiDomenico

- Dale Mitchell

- Keith Aulie

- James Reimer

- Mikhail Stefanovich

- Phil Oreskovic (who might be a guy they keep with the Leafs to be a 6th/7th defenceman)

Nothing special, but better than the borderline AHL/ECHL'ers that they've been having to use the past couple years.

Torres would be a decent addition. I wouldn't have Hanson as a third line center though, hes garbage. Mitchell would be third line over Hanson I think.

And Oreskovic could be a decent 6/7 defenseman for the leafs. He's tough. I watch a lot of leafs games where I'm from and I remember seeing Oreskovic give Lucic a good tilt. I wouldn't mind seeing Detroit send a draft pick or something the leafs way for Phil and having Oreskovic if Lilja leaves.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Torres would be a decent addition. I wouldn't have Hanson as a third line center though, hes garbage. Mitchell would be third line over Hanson I think.

And Oreskovic could be a decent 6/7 defenseman for the leafs. He's tough. I watch a lot of leafs games where I'm from and I remember seeing Oreskovic give Lucic a good tilt. I wouldn't mind seeing Detroit send a draft pick or something the leafs way for Phil and having Oreskovic if Lilja leaves.

I can't see Hanson in Toronto next year.I always wondered why Burke signed Grabovski in the first place.Doesn't surprise me he's gonna be traded.

[eva unit zero 271]

Beachamin was a beats in Anaheim he's definitely a second defenseman in this league. Phaneuf is how old and he already has a norris nomination? Yeah he hasnt played great lately but hes still like 24. Hes for sure a top 3 defenseman and Komisarek is for sure a top 4 defenseman as well.

The only thing TO really has going for them is they have strong D, to say theyre a bunch of chumps is stupid

I never said they were a bunch of chumps, but they're not a superstar group by any means. Phaneuf has been nominated for the Norris, but that was about as deserved as Carey's Vezina. Phaneuf was nominated because he was 5th among defense scoring and was a big hitter. There were a lot of guys who were more deserving of that nomination than him. Sort of like Mike Green the past two years; he's a popular pick but not really deserving of Norris votes, let alone a "nomination" as one of the top-three vote getters.

And this isn't then. It's now. Phaneuf is still a defensive sieve, but his offensive output isn't 60 points, it's 30 points. A one-way offensive defenseman who plays a strong physical game but only brings 30 points to the table with first pair time is hardly a guy you can really call one of the 60 best defensemen in the league. Not a chance on that, there's enough guys who are performing better offensively with a better combination of defense and physical play to push him out of the top 45. Which brings him to guys who are scoring similar amounts or less, but who more than make up for it with their defensive and physical skills. Guys like Dan Hamhuis, Chris Phillips, Brooks Orpik, Adrian Aucoin, Keith Ballard, Brad Stuart, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic among others.

Phaneuf gets second pairing time and he is closer to 20-25 points. Niklas Kronwall scored 22 points in 48 games this season. Calgary and Toronto were each slightly less productive offensively than Detroit, but not significantly. Phaneuf's performance has been that of a good second-pairing defenseman and PP specialist the past couple seasons. Similar to Brad Stuart; Stuie is a good second pairing guy and strong PK defenseman.

Beauchemin's performance in Anaheim is overrated, just like Komisarek's in Montreal. He played well but he was playing with Pronger and Niedermayer. I could look good playing alongside one of them. He was a decent complement to them but was never himself better than a low-end second pairing defenseman. He's a decent all-around guy, just not really that good.

Komisarek has never been what Montreal media claimed he was nor what Toronto paid him as if he was; a top-end defenseman. Maybe he played like a top-pairing defenseman for stretches, but he's a solid second-pairing defenseman, that's what he has been in his career, and likely all he'll ever be.

Edited May 27, 2010 by eva unit zero

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I never said they were a bunch of chumps, but they're not a superstar group by any means. Phaneuf has been nominated for the Norris, but that was about as deserved as Carey's Norris. Phaneuf was nominated because he was 5th among defense scoring and was a big hitter. There were a lot of guys who were more deserving of that nomination than him. Sort of like Mike Green the past two years; he's a popular pick but not really deserving of Norris votes, let alone a "nomination" as one of the top-three vote getters.

And this isn't then. It's now. Phaneuf is still a defensive sieve, but his offensive output isn't 60 points, it's 30 points. A one-way offensive defenseman who plays a strong physical game but only brings 30 points to the table with first pair time is hardly a guy you can really call one of the 60 best defensemen in the league. Not a chance on that, there's enough guys who are performing better offensively with a better combination of defense and physical play to push him out of the top 45. Which brings him to guys who are scoring similar amounts or less, but who more than make up for it with their defensive and physical skills. Guys like Dan Hamhuis, Chris Phillips, Brooks Orpik, Adrian Aucoin, Keith Ballard, Brad Stuart, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic among others.

