Do you think Brian Burke has done a good job during his time in Toronto?

Since the last Leafs Stanley Cup the team has gone through four modes of ownership.

From 1968 to 1990 the age was the one of Harold Ballard. In that 22 years the team finished out of the playoffs 7 times. was defeated in the first round 8 times, beaten in the second round six times and made it to conference finals once.

When Harold died the team was purchased by Steve Stavro. Steve was a fan but knew nothing about hockey during his twelve years the team went to three division finals, were defeated in the second round three times, three times in the first round and three times out of the playoffs. All in all hey were a little better than average.

After the lockout the rules changed. The Leafs couldn't be the highest paid team on ice. The cap fixed that. The team had no prospects, an old roster and a poor farm team. Five years of trying to fix the old team using the old methods didn't work. Bryan Burke was hired to fix the team. The team is younger, the team is in most games most nights and the farm team is better than average. Burke has done that. He took a broken franchise and fixed it. The Leafs have a good chance of making the playoffs this year. But not only that they are close to being competitive in the near future and for a long time to come.

There are two approaches to building a winning franchise. The Holland method of building from the bottom up and filling the holes as they develop from within. Or the Shero method, suck the hind teat for a long time, get a bunch of number one picks and hope they work as a team. Burke and I prefer the Holland approach.

BA: Until Toronto wins it has to be Holland.

In the main, yes but there's been a few missteps.

As much as he said otherwise, he had to do a soup-to-nuts rebuild of the franchise (which he's done- he's overhauled the entire roster). The problem is that he understated just how bad things were when he took over, which set him up when he didn't immediately get results.

The farm system is better, and the team is, for the first time, in good health relative to the salary cap. They have cap space.

He's made a couple UFA signings that haven't worked out (got rid of one, still has the other on the books- that'd be Mike Komisarek), but thankfully didn't spend like a drunken sailor on July 1st (Tim Connolly is a risk due to injury but it's a 2-year deal); the two trades he made were good deals with no long-term boat anchors. Gustavsson hasn't worked out, and Bozak was overhyped (he's pegged as a #3C which is a better role for him with a cap hit in line with this role). Scrivens might work out, and the Marlies will have several Burke picks that are 1-2 years away. This is a pattern that didn't exist five years ago.

Trades- Let's take a look at that 2006 draft class (a damn good one!); Phil Kessel has scored more goals than any other player in his draft class! Look at what CGY has left from Phaneuf and Aulie.

This past season he sent Beauchemin to ANA for Lupul and Jake Gardiner. Lupul has been a pleasant surprise, Gardiner is a great prospect defenceman. Versteeg to PHL for draft picks. Wash (Versteeg is now in Florida). Kaberle (rental) to Boston for Colbornne (who will likely spilt time between the AHL and NHL this year), the pick turned into Tyler Biggs (3-4 years away), and a supplemental pick turned into John Michel Liles (short term replacement of Kaberle) who scored 46 points last year for Colorado.

By no means is it the finished product, but it's better than it's been.

BQ: Probably Ken Holland.

@Doug Gilmour: Jiri Tlusty, really? I'm still waiting for the day Carolina gives up on this kid and gets rid of him.

I think he's done an alright job, considering what he's had to work with. He's made some mistakes, but no one's perfect. He's bringing the team from the ground up, trading picks, prospects, and some players for their core guys like Phaneuf, Liles, and Kessel (although he overpaid for him). He's also brought in some key players like James Reimer and Clarke MacArthur, and finally signed the potential #1 center for Kessel. Remember this is the same GM that drafted both of the Sedins, Kesler, and Bieksa to Vancouver, and won a Stanley Cup as the GM of Anaheim. He's doing the best he can with Toronto. They could very well earn a playoff spot this season.

BQ: Either Ken Holland or David Poile, but there's no denying Jim Rutherfords pimp hand in Carolina.

I think he has done an average job. The Kessel trade was questionable, but he has proven to be 30 goal scorer even without a quality center, while the jury is still out on Seguin and Dougie Hamilton. The Leafs had an 11 point increases last year over 09-10 so it appears that Burke has them moving in the right direction

BQ: Ken Holland, and my inner homer is saying Ray Shero

Hahah no wonder Canucks got rid of him but he did do a good job on some parts like drafting the Sedins and Kesler. I'll give him that

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People who say no are just blind haters, yes he has considering what he was left with in 08, JFJ left an utter mess for Burke to clean up, lets take a look at their best prospect in 08 - Jiri Tlusty ya believe it or not, now lets see 2011 - Nazem Kadri, Gardiner, Frattin, Colborne, Biggs, Percy,Mckegg, Ross, Blacker etc.

Criticize Burke all you want he has broad shoulders to take the heat that other GM`s can`t. He is not done in Toronto its been 3 years and last time I checked it takes longer than 3 years to tear down a team and build it up again. Everything from scouts to players he has gutted, getting rid of dead wood like Stajan, Hagman, Steen, Stempniak, Gerber etc. Look at their record after the all star break they were one of the best teams in the NHL, he brought them to an above 500 team and many forget they are only the 2nd youngest team in the NHL after Edmonton.

Their point totals are going up and next season they will get 90+ they got 85 this past season and are getting close to perennial post season action. But as of now yes Burke has done a great job, bringing in a new mentality to the team a winning one.

Hate all you want every team he has touched has either won or reached the Stanley Cup finals. To have that on your pedigree gives you a thumbs up in my book.

not really. the Leafs were not meant to be immeditate contenders as soon as he became GM, but we should have at least made the playoffs. he looks to be building a winner, with young players, but nothing really seems to be panning out. he is a good GM, just look what he did with Vancouver and Anaheim. mayeb theres something else wrong with the Leafs. i mean, Wilson aint that great of a coach. or PP and PK constantly suck.

speaking from a Toronto sports fan perspective, id call Burke the worst GM in the city (Colangelo for the Raptors {ps for anyone who follows basketball, you're a FOOL if you think JV was a bad pick in the draft}, Anthopolous for the Jays). with those other two, you can see a bright future (extremly bright with the Jays) . the Leafs, im not sure. i think we need to make the plaoffs this season. anthing other than that is unacceptable or its bye bye Burke and Wilson if hes not already gone by seasons end

BQ: Steve Yzerman. but if he cant get a deal with Stamkos done, the Holland

i think of Toronto is the appropriate place for this guy. he's such an puffed up GM. He replaced into blown out of the water in Hartford after one 3 hundred and sixty 5 days. interior the 5 or so years in Vancouver they did no longer something. he's credited for signing the Sedin twins- as though any GM would not have signed them? And he actual inherited a team in Anaheim, so i do no longer provide him credit for that Stanley Cup. Pronger needed out of Edmonton, and Burke replaced into fortunate sufficient to get a guy who refused to circulate to a suffering team. that comparable 3 hundred and sixty 5 days he have been given Selanne returned...Teemu never needed to circulate away and had each objective of returning to the geese if he might desire to. in short, I see no longer something changing there interior the subsequent fews years...yet returned, Burke will earnings from the area he walked into- the worst team can basically get extra powerful, no?

I think he has been generally underrated but he has not done a great job. I think phil kessel was way overrated by brian burke and I think he has made a few questionable signings (komisarek, armstrong may also have been a bit overpaid)

At the same time though he moved versteeg and kaberle for way more than they were worth and made that lopsided phaneuf trade in favor of the leafs.

BQ: It has to be ken holland. It pains me to say it but the guy is the guru of NHL gms.