Why Brian Burke should unplug his phone after the draft

He’ll probably re-sign a couple players from last season, maybe one new 2nd or 3rd line forward, and that’s about it.

KUBINA!

I know Tambellini has gotten a lot of flak from Oilers fans for endlessly ‘assessing’ but I agree that that is what is needed. Burke took about two years to overhaul the roster but he needs to take some time to figure out where this is going.

Well done. I agree (except for the Higgins love).

I think for the UFAs the key is to sign no one in the first week—you’ll never get a value in that window. And don’t get focussed on an individual guy. After the draft Burke will know what holes he’d like to fill. Set a price you’re not willing to exceed for a given roster slot. Pick which guys you’re willing to sign for that role (there probably won’t be more than a handful). Then just wait to see if anything shakes out at or below your price (like Malhotra did for the Sharks this year, or Afinogenov for the Thrashers). There’s always something available off the scrap heap in August.

I still like MVR for under a mil if he can recover and get back to reasonable game shape.

I still would have no problem with Burke trading Kaberle if he can get good value for him. Otherwise there’s not a whole lot out there in terms of UFAs that interest me, and any other trade ideas would seem too risky or implausible to consider seriously.

or that at least the Penguins would at least consider trading him this off-season.

Can you imagine finally getting that top line C again & reuniting him with his trusty old linemate in Kulemin, with KESSEL on the wing!!!!!!!!!

I’m thinking maybe a package centered around Kaberle & Beauch/Komi with guys like Stalberg, Hanson, Paradis, Stefanovich, Rynnas/Scrivens/Reimer and next year’s 2nd for Geno.

Toronto gets a marquee front line player.

Pittsburgh improves their Defence including their primary puck mover, replenishes their farm and gets some potential top 6 Wingers for Crosby & Staal(who also gets the minutes he is deserving of) while balancing the structure of their salary cap.

Too crazy?? Probably. But I still thought I’d share it with you guys.

Frolov seems like he could bolster the top 6 and PP if he could be had for 3mil…

please dont ban me….

I’d kinda like to see the return of Pony

The only thing I want Burke to do in free agency is bring in one or two physical, depth forwards. I’d be happy with one of Raffi Torres, Colby Armstrong or Arron Asham if the price is right.

I am also hoping we bring in Zenon Konopka to be the new 4th line center. He is a very tough guy, is responsible defensively and is quite good at faceoffs.

I don’t share your enthausiasm about Chris Higgins, and it is a terrible weak group. I don’t think Burke will be signing anybody to long term deals, who ever the Leafs get will probably only be on a 1 or 2 year deal. From your list I’d say Lombardi is the one guy that interests me, but I wouldn’t mind Burke taking a chance on Tanguay if he’s hella cheap.

Boys, do u research on the Pens and you might agree with what I’m about to say. The Pens have $41,525,000 committed to only 13 players next yr (only 2 of those D-men, Goligoski and Orpik) and with the cap only going up about $500,000 to roughly $57,000,000 that’s not much flexibility, especially when the Pens need at least 4 NHL caliber D-men, and at least 1 of those HAS TO BE a QB/offensive type Defense man if they want to take a serious run at the cup. So how many of those types of D-men are even available, let alone at a descent price? And how many teams would be able to take on a $9 Million dollar contract in a hard cap system, and still have enough assets after that type of trade to compete afterwords? Exactly why a package between the Leafs and Pens would work (in theory, probably not reality though). Kaberle is a VALUABLE commodity whether u guys like to admit or not (especially if u can package the 2nd best offensive D-man in the last decade behind only Lidstrom, with an offense led by Sid the Kid).

Honestly the Pens have no good young talent after the big 4 (Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fluery) so eventually somethings going to have to give. Why not admit that the cap distribution isn’t working the way it is, and figure out a way to change it. Plus Crosby and Fluery are out of the question for a trade (if they want to win another cup anytime soon) and considering Staal only makes $4 million a yr that wouldn’t leave much cap room if any, once u consider they’ll be taking a good player in return for him (plus u would have to replace his elite PK skills) so that all but singles out Malkin, the writings on the wall. And if a general fan can notice this, I’m sure other GM’s and front office’s have too. The Pens aren’t handcuffed, but they might as well be considering their needs, cap situation and limited teams that can, and would be willing to take on a 9 Million dollar contract (and for the record EVERY team in the NHL would LOVE to have Malkin, wether that’s realistic in a cap situation is a different story) So anybody else think a deal of Kaberle, Kulemin, Stalberg or Kadri, D’Amigo and a 2nd round pick for Malkin would work? Probably a shot in the dark, but having Kaberle at $4.5 million to replace Conchar, a guaranteed two way reliable player like Kulemin (who the pens can sign to whatever type of contract they see fit considering he’s an RFA, and Pens management already holds him in high regards thanks to Malkin trying to recruit him) and a couple of cheap young prospects with upside like Stalberg or Kadri and D’Amigo along with a high 2nd rounder is a pretty good return when u consider the circumstances. Especially that elite puck moving D-man the Pens need at a reasonable price. Plus a drop off from Malkin to Staal on the 2nd line isn’t much of loss when u consider the team as whole, and getting enough cap room to go after 1 more big free agent, or a multiple descent free agents to fill all of their holes. Not to mention some much NEEDED YOUNG TALENT after the big 3. The only other team i can see taking on that type of contract as well as giving up enough assets in return is Edmonton. But considering they’re drafting 1st overall, i don’t see them giving up a bunch of young talent for Malkin and taking on that contract too. Especially when u consider that it would have to be at least 2 out of J.Eberle, S.Gagne, MPS or Hemsky and possibly the 1st overall as well. Not to mention the Pens would still have to try and find an elite D-Man at 5 million or less.

