Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
Does Toronto really seem like a great team? I think they are 'good enough' to make the playoffs, and that's it. They don't strike me as being a contender really, now or in the foreseeable future with that lineup. He did make some shrewd trades, but his notion of 'rebuilding quickly' I think failed. He just got them back into the playoffs (which was a feat), but that is all he really did IMO. That is not the model I want for Calgary.
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They are most definitely not a great team yet, and possibly even over-achieved this year. But at least we can tell they are finally improving with a team Burke built. He made a few mistakes getting there, but at least the Leafs finally started to make positive changes with Burke at the helm, something that just only started to happen in Calgary when Iginla was dealt (too late in the game might I add).
However, just look at how Ferguson Jr. left the team for him, and where they are today, and you'll see how much of a difference Burke made. They were in complete turmoil when Burke took over, just like we are today. The only "bad" move Burke made was trading for Kessel, which even then isn't as bad of a move as everyone says.
Even with that considered no one can overlook all the great moves Burke made while in Toronto. He also made a bunch of great moves throughout his career while in Hartford, Vancouver, and Anaheim. All that's missing from his track record is winning a cup with a team he's built on his own.
I know some people don't take to his bombastic nature, but I'll take that over Feaster's strange approach. He would be a drastic improvement over Feaster.
I don't mean to sound like a complete and total ass, but can any one name one significant A+ move Feaster has made during his time in either Calgary or Tampa Bay? I can't think of one, and could probably name ten for Burke over the years.
Just to back up this point: drafting the Sedin's, Phaneuf trade, trading up to draft Chris Pronger, Gardiner trade, Pronger trade, moves he made in Summer of 2005 (signed Moen, Marchant, Selanne, Niedermayer), getting Beauchemin from Columbus for scraps, solid drafting record (Pronger, Sedin's, Kesler, Kadri, Reilly, etc), getting rid of useless players (Stajan, Antropov, Ponikarovsky, Toskala), traded for Brendan Morrison in 2000. Some pretty solid moves all around right there.