 | Leafs will try to move up; Tavares and Hedman still on Burke's radar |
 leafy writes "Burke also in pursuit of Bouwmeester
Brian Burke is the Jim Balsillie of General Managers: He just won't give up.
Sportsnet.ca is reporting that the Maple Leafs GM is still hopeful to make a deal to move up in the draft, with the aim of drafting either John Tavares or Victor Hedman.
Meanwhile Steve Simmons of the Sun reports that the Leafs might target UFA Jay Bouwmeester, but would likely not get into a bidding war for the 25-year old star blue liner.
Given that the Leafs are between US$10 and 13 million under the salary cap, Burke would listen to teams looking to free themselves of an expensive contract and/or offer additional draft picks in order to move up in the draft.
Burke has been talking with several GMs in the past few days. While nothing is brewing just yet, Burke expects things to heat up in Montreal.
Meanwhile, Burke stated that he's is said to be considering Bouwmeester on July 1st. However, he is not quite sure how good Bouwmeester is, and would likely not throw the motherload cash amount to sign him.
Interestingly, Hall of Fame defenceman Denis Potvin, who has watched every Panthers game this year, is not certain himself of Bouwmeester's true potential (see article for details).
These comments should be worth noting, because Potvin knows a few things about defencemen.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/06/23/leafs_draft/
http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/2009/06/23/9895416-sun.html"
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| "Leafs will try to move up; Tavares and Hedman still on Burke's radar" | Login/Create an Account | 15 comments |
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Re: Leafs will try to move up; Tavares and Hedman still on Burke's radar (Score: 1)
by cam7777 on Tuesday, June 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | Potvin is bang on about Bouwmeester, and I think most of the general managers in the league probably feel pretty close to the same way about Jay-Bo. Yes, he would be nice to have, and sure, there's a chance he becomes a true stud on a better team, but he certainly hasn't been as fantastic as the fans and media make him sound. He is far from the 2nd coming of Lidstrom that he is made out to be.
The only chance Burke has of moving up in the draft is if the Islanders select Hedman. If they select Tavares, the Lightning will not trade Hedman for Kaberle and the 7th (even though it's probably the better deal for the time being - Kaberle, a top 15 defender in his prime plus an NHL ready blue-chip left winger in MPS for an 18 year old future phenom, the deal would favor the lightning for the first three or four years anyway). |
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Re: Leafs will try to move up; Tavares and Hedman still on Burke's radar (Score: 1)
by mojo19 on Tuesday, June 23
(User Info | Send a Message) | It was so funny hearing Burke on the radio today, talking as though he already drafted Tavares and its a done deal. Saying things he likes about him and that he reminds him of Mike Bossy, the way he has a quick release etc.
Burke is really not letting this go, so something tells me he's going to try his best to get him and I think it could happen. I wasn't really a believer until today. |
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Re: Leafs will try to move up; Tavares and Hedman still on Burke's radar (Score: 1)
by lukeleim on Wednesday, June 24
(User Info | Send a Message) | I do believe Burke will be busy during the upcoming draft but I do not think he'll be successful moving the 7th pick. He will take Jared Cowan, Magnus Svenson Paajarvi, Zac Kassian, Nazem Kadri or Scott Glennie. Burke will unsuccessfully attempt to move into the top 5 slot. Burke would love to select Brayden Schenn but he'll be selected 4th or 5th.
Expect one or more of the following players to be traded on draft day or shortly after: Pavel Kubina, Tomas Kaberle, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Anton Stralman or Mikhail Grabovski.
Brian Burke might try to trade both Finger and Blake to whichever team willing to take on their contracts. I expect Blake to stay but Finger will likely be moved. |
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Re: Leafs will try to move up; Tavares and Hedman still on Burke's radar (Score: 1)
by the_word on Wednesday, June 24
(User Info | Send a Message) | Its refreshing to have Burke as a GM, I just suffered through the boredom of hearing another Garth Snow interview, thankfully we have a GM that doesn't speak in tired cliches. Gone are the days of JFJ pleading the fifth to every question. I don't think a top two pick is on the horizon but at least Burke is producing a narrative to entice the fans pay attention to going into the draft.
Bang on about J-Bo as well.
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Re: Leafs will try to move up; Tavares and Hedman still on Burke's radar (Score: 1)
by nordiques100 on Wednesday, June 24
(User Info | Send a Message) | I dont believe the Leafs can get into the top 3. it would be kind of stupid really for any of those teams to give up those picks.
however 4,5,6 are available to some degree.