Name another team that could actually take on a $9 Million dollar contract and give up enough assets the Pens would need? Plus notice how i said and i quote “Exactly why a package between the Leafs and Pens would work (in theory, probably not reality though).” ? Or did u just skip that part nhlcheapshots? And considering the Pens situation i was just throwing that trade out to see if it would work based on the Pens and Leafs needs, nothing more.

And in reality u would NEVER trade a guy like Malkin, but in hard cap system it’s quite obvious the Pens aren’t going to compete for very long without cap space and depth. Would u rather have a team that competes for the Stanley Cup every year? Or have 4 superstars that disappoint every single yr because they don’t have enough cap space to acquire the depth they need?

And it’s not like Crosby, Fluery and Staal are going to be around forever, so the longer they delay this, the more they’re just waisting these guys in their prime. Somethings going to have to give eventually, especially with the Pens moving into a new building this year.

Kulemin is a restricted free agent (and if he was as important to the Leafs as everybody claims he is, Burke would’ve at least started talking to him about a contract by now. Which he hasn’t), D’Amigo was a 6th round pick, Kaberle is turning 32 and is as good as gone. So the only real assets the leafs would be giving up, that they were planning on using would be either Stalberg or Kadri (Both who still has to prove they are top 6 F’s in the NHL) and that 2nd round pick.

So tell me again how that would cripple the franchise? Especially when Kaberle’s contract would be half of what Malkin’s making, plus they can bury Finger’s contract in the minors which would make up almost all of that $9 Million ($4.25 + 3.5= $7.75 Million, and when u consider Kulemin would be off the books too, u might as well throw in his 1.48 Million from last yr which then equals $9.23 Million, which is more than enough). Plus Giggy’s contract is done after this yr too, which is another $6 million off the books by next yr.

Not to mention the Leafs have a plethora of descent to good young talent in the minors in, DiDamenico, P.Paradis, J.Hayes, D.Mitchell, Juraj Mikus, K.Aulie, Korbinian Holzer, J.Blacker, K.Ryan, Jerome Flaake, Joel Champagne, M.Stefanovich. Seriously we have too many 2nd to 3rd line players or potential players as it is in our system, what we REALLY need is an elite top 10 point producer like Malkin.

Thanks for the site, but I’m using Hockeybuzz.com, and the Pens situation is a lot more dire than u think. They’ve only got 15.5 Million available to sign 10 players, including 4 Defense man (1 that has to be on the level of Conchar considering their only 2 under contract are Goligoski and Orpik) a back up goalie, and at least 1 top level winger they need. That’s extremely bad when u consider the circumstances, especially going into a new building next yr.

And yes i agree it’s a moot point now about Malkin, But i think the only reason the Pens came out and said that is because they realize that everybody else See’s what i did, and that’s if they want to truly compete they have to get rid of 1 of their 2 big contracts (Malkin or Crosby) and when u consider that Crosby is untouchable no matter what, that all but singles out Malkin. I still remember the Flames GM saying the day before we acquired Phaneuf that he wasn’t being traded either, so u have to take what the GM’s say with a grain of salt. They are just trying to get as much value as they can, IF they ever decided to trade him. Which probably won’t happen, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility either. Especially with their needs and cap situation.

I actually agree with that Jared when u are talking about talent alone, but when it comes to a hard cap that’s not a good idea. Look at this from a team perspective, for a combined price of 9 million would u rather have a top notch young goalie (who had 1 bad yr) who’s already won a cup with the Pens, Plus a top notch #2 center who’s already an elite penalty killer, comes at a very good price (which is amazing when u consider guys like Stajan are making 3.5 million) and comes from an elite hockey family. Or would u rather have 1 elite all around player who scores a ton of points, in the same mold as your #1 center? Which would u rather have team wise?

Plus nobody here’s disputing that Malkin is one of the best, if not the best player in the world. But considering he is playing 2nd fiddle to the ONLY player who could ever do that to him (think of the A-Rod/Jeter situation), and the fact that they have another elite center who could step into his spot if he ever was to leave, are 2 out of the 3 prerequisites that would be needed to trade a guy like that. And considering the 3rd would be that the team couldn’t financially afford him anymore (which is the case when u consider that it’s his and Crosby’s cap hit combined that’s backing the Pens into a corner) then u have all the ingredients needed to trade him.

Plus if u don’t think that Kadri and D’Amigo aren’t top prospects, than i don’t know what is. Especially when D’Amigo was pretty much dominate in the most important junior hockey tourney in the world last yr, and helped lead the US to Gold over Canada. A Canadian team that had Kadri as it’s #1 center.