When you look at Brian Burke's track record in past managerial positions you will quickly realize he is no Ken Holland. It's not all bad. Picking up Jake Gardner was a terrific move and signing Clarke MacArthur paid off. But to date I see more bad then good. Here is my list of the worst 10 moves.
10. Signing Brett Lebda as a free agent
Lebda was signed for just 2-years but his short stay in Toronto was terrible. He actually managed to be a -3 in a game against Atlanta in which the Leafs won 9-3.
9. Trading Kris Versteeg to Philadelphia for 1st and 3rd round draft picks
I don't like this trade because after giving up three prospects for Versteeg, Burke quickly gives up on him and moves to the Flyers. I think the move partly was driven by a perceived need to gain back draft picks given up for Phil Kessel. But those Flyers picks are late in each round. Meanwhile Versteeg was one of the Panthers' best players.
8. Signing Colton Orr as a free agent
Free agent signings are really bad unless you've sunk a lot of money in a big contract. Colton Orr was just 4-years at $1 million per season. However, the Leafs quickly found that he brought little more than his fists to the table and Ron Wilson was reluctant to play him very much. Then he had a concussion and soon found his way down to the AHL. So much for truculence.
7. Martin Gerber picked up on waivers
So why would I put this on my list of bad deals when Martin Gerber came in and did a decent job going 6-5 to finish the 2008-09 season? The Leafs goaltending was abysmal that season with a shaky Vesa Toskala and aging Curtis Joseph. They were not going to make the playoffs but Gerber came in an stabilized the goaltending so instead of finishing 27th overall the Leafs finished 24th. At the Amateur Draft that June the Leafs picked Nazem Kadri but could have had a shot at Brayden Schenn or Evander Kane had they finished 27th.
6. Signing Colby Armstrong as a free agent
Signing a plugger at $3 million per season is not a catastrophe but Armstrong completely broke down and barely played his two seasons in Toronto. Mercifully we were spared a third season as Burke bought him out.
5. Trading Alexei Ponikarovsky for Luca Caputi and Martin Skoula
Ponikarovsky is still a useful player in the NHL and played in the Cup finals with New Jersey. Caputi is still in the AHL while Skoula is in the KHL. That trade produced a big fat nothing.
4. Jiri Tlusty for Philippe Paradis
As Brian Burke began cleaning out players from the previous regime that included Tlusty who at the time was better known for texting his Johnson. The former first round draft pick had a decent season for Carolina scoring 17 goals. Again that trade produced a big fat nothing.
3. Signing Tim Connolly as a free agent
Connolly was supposed to be the next best free agent centre after Brad Richards last summer and was going the be the Leafs number 1 centre. Not in my assessment although it was enough to justify paying him $4.75 million per season. Connolly sleep walked through the season and worked his way down to the third line. Can't wait to see him pathetic effort this coming season.
2. Signing Mike Komisarek as a free agent
In the summer of 2009 Burke was going to make a big splash by shoring up his defense by signing Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin. Beauchemin was mediocre was Komisarek has been awful. Burke was able to ship back Beauchemin to Anaheim and landed Jake Gardner and Joffrey Lupul - a pretty good deal in anyone's books. Moving Komisarek has been impossible so that huge contract often sits in the press box. Hopefully a buyout will be in the future.
1. Trading for Phil Kessel for two 1st round one 2nd round draft picks
Sure Phil Kessel is a very good player but there any hockey person around that would rather have Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton and Jared Knight. Hamilton and Knight haven't played in the NHL but have had stellar Junior careers. The price Burke paid was just too high unless Kessel can deliver a Cup.
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