I really think that Burkie hasn’t found anyone who wants him, the agents feel they could do better.

Burke probably gave his agent guidelines for the return that he would expect from Exelby and told his agent to do all of the grunt work. Burkes busy trying to pull blockbusters.

Anyways, in regards to what Karina said, I seem to remember us searching up youtube videos of Exelby and being impressed by his physicality and being happy with the acquisition. With that said, he is better then a couple starting players out there, although not many.

No doubt Burke’s trying to drum up trade interest through the media, but these are the few times when I wish Burke would just shut his mouth.

And this is why so many hockey fans are derided in other sports. Heart? That isn’t a quantifiable measure at the very least, so why include it? It’s not like Wallin struggles on the ice because he wants to suck. How about we all just conclude that all three of these players have no future with the Leafs and be done with it.

I think Finger knows he’s untradable.
If his agent starts looking to trade him, and there’s no takers, AHL is fine with me.

The only reason Finger would rather play in the AHL is because he wouldn’t have to forfeit any escrow while playing in the minors.

do you get anything good for him NHL10?

is not necessarily a reflection of poor defensemen or defensemen that suck. Poor defense, as in the case with the Leafs, is a team thing. Starting with forwards and ending with who we had in net – yes Toskala, I’m looking at you.

a need for some “sand paper” on D I would imagine. I’m just not sure they’d want it from exelby.

no. I just think their agents are refusing to believe that.

It’s called the KHL.

Is Burke’s son the assistant GM anywhere? Methinks the Hal Gill trade had a lot to do with Chuck Fletcher helping out his old man.

trivia thing – Andy Bathgate (the elder) scored the first goal in Pens history.

the whole reason the players have to put this crap out there, and send their agents out to beat the bushes is because nobody thinks they’re worth anything. Not that I blame them for not wanting either player.

hahah! zing!

You forgot to mention that he’ll waive guys so that they can “have their shot” in the NHL, q.v. Kronwall, Bell, Bryzgalov.

but i dont think thats inherently contradictory. one of them flows down from management, the other comes up to it.
if you are going to set a tone for your organization, you can only control your own actions. if your pieces want to do their own thing, then baby set them free.

My take on Brian Burke: he is full of hot air and likes to deflect attention away from his team and onto himself
given what the environment must be like for players in Toronto, I’m OK with it.

fun to watch?
the only time ive ever enjoyed watching either is when Mayers beat the tar out of franky soup cube last year

That applies sometimes to Mayers. Sometimes. Usually he just doesn’t have the right stuff to hit that mark.

Exelby is always terrible in every imaginable way.

but that hasn’t happened all season long thus far. What has happened is his terrible defensive responsibilities.

depending on the player coming back, he probably would
but there are only a hand full of players that would make that happen

Yes they’re apparently that bad. Exelby certainly is, and Finger has been having a rough year.

Mayers is also playing like crap.

The fact that they have let their agents try to drum up interest in them implies there hasn’t been any talks from other teams. If that’s the case that should tell the players something. Nobody is interested in your services enough to even contemplate asking for you.

If I was Exelby or Mayers and I was playing a very small role on a very bad team I’d be worried about my career too.

When Finger’s on his game, he can be a third pairing guy, but that really hasn’t happened this year. Exelby isn’t good enough to be an emergency fill in for men’s league.