And the highest pick he retained during any of his first three Maple Leaf drafts – the No. 7 overall in 2009, he used to take Nazem Kadri, a player who remains very much a work in progress at age 22.
Interestingly, Kadri is the only player selected by Burke to play a single NHL game. Among players taken during the '09, '10 and '11 drafts there are 90 players who've participated in NHL games. But Kadri, whose status in the NHL remains iffy, is the only Leaf.
Which made me wonder how our beloved Habs has done during the same period. The disappointing answer is, they've been just as bad. The only player in said class that has worn the Habs jersey in the NHL is Leblanc..
Maybe one of Tinordi, Bealieau or Ellis could make that two this year.
90 players on 30 teams gives three players per team on average, one player simplys isn't enough. Not having a second rd pick in 09 or a second and third in 10 obviously didn't help matters.
A more in-depth analysis must include what level of success the teams achieved during the same time frame. Giving up first and second rd picks for deep playoff runs may be worth a shallower talent pool a few years later. Habs obviously did better than the Leafs in the regard, while not doing great either.
Not that surprising based on where we've drafted the past few years. I'd be interested to see a breakdown of all of those 90 picks.
Thanks man, but as I mentioned, he is a stand up guy, but his arrogance was always too much for me...the Crown Jewel comment cracked me up, he is at least entertaining...
He has always referred to the Leafs that way, or at least as long as he's been looking for/holding/exiting the GM job. Some Leaf fans eat that up.
I actually felt sorry for Burke today. His personal life has been unbearable, and now his job has been taken from him over what appears to be a board member's personal dislike of him.
In the presser you could almost see him reeling himself in when he was on the verge of a rant. Obviously this is why the Board has kept Burke on in the "special" capacity, so he can't reveal board decision details and talk publicly about what happened.
They already have that, what they are missing is the Memo of Understanding. Which is a summary of the CBA they use until the final version is put in all legalese.
To my Hab fan brethren living in or around Toronto, you're welcome. The rest of you need to get that hate up. They're probably going to be a hell of a lot better than most think and a true rival again. If only you knew what it was like to be from Montreal living in Leafs Nation...
So pumped for Saturday!
edit: Great news for Darche - I think he's been a great member of the Habs and honestly, I kinda wish we still had him as backup. He is surprisingly useful and does the things others won't. Can't think of a nicer guy in the NHL and I can totally see him fitting in well