Here's Why Burke Couldn't Move Up

MONTREAL

Brian Burke wanted one of the top five picks in tonight's NHL draft. He talked incessantly about doing so in recent weeks, and it seemed a slam-dunk that it would happen.

And it didn't.

Why? Well, here's why:

--The Islanders, with the No. 1 overall pick, weren't interested in trading it to anyone.

"The Islanders never gave us a chance to swing," said Burke.

--The Lightning, with the No. 2 pick, were willing to give it up if the Leafs were offering defenceman Luke Schenn in return. Burke wasn't, and as it turned out, John Tavares, the apple of his eye, wouldn't have been there with the second overall pick anyway.

"We'd be without Luke Schenn and I'd look like an idiot," said Burke.

--The Avalanche, with the No. 3 selection, were under the leadership of greenhorn GM Greg Sherman, who had taken over only 23 days earlier. The Leafs were willing to take on difficult contracts like those owned by Ryan Smyth (three more years, $15.5 million) and Scott Hannan (two more years, $9 million) but Sherman was understandably not ready to wheel and deal.

--The Thrashers, with the No. 4 pick, would have surrendered it for Tomas Kaberle and the No. 7 pick, paving the way for the Leafs to draft Brayden Schenn or Evander Kane. But Burke did not want to use Kaberle to move up in the draft, so that negotiation went nowhere.

--The Kings, with the No. 5 pick, took Schenn and simply had no interest in what the Leafs were offering. If you look at the Leaf depth chart, it's not hard to figure out why.

Comments

[Peter]

It sucks we didn't get to slide up into one of those top fives. That said, am I disappointed that Kadri is property of the Leafs? Not in the slightest.

[Norman]

Let's face it, Burke has been infected by the same thing that seems to overcome all Leaf GMs. He routinely over rates his players to the point that the club can not move forward. Somehow Burke has gotten the impression that Luke Schenn, last year's number five pick, is better than John Taveras, this year's number 1 pick. Hello? Is it the cost that Cliff Fletcher paid the Islanders in moving up from seventh to fifth that held him back? If so, that was only a second and third round pick, along with the pick flip. So in essence, the Leafs could have had John Taveras for last years seventh pick, a second and third rounder, and a loose change player or two. Would this really be too high a price to pay for a franchise player who could be the Leaf's best player ever? Schenn may be a steady stay at home defenceman, but he will never be a marquee player. Taveras has very real possibilities of being the best player in the NHL, a luxury the Leafs have not had in decades. I think Burke really missed the boat here. A disappointing draft for Leaf fans. At least the Bolts countered for Schenn. The Isles, who say they recieved many offers for their pick but none even came close, did not counter any of Brian's inadequate offers. Why should they. And one has to wonder, if Burke considered Schenn untouchable, exactly who else on his roster he thought he could offer in return for the number one pick and John Taveras. I'd love to know exactly how much Burke over evaluates his players.

[Akman]

I can understand why Burke could not move up in the draft. But here are the reason us non leaf fans do not like Burke. He does not know how to behave. His favorite statement starts with "I don't give a rats ass (fill in the blank)". He reminds me of a bull in a china shop. He announces his intention of what he wants way too early. Can you imagine going in to buy a new car and stating to the salesman, THIS is the car that I want and I am going to do whatever it takes to get it and then expect to get a good deal from the dealer. Does not work that way.

[Richard]

Let's keep the Luke Schenn situation in perspective folks. He's
young. Yah, he's going to cough up the puck to guys who were in the NHL when he was in diapers,but he has the potential to be
a solid d/man who will add a lot of offense. A Kaberle with some
sandpaper .Burke did well not to move him for what turned out to be snowballs chance at Taveras. Schenn for the Swede who looked like a pylon at the WJC?

[Jonathan]

Norman
I agree that overvaluing of assets is a problem but it's usually a good problem; that way you can be sure you are maximizing the potential return for moving any asset.
My problem with your argument is that Burke is trying to build a team. Based on Damien's post here, it appears as though drafting Tavares wasn't possible as the Islanders were not listening to any offers anyway. But assume Burke could move up to number 1 by dishing off Schenn, our 7th pick, a second and third rounder, and a player say Mitchell. Is Tavares going to play every position? What players is he going to play with? The prospect cupboard is bare enough as it is. I really have to disagree that shipping out whatever assets we do have to get a guy like Tavares (who let's be honest is no Ovechkin) is not the prudent move.

I am intrigued with the potential Thrashers deal, Damien. It would have been nice to move up to get the other Schenn (since he's being deemed Wendel-esque) and our first rounder and Kaberle doesn't seem like too much. Though I can see Burke's thinking here; he really wants to get a player, a prospect, and a pick for Kaberle and it looks like he's going to wait until it's offered. I really don't know if he can swing it though.

[Michael Hutz]

Leaf Nation. Let us stay the course and stop blasting Burke for being upfront and honest in the Media, and particularly for not making a big splashy trade up. Tavares was simply not available to us, next up, who in their right minds would trade a future Captain for a gutless, fancy Swede defenceman, next, why sell your soul for a little brother who may become a good second liner.
Many accuse Burke of being egotistical, yet he behaved like a church mouse on the draft floor. This is the sign of a guy, not who will deal just to make news, but who will not deal if its not in the best interest of the club. I love his candor. Those who dont can eat John Ferguson "No Comment" cookies till you explode from constipation. BTW, the "course" is a 5 year buildup to a cup run, not to be good enough to squeek into the playoffs and get creamed in the first or second round. Thats why Burke will not go nuts in the free agent market either. Why bother at this point to screw your future options to gain 5 or 10 points? They dont need good playoff caliber, seasoned veterans at this stage of the teams development.
Leaf nation claims to want a cup badly, but when it comes to how it is accomplished, has no patience for it, and settles for mediocrity, demanding marque players. Lets stop blaming the Teachers fund for this. Leafs have spent near the cap for years, they have not held back in trying to win. They have not had the right management and not had the right fans. We have good management now, so lets start being good fans. Allow more tanking, more prospects, a different kind of team to grow under Burke. Then we can celebrate a cup.

[Bold Bravado]

In reality very few deals were made during the first round picks. This is a substantial change from years gone by.
Question comes down to how good is Schenn going to be, and how quickly will Tavares make am impact at the Pro level? No one can say for sure.
There is no reason that Leafs cannot be competitive with a contender in 3 yrs. If they ever gain some first line talent, goodness knows they have a plethora of third and forth liners. Looks like UFA's available in a couple of days will tell how our next few years will go. Still not convinced Burke is any different than his predecessors!!

[Ryan]

Great Draft considering where the Leafs Finished in the League... Considering the Leafs didn't take the "Islander-Route" and throw the season away to get Tavares, I'd say Burke did well. He got some building Blocks and will continue to get Role Players this year in Free Agency.

Expect the BIGGEST Splash next year to be the free agent signing of RICK NASH. Future CO-Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nash needs a Shifty Center to dish him the puck and Kadri or Bozak can do that... Burke is right on Track.

[Ken]

Richard. Schenn adding a lot of offense??? That's a joke right. My grandmother has a better shot than Luke.You really don't see him on the power play do you. If so you are delusional.

[Sanj]

"We'd be without Luke Schenn and I'd look like an idiot," said Burke.

Uh, Burke. You already look like an idiot for blowing a lot of hot air in promising to deliver John Tavarass to the Leafs.

[donald]

@norman,

have you seen my comments in the past week or so, re:schenn?

look back at my analysis of the situation.

i could not agree more with you.

schenn = potential shut down d-man, lacking in offensive upside = not a franchise keeper.