Phaneuf gets second pairing time and he is closer to 20-25 points. Niklas Kronwall scored 22 points in 48 games this season. Calgary and Toronto were each slightly less productive offensively than Detroit, but not significantly. Phaneuf's performance has been that of a good second-pairing defenseman and PP specialist the past couple seasons. Similar to Brad Stuart; Stuie is a good second pairing guy and strong PK defenseman.

Beauchemin's performance in Anaheim is overrated, just like Komisarek's in Montreal. He played well but he was playing with Pronger and Niedermayer. I could look good playing alongside one of them. He was a decent complement to them but was never himself better than a low-end second pairing defenseman. He's a decent all-around guy, just not really that good.

Komisarek has never been what Montreal media claimed he was nor what Toronto paid him as if he was; a top-end defenseman. Maybe he played like a top-pairing defenseman for stretches, but he's a solid second-pairing defenseman, that's what he has been in his career, and likely all he'll ever be.

I think Phaneuf will bounce back next year.He's got the skills to be a top end player in this league.Yes,Mike Komisarek is overpaid,but provided he stays healthy next year,he's gonna be a freight train and a good 2nd pairing guy.He's definitely not top defensive pairing material.

[newfy 695]

I never said they were a bunch of chumps, but they're not a superstar group by any means. Phaneuf has been nominated for the Norris, but that was about as deserved as Carey's Norris. Phaneuf was nominated because he was 5th among defense scoring and was a big hitter. There were a lot of guys who were more deserving of that nomination than him. Sort of like Mike Green the past two years; he's a popular pick but not really deserving of Norris votes, let alone a "nomination" as one of the top-three vote getters.

And this isn't then. It's now. Phaneuf is still a defensive sieve, but his offensive output isn't 60 points, it's 30 points. A one-way offensive defenseman who plays a strong physical game but only brings 30 points to the table with first pair time is hardly a guy you can really call one of the 60 best defensemen in the league. Not a chance on that, there's enough guys who are performing better offensively with a better combination of defense and physical play to push him out of the top 45. Which brings him to guys who are scoring similar amounts or less, but who more than make up for it with their defensive and physical skills. Guys like Dan Hamhuis, Chris Phillips, Brooks Orpik, Adrian Aucoin, Keith Ballard, Brad Stuart, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic among others.

Phaneuf gets second pairing time and he is closer to 20-25 points. Niklas Kronwall scored 22 points in 48 games this season. Calgary and Toronto were each slightly less productive offensively than Detroit, but not significantly. Phaneuf's performance has been that of a good second-pairing defenseman and PP specialist the past couple seasons. Similar to Brad Stuart; Stuie is a good second pairing guy and strong PK defenseman.

Beauchemin's performance in Anaheim is overrated, just like Komisarek's in Montreal. He played well but he was playing with Pronger and Niedermayer. I could look good playing alongside one of them. He was a decent complement to them but was never himself better than a low-end second pairing defenseman. He's a decent all-around guy, just not really that good.

Komisarek has never been what Montreal media claimed he was nor what Toronto paid him as if he was; a top-end defenseman. Maybe he played like a top-pairing defenseman for stretches, but he's a solid second-pairing defenseman, that's what he has been in his career, and likely all he'll ever be.

Well your exact words were overpaid chumps so yeah you called them that haha. Dion is 25, he's had a bad couple years on a team that really had problems. He was playing good for TO at the end of the seasona nd he still has a tonne of potential.

Beauch wasn't overrated at all. He was a beast say what you want but that Anaheim D killed us.

Komi hardly played last year because he was hurt so its hard to judge him now.

The leafs have a bunch of guys who can get it together and are better then probably half the teams in the league on defense. They need to get some scoring.

[eva unit zero 271]

Well your exact words were overpaid chumps so yeah you called them that haha. Dion is 25, he's had a bad couple years on a team that really had problems. He was playing good for TO at the end of the seasona nd he still has a tonne of potential.

Beauch wasn't overrated at all. He was a beast say what you want but that Anaheim D killed us.

Komi hardly played last year because he was hurt so its hard to judge him now.

The leafs have a bunch of guys who can get it together and are better then probably half the teams in the league on defense. They need to get some scoring.

