Fifth Avenue Forum

I'm gaining excitement. I think they need some bold moves... this is not a great team in 2021 and likely 2022.

If you take the approach of turning this around in 2 years, who is here in 2022-23 and beyond? Anyone who isn't should be looked at for a trade right now if you can get young talent that can make an impact 2 years from now.

Rust, Letang. To a lesser extent, Dumoulin, Zucker

The carping and worrying about that is silly.

Just within the past couple weeks, Burke was saying "Outside of all the goals and points, Nylander has done nothing for the Maple Leafs". He's been 100% driving the Leafs should trade Nylander bus because... he doesn't like Swedes? I dunno.

It's this kind of mentality that doesn't sit right with me. The kid's a PPG player for the Leafs but because he doesn't have some imaginary "intangibles" Burke thinks he's a waste.

I'm hoping that doesn't affect the decisions being made by Hextall.

There's a difference between trying to be an entertaining TV figure and a front office exec too

It's been at least a 3 year anti-Nylander crusade though.

That’s the point though. Burke likes a certain type of player. Which is fine. And he doesn’t like the way Nylander plays the game. Which is also fine. And Burke thinks the return on Nylander is greater than what he provides to the Leafs. Which is also fine.

The thing that has me excited about Burke is that he will 100% give this team an identity - something that is sorely lacking the last 18+ months. Whether you like the identity or not is a you problem.

Ugh...is Brian Burke gonna be mr's new Jack Johnson...? This is gonna be a long few years if this guy can't do anything right even in a non-execution role and not on the ice...

Doesn't like Swedes...? Might want to check on the 1999 draft...

I don't know whether that quote is accurate or not, I'm sure he's probably been saying that for years about Nylander (who has never been a point per game player in his career, not even close I don't think) because of the cap implications and how weak the Leafs defense is...I've heard him say a hundred times to trade him for a d-man...Burke is the one that had Morgan Rielly as his #1 player in the 2012 draft, and that's been the only player they've been able to hang there hat on back there for the last few years...Morgan is not exactly known as being a tough guy either, in fact, he wasn't even tougher than Yakupov in his draft year or any year since...

I'm not saying these moves are above reproach (though, again, I very much like them), but the bellyaching in this format, in this direction feels forced and unfounded...

And again, the idea that the league isn't tough or whatever...I mean, William Nylander wannabe Max Domi got traded for Josh Anderson...it puts an increased value on guys who are tough and can play...Burke seems to be about that (Tkachuk), Hextall seems to be about that (Konecny), this board has wished for Brandon Tanev to be cloned on multiple occasions...he's not about to trade Malkin for Ryan Callahan or anything...

Burke isn't the GM though, so it depends how much of a call he actually gets here

Exactly...

Now, certainly, I doubt he would have taken the job - as he seemed set to be Don Cherry's replacement - if he wasn't going to have some say...but he's a rank and file guy, he's not gonna step on Hextall's toes...

I can also officially say that the current Penguins GM has some of my work...so call me up, Hexy...I too like to draft NHL players unlike some of the people we have recently employed...

I don't know whether that quote is accurate or not

It is.

And no, he's not going to be my whipping boy, **** hell. I'm just saying on the surface I'm not a fan of adding him given past context, his attitudes, and how he likes to build teams.

That said, who knows how much input he'll actually have. If we start trying to add David Clarkson and Dion Phaneuf 2.0s to the team, we're not going to go anywhere and I'm not going to be a huge fan. If he lets Hextall do his thing and not try to add guys like JJ, Badbranson, or Matheson based on some "toughness" quota they need to hit, then maybe this won't be as bad as I'm making it seem like it is.

I guess my main point is that I watched GMJR just blow the last 3+ seasons because he wanted to "get tough" while sacrificing what made the Penguins successful during those runs. I don't want to see a continuance of that mentality.

I guess a better way to sum it up is I'm gun shy on bringing in people who want "toughness" because GMJR's version of "toughness" that he jammed down our throats since 2017 was tough guys who couldn't contribute to the lineup and were largely detriments during their time here.

You're grossly over-simplifying whatever it is you're railing against imo...

Perhaps I am, but the message from the former GM was simplified by him to "toughness".

During Hextall’s tenure in Philly, he made the lowest number of trades. Not sure how that is determined with GMs around the league coming and going, but mid-season trades are not something he has done before.

Also. I’m going to reserve judgement until Jim comes and tells us all what to think.

good point

Also...Hextall had to clean up a lot of bad contracts and dumb **** left to him by what's his ass...the tough guy that was there...so, he's got that experience too...

Also, is this the fourth goalie we've had as GM in history...? Off the top of my head: Bastien, Tony O, Rutherford, and now Hextall...?

They were tough in 2016 and 2017. Guys like bonino, Cole, lovejoy, Cullen... not tough in the natural sense of the word, but tough in the sense that they were tough to play against and brought their dicks to the rink on game day.

Does Jared mccann? Marcus petterson? Nah.

Burke knows how to find guys with dick.

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Also, is this the fourth goalie we've had as GM in history...? Off the top of my head: Bastien, Tony O, Rutherford, and now Hextall...?

meow is next, baby

Shotgun Head of Scouting!

Also...Hextall had to clean up a lot of bad contracts and dumb **** left to him by what's his ass...the tough guy that was there

Holmgren? Talk about a goon.

Yeah, that's him...I couldn't remember his name off the top of my noggin...

Total cement head

Also. I’m going to reserve judgement until Jim comes and tells us all what to think.

Someone needs to. Most of the stuff being posted is as wrong as opinion can be.

They were tough in 2016 and 2017. Guys like bonino, Cole, lovejoy, Cullen... not tough in the natural sense of the word, but tough in the sense that they were tough to play against and brought their dicks to the rink on game day.

Does Jared mccann? Marcus petterson? Nah.

Burke knows how to find guys with dick.

You mean guys that don't literally stop skating after they turn the puck over?