I don’t think Nik’s play has merited that discussion to this point

Um…

Look, I’m all for straight talk and all that, but he does know that other GMs can see these quotes, right?

Ok ok…let’s get to bargaining…I think Burke is telling Antropov to prove to him that he wants to be in Toronto through his play rather than just words and actions like getting his citizenship and actually living in Toronto.

I’m thinking Burke could be working to eliminate the worry of any interested party that he’s going to trade Antropov and re-sign him in the off-season. He could be telling the truth and setting the record straight in that regard… or he could be trying to pull the wool over the eyes of other GMs.

To me this just seem like Burke is try to get rid the general belief around the league that if Antro is traded at the deadline he’ll just come back to TO this summer. I don’t think it is anything more than a fake assurance to interested teams to try and increases Antropov’s value. But hey I could be wrong… but I don’t think I am

Awww Marge, why’d you gotta go and tell it like it is!

This is probably some kind of master plan by Burke that us mere mortals are unable to comprehend at this time. The guy does not go on a hockey show and shoot his mouth off and potentially screw the team in some way, he just is too cagey for that. Or so I hope..

Seriously, this isn’t backroom sabotage. We’re talking about a guy who called up Staffan Kronwall knowing full well he’d be picked off on waivers because he “promised him and his agent” that he’d be called up this season. The guy who let Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne completely fuck over the Ducks last year out of respect for the decisions they had to make. Burke is not a man who says things just to fuck with people.

Honestly, any NHL pro scout can see that Antro is slow as a bear out there, is on pace for anther 50 point season, and is streaky as adult diapers. We needed him to prove that he’d broken out and to take command of our offense, and instead he’s often been relegated to the background and is on pace for a below par level of points for a guy who’s had nothing but first line minutes and top powerplay time.

I’m wondering at Burke too at this point, obviously he’s trying to light a fire under Nik, but the guy clearly has the skills to be a Franzen/Holmstrom type player. So far he just hasn’t been consistent and he still shies away from using his shot and size the way he should.

of telling the fans to say farewell to the familiar.

I for one, like it.

This probably just means that Antro is going to be traded. If Burke extended Antro now, trading him at the deadline would mean he’d be part of that team for good.

Not extending Antropov means the Leafs can rent him out.