One thing I've noticed about Brian Burke since he landed in Toronto - he rarely admits a making an error. He much better at providing elaborate excuses or revising history.
But there is no hiding the fact that signing Colby Armstrong two years ago as a free agent was a mistake. The contract back then looked questionable - 3 years at $3 million per season. He wasn't signed to score goals, only scoring above 15 goals once, instead he was supposed to be an agitator. There was talk when he signed that he would fit in nicely on the second line. That was a bit of a stretch.
Armstrong just couldn't stay healthy and when he was healthy he was totally ineffective. Eventually he was frequently a healthy scratch. He was brought in to provide leadership and was made alternate captain along with Mike Komisarek. But you aren't going to provide much leadership from the pressbox. Two character players who just didn't fit in.
So instead the Leafs will buy out Armstrong which reduces his cap hit from $3 million to just $1 million. Perhaps that will open up a roster spot and dollars for an agitator that can make the lineup.
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