If you are referring to the 2007 conference finals, Beauchemin was HARDLY key to Anaheim's defense. The key was having Pronger and Niedermayer on the blue line, as well as several strong defensive forwards and a defense-oriented system that used several physical forwards. Had Beauchemin been replaced by another Sean O'Donnell, the difference would have been negligible.

Komisarek didn't play a ton last year, but when he was in did he play any better than he ever did in Montreal?

Phaneuf I already acknowledged has the ability to be a #1 defenseman when he is at his best, but the past couple years he simply has not been playing like it. You say he was playing for a team that really had problems. Did you ever stop to think that maybe one of those problems was the fact that Phaneuf couldn't get it together? Outside of his best year, 2007-08, he has not once been the best defenseman on either the Flames or Leafs during his time there, and even in 2007-08 Aucoin was playing at a comparable level to Phaneuf.

He is right up there with Roberto Luongo among the most overrated players in the league.

[newfy 695]

If you are referring to the 2007 conference finals, Beauchemin was HARDLY key to Anaheim's defense. The key was having Pronger and Niedermayer on the blue line, as well as several strong defensive forwards and a defense-oriented system that used several physical forwards. Had Beauchemin been replaced by another Sean O'Donnell, the difference would have been negligible.

Komisarek didn't play a ton last year, but when he was in did he play any better than he ever did in Montreal?

Phaneuf I already acknowledged has the ability to be a #1 defenseman when he is at his best, but the past couple years he simply has not been playing like it. You say he was playing for a team that really had problems. Did you ever stop to think that maybe one of those problems was the fact that Phaneuf couldn't get it together? Outside of his best year, 2007-08, he has not once been the best defenseman on either the Flames or Leafs during his time there, and even in 2007-08 Aucoin was playing at a comparable level to Phaneuf.

He is right up there with Roberto Luongo among the most overrated players in the league.

We're clearly not going to sway each other on Beachamin, I disagree with you but we can agree he's for sure a top 4 defenseman?

And no Komisarrek played worst this year when he did play then he did with Montreal. He has potential to be a top 2 defenseman.

Bottom line is this team has a better then average defense in the upcoming years.

[Puckpossession 3]

Beauchememn was key that year, thats that, he was great at moving the puck and being physical, o donnel cant do that as good as beauchimen so there would be a difference

Edited May 26, 2010 by Puckpossession

[MacK_Attack 108]

Komisarek was terrible at the start of the season when he was feeling the pressure of the big contract and spent way too much time doing way too much.

He got hurt for a couple games, which I guess let him get re-focused, because he was playing much better until he suffered the season-ending injury.

Hopeful for him that he picks up where he left off, hopefully in a fearsome pairing with Phaneuf.

Beauchemin & Schenn would be a good 2nd pairing for me and then Gunnarsson and maybe a cheap UFA signing for the 3rd pairing. I really like Gunnarsson. He played really well in a top-four pairing last year, and I expect he'll work his way into that role again. Really good PK'er.

The biggest key for the Leafs next year will be the lack of Vesa Toskala in net. He destroyed the season as soon as it began.

[newfy 695]

Komisarek was terrible at the start of the season when he was feeling the pressure of the big contract and spent way too much time doing way too much.

He got hurt for a couple games, which I guess let him get re-focused, because he was playing much better until he suffered the season-ending injury.

Hopeful for him that he picks up where he left off, hopefully in a fearsome pairing with Phaneuf.

Beauchemin & Schenn would be a good 2nd pairing for me and then Gunnarsson and maybe a cheap UFA signing for the 3rd pairing. I really like Gunnarsson. He played really well in a top-four pairing last year, and I expect he'll work his way into that role again. Really good PK'er.

The biggest key for the Leafs next year will be the lack of Vesa Toskala in net. He destroyed the season as soon as it began.

They may bring back Exelby or Van Ryn in this spot. Oreskovic could possibly earn it outta camp as well.

I wouldn't mind Exelby in Detroit as a replacement for Lilja now that I think about it. He hits harder then Lilja, fights better then Lilja and he is solid defensively. His plus minus wasn;t great last year but it was on the leafs. After Brookbank, Exelby is my choice if Lilja hits the open market.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

They may bring back Exelby or Van Ryn in this spot. Oreskovic could possibly earn it outta camp as well.

I wouldn't mind Exelby in Detroit as a replacement for Lilja now that I think about it. He hits harder then Lilja, fights better then Lilja and he is solid defensively. His plus minus wasn;t great last year but it was on the leafs. After Brookbank, Exelby is my choice if Lilja hits the open market.

From what I've heard,Exelby and Van Ryn are on their way out.Oreskovic will most likely get the spot imo.Exelby would be a great addition here.I think Boris Valabik is a good option as well.

[newfy 695]

From what I've heard,Exelby and Van Ryn are on their way out.Oreskovic will most likely get the spot imo.Exelby would be a great addition here.I think Boris Valabik is a good option as well.

Well if we get the chance to scoop up Exelby I would be pretty damn happy. He hits so hard and can fight(beat up Carcillo I'm pretty sure htis year when I was watching a game). He's solid defensively, he doesn't have a lick of offense but neither does Lilja so thats a wash.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Well if we get the chance to scoop up Exelby I would be pretty damn happy. He hits so hard and can fight(beat up Carcillo I'm pretty sure htis year when I was watching a game). He's solid defensively, he doesn't have a lick of offense but neither does Lilja so thats a wash.

His salary will be about the same as Lilja's.He's younger,more aggressive,and seems pretty defensively responsible.If he's gonna be fighting,he needs to ditch the visor every time.I'm not a big fan of watching windshield wars.

[newfy 695]

His salary will be about the same as Lilja's.He's younger,more aggressive,and seems pretty defensively responsible.If he's gonna be fighting,he needs to ditch the visor every time.I'm not a big fan of watching windshield wars.

Right now with this team I'm not exactly picky with if they bring a tough guy who wears a visor or not. I've seen him ditch it before his fights before and even if he didn't its better then nothing.

He's a tough customer for sure and has some size, he's like 6'1 215 pounds. Not bad at all if you ask me. I would welcome him with open arms.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

I wouldn't mind Exelby in Detroit as a replacement for Lilja now that I think about it. He hits harder then Lilja, fights better then Lilja and he is solid defensively.

exelby isnt even close to being solid defensively

[newfy 695]

exelby isnt even close to being solid defensively

He's as solid as you can expect from a bottom pairing guy. Better then Lebda, better then what Lilja was when he came here and probably better then Kindl (right now anyways)

[eva unit zero 271]

We're clearly not going to sway each other on Beachamin, I disagree with you but we can agree he's for sure a top 4 defenseman?

And no Komisarrek played worst this year when he did play then he did with Montreal. He has potential to be a top 2 defenseman.

Bottom line is this team has a better then average defense in the upcoming years.

Komisarek is a #2-3 d-man at his best. He has top-pairing potential but is extremely unlikely to maintain that level of play over a full season.

Beauch can probably be considered a top-four defenseman; but he's no better than a #4 over the course of a year. On a good night? Sure, he could give a team fits.

Phaneuf I'm sure we can agree has not been the top-end defenseman people hype him to be, and although he is probably the most talented defenseman in Toronto it's arguable whether he was even the most effective last season based on his overall play if you include his time in Calgary.

Luke Schenn is a solid second pairing defenseman with definite top-pairing potential. Not an argument about him because he's barely out of juniors while the others are in their primes and so should have some solid hockey in them at the level they are at or perhaps slightly above, while Schenn should improve considerably, possibly being the Leafs' top defenseman within two or three years.

But regarding the "Beauchemin was a beast and was key against us"; one game or one series is not a good sample size...Can Franzen score 100 goals? Hot streaks, cold streaks, injury/sickness... all of these things can affect a small sample of games. You can say "If he played like that all year, he'd have done this" but that's just putting a hot streak into perspective - Think Kopecky and his very solid post-Olympic stretch this year. Great performance, 30-goal pace, but the chances of a 3rd-line checking center maintaining it over a full year are not very high.

[puffy 97]

The biggest key for the Leafs next year will be the lack of Vesa Toskala in net. He destroyed the season as soon as it began.

I completely agree. Everyone keeps analyzing the D, but in my opinion the weakest link was Vesa Toskala.

Lots of the Leafs losses this season came during games where the Leafs outshot and outplayed their opponent. All the Leafs needed to win those games was average goaltending and Toskala couldn't even provide that.

Refusing to take instructions from his goalie coach Francois Allare and having an "I don't give a s***" attitude didn't help matters either.

I laughed my ass off when Anaheim dealt him without even playing him. I guess it didn't take long for them to realize he is crap.

Edited May 27, 2010 by puffy

[MacK_Attack 108]

Van Ryn has had a few years of bad luck due to injuries...Dunno if he'll ever regain what he had just a few short years ago.

Exelby appeared to fall outta favor in T.O.; I know he's not a top 4 guy, but I'd love to see him as our #5/#6 Dman if Lilja retires, or goes elsewhere.

Exelby is sllllllllllow. He's not bad as long as he doesn't have to move very much. He can cover in front of the net, but if he has to touch the puck, it's trouble.

He asked to be traded before the trade deadline and the Leafs couldn't find any takers.