[charlio lemieux]

Toronto is a high pressure city to play in, just like Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, and so on. Those teams are bringing in high end talent here and there, and the leafs will in time as well. One of the big things the leafs need to do for this is to begin putting up winning seasons. They don't have to be a top seeded team, just make the playoffs and I'm sure you'll start to see bigger names be more willing to join them for the chance to win. Burke is a business man and honestly he will do good things for the leafs. As for Wilson I cant comment on because I don't know a lot about him as a coach. I have never liked the leafs, for whatever reason they have always been one of those teams I have hated and it might go back to the first NHL game I saw where they beat the coyotes 3-1 in 97. That made them the devil in my eyes as a child which has held for me now haha but I do like their roster. They have a young, solid team and which age and wisdom they could likely become a great team. I wouldn't underestimate them this year because I feel they will actually make a strong push for a playoff spot. Will they win the cup? Probably not a chance in hell, but to me they look how a rebuilding team should and appear to be right on track for their future.

Last big UFA for EDM was Souray.
Most of Vancouver's main pieces are either through draft or trade.
MTL's best recent signing was Cammy, who according to some would have signed in TOR if the leafs had offered a bit more.
Ottawa signed Gonchar.

No one is signing the big superstars as UFA's. 90% are staying with their teams, and the others are getting overpaid by the Rangers.

 

[2fast4u]

Bolded parts are Complete and utter BULLS#*!

1. Tons of players want to play in Toronto.

2. The way Burke deals with players would make him one of the most desirable GM's to work with. You might want to research your own Bryzgalov's history with Burke. He is a man of his word and very loyal to his players.

When is the last time a player actually signed in Toronto cause he wanted to come, and not just get traded to there and have to play for them? Last player i remember that came to Toronto on his own really was MacArthur and before that, Doug Gilmour.

 

[Earnhardt]

If a player does not want to play in a pressure packed locale I do not want him....

Richards never wanted to be here as we are in a re-building mode and he wanted to play for his bumbuddy Torts, the funny thing is coaches do not have a shelf life of more then three years so most likely when NY fails for the umpteenth time they will fire Torts leaving his little starling to fend for himself........

2fast4u I suggest you do a wee bit of research before you start typing.....

 

[YotesFan47]

Yea I forgot the whole byrz situation, your right charlio. Bryzgalov wanted a #1 job and Burke made it happen, as a gm to waive a talented player like that because he legitimately deserves a chance to be a #1 goalie is pretty kind hearted.

 

[YotesFan47]

Last big UFA for EDM was Souray.
Most of Vancouver's main pieces are either through draft or trade.
MTL's best recent signing was Cammy, who according to some would have signed in TOR if the leafs had offered a bit more.
Ottawa signed Gonchar.

No one is signing the big superstars as UFA's. 90% are staying with their teams, and the others are getting overpaid by the Rangers.

I wasn't saying it happens often, but it does happen. I just named Canadian cities in this particular case. While the FA pool wasn't exactly deep this year you did have Richards going to NYR (torts being a big reason for his signing there or not) and while I have never been to NY or know a lot about their market, I would assume there is a decent high amount of pressure to win there. It might not be a Montreal or Toronto in terms of how their fans act but surely NY has greater pressure than many other teams have, or at least I would think it would.

 

[charlio lemieux]

I wasn't saying it happens often, but it does happen. I just named Canadian cities in this particular case. While the FA pool wasn't exactly deep this year you did have Richards going to NYR (torts being a big reason for his signing there or not) and while I have never been to NY or know a lot about their market, I would assume there is a decent high amount of pressure to win there. It might not be a Montreal or Toronto in terms of how their fans act but surely NY has greater pressure than many other teams have, or at least I would think it would.

The Rangers just throw more money at players than anyone else is willing to do. Gaborik, Drury, Gomez, Redden etc. NYR had said they would match and/or beat any offer Richards recieved July 1.

Burke has set contract limitations that precluded the Leafs ever being a serious contender for Richards. Namely a 5yr max on deals.

 

[charlio lemieux]

Yea I forgot the whole byrz situation, your right charlio. Bryzgalov wanted a #1 job and Burke made it happen, as a gm to waive a talented player like that because he legitimately deserves a chance to be a #1 goalie is pretty kind hearted.

Also remember the Bertuzzi situation. He stood behind him through the whole ordeal. He was right beside Todd during Todd's press conference.

IF you are on his team Burke will be with you through thick and thin.

 

[TylerDCA]

When is the last time a player actually signed in Toronto cause he wanted to come, and not just get traded to there and have to play for them? Last player i remember that came to Toronto on his own really was MacArthur and before that, Doug Gilmour.

Gilmour was traded to Toronto.

Players that have signed:

Connolly
MacArthur
Armstrong
Beauchemin
Komisarek
Gustavsson
Bozak

Have they all worked out? Not really. But there was bidding for Connolly, Armstrong, Beauchemin, Komisarek, Gustavsson and Bozak and they chose TO.

Whats the last free agent that chose Philly and not just traded there? Briere?

 

[charlio lemieux]

This has run it's course.