Atlanta - their plan appears to be to try and appease Kovalchuk and win now, if that is the case, yet another prospect just wont cut it. Unfortunately the Leafs dont really have the kind of front line forward (like a heatley or hossa that Kovy found success with) to send the Thrashers way. NO, i do not believe players like Grabs or Kulemin will cut it. The Thrash would be better off with Kane if they are going to pick up young players.
They have someone like Kaberle to offer up, but with Bogosian, Enstrom and Hainsey, they are fine from an offensive point of view on defence.
Los Angeles - They too are close to competing now, after seeing the succes of the blackhawks among other young squads. They may want an established goaltender like Toskala, but that alone isnt enough to grab the 5th pick. They may be able to offer something similar like what they did last year to move to 5 and get Luke Schenn. But i think the leafs will first try and get another 1st without moving their own pick.
Again, many say Kaberle, but with Doughty, Jack Johnson, they have their fill with good young offensive blueliners. Kaberle is established, but they may be seeking a more front line forward (lecavalier, heatley) or a goaltender.
Phoenix - Its a catch 22 here. They may want to continue shedding veterans and get younger, cheaper so that any prospecive new owner who buys does not have many big salaries to dish out.
On the other hand, why would an owner invest in a perennial loser? So maybe they will take a win now appraoch, look to get into playoff contention and perhaps increase the value that way and draw more interest. they are a good young team, they have a few holes but are on the right track.
i think the leafs could potentially land the 6th, without giving up 7. but it all depends on the mindset of the yotes.
Here is a possibility:
Toskala and the 7th pick to LA for the 5th overall pick
With taht pick they land B Schenn. The package is not all that much different than what they moved to get to 5 last year. might be a bit more than what they sent to NY but I think it would be well worth it. They could then see if Giguere is potentially available in Anaheim. Also, if they land Gustavsson, that would take a ton of pressure off losing Toskala.
Kaberle to CBJ for the 16th overall pick, Kris Russell, Raffi Torres
The 16th and a 2nd is moved to FLA for the 14th pick and a 4th.
WIth the 14th, they pick Zach Kassian.
The leafs here have 2 2nds to use and one to move up and land Kassian may be worth it. he is the beligerent type of player Burke wants and loves.
This may be the best package and fit for Kaberle. While some expect maybe landing someone along the lines of Filatov, Staal, Turris even or even one of the top 3 picks for Kabby, I dont feel he is worth THAT much. He has value for sure and here they'd get a 1st, get a under 25 defenceman with offensive potential and a forward under 30 with some decent talent in Torres.
I think maybe the fans are fixated on getting a Jeff Carter like package for Kabby. But in a year, i would say someone like Kabby has declined slightly while someone with potential like Carter emerged as a big star. teams now are i think changing and more willing to wait on their young players than immediately giving them away.
So with all that they would have schenn, bozak, hanson, kassian, tlusty, kulemin, grabovski, mitchell, stefanovich, didomenico and hayes as young forwards who may or have devleoped into NHLers.
schenn, russell, stralman, white are still around on D.
Gustavsson and Pogge are young goalies.
Thats a decent position to be in, plus if you subtract the salaries of toskala and kaberle, they are up closer to 25 mil
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Re: Leafs will try to move up; Tavares and Hedman still on Burke's radar (Score: 1)
by KingCanada on Wednesday, June 24
(User Info | Send a Message) | If Burke cannot get a top 5 pick to get the likes of Tavares, Hedman, Schenn ect... He will attempt to move down. Burke is a big fan of Zach Kassian who should be available somewere between 10-14.
I would say go after Edmonton's 10th overall pick. Its well known that Edmonton is not a popular free agent destination (smallest/coldest market) so if the Oilers want to be good they have to keep getting good young players instead of UFAs.
To Edmonto: 7th
To Toronto: 10th, 2nd round
Edmonton can then draft MSP who would most likely step in sooner rather then later considering his size. Could be maybe only one year away from the pros since he is already playing in the mens league in Sweden.
Edmonton NEEDS a bigger young forward. Gagner, Cogliano, Nilsson...basically all their young forwards arent very impossing and they would be much better off adding some size this year. |
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Re: Leafs will try to move up; Tavares and Hedman still on Burke's radar (Score: 1)
by WE-DeusEx on Wednesday, June 24
(User Info | Send a Message) | PLEASE...
you guys are too hopeful...
Burke is going to get FUG ALL!! Be realistic.
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