Creative Thinking

Creative Thinking

March 4, 2010 @ 07:45

Make no mistake about it, what Brian Burke has done to the Toronto Maple Leafs is exactly what Leaf fans have been demanding for years.

Gut the team and start over.

Of course I could remind everyone of that old saying, "watch what you ask for it may come true" but I really don't think it applies in this situation. What Burke has done, and is doing to the Toronto Maple Leafs is the only way improve long term.

Yes, the Phil Kessel trade sticks in the craw of most Leaf fans, but hey kiddies, that's old news, water under the bridge and history we cannot change. All we can do is hope that Burke gets creative in the free-agent market over the next couple of years, or turns some of those third and fourth round draft picks into gold.

But here's another spin on the whole scenario. Why not get creative now, with what they've got?

The Leafs have 20 games remaining on the season and if they don't finish last in the over-all standings they'll be very close. They've got nothing to lose at this point, only things to gain.

How about this, for the remainder of the season why not put Tomas Kaberle at centre ice. Take his skating ability, puck handling ability and play making sense and experiment with it.

Burke maintains that the best way to build a hockey team is from the defense out, and admittedly, he's done a pretty good job of building his defensive core, to the point where Kaberle has become expendable and almost became active in yesterday's trade market.

Instead of playing out the season with Kaberle on defense, with the assumption of trading the guy in the summer, why not do some investigative shuffling. Make him Phil Kessel's centre man for rest of the season and see what happens.

There is absolutely nothing to lose. If it works, great, its one less thing to worry about and the pressure comes off to trade the current longest serving Leaf.

If it doesn't work, then trade the guy.

Category: Sports

14 Responses to "Creative Thinking"

JAMES
March 4, 2010 / 08:40

I'll take that as a good idea. For the long suffering Leaf fans we deserve better. With the resources MLSE has why the hell do the Leafs under achieve. You'd think any player worth anything would love to play here. I hope next year this time the Leafs are in a position to go into the post season. If not Burke will be another bust.

Anonymous
March 4, 2010 / 10:17

I can't think it is too coincidental that TML is very close to FML, and that, as they say, is that.

On another note, Freddie, please, please run your stuff through spell check. Pet peeve of mine but it drives me crazy.

dave
March 4, 2010 / 12:16

I'm beginning to think Burkie is just another failure in a long line of same.

Kessel, two firsts and a second, give me a break. This guy was invisible during the Olympics.

Now Stempy, we traded two first round pick players to get him, now we own a fourth and a seventh.

Burkie, gotta go, just more of the same old, same old.

Buffalo Boy Mike
March 4, 2010 / 12:47

I don't know why everyone is down on Kessel and Burke making the move to get him, did he pay too much? Maybe, maybe not, hes a guy you build your team around and obviously hes the guy Burke wants to start with building his team around, otherwise he wouldnt have paid so much for him

LEW
March 4, 2010 / 15:43

I think you can only lose value if you put him in a different position. The last 20 games should be about building chemistry with Phaneuf on the #1 power-play. If it doesn't work trade him, if it does work, you will need that power-play next year. It is very difficult to get a good puck moving defenseman, why are you so quick to want to get rid of one of the better ones?

neil now in vancouver
March 4, 2010 / 17:02

It's simple. Stop going to games and stop giving the Teachers Union a reason NOT to improve the entire organization.

El Torpedo
March 4, 2010 / 18:40

Neil, that point has been thrown around so much it's become cliche. I roll my eyes everytime I read it now. It might have held water in the pre-cap era, but a team can't spend it's way to a Cup anymore. Turning a team into a contender nowadays is a looong slow process, fan boycott or not.

Jason Barr
March 5, 2010 / 06:09

I have been saying to put Kaberle on the wing for about 8 years now. Everyone used to laugh. He could still QB the powerplay.

JAMES
March 5, 2010 / 09:05

Kaberle won't shoot the puck if his life depended on it. He always is looking for the perfect shot. Kessel will be fine. Two first rounders maybe not good. Burke, cut him a break. Rome wasn't built in a day. Buy the way; it;s the Teachers Federation not a union. Same shit, different flavor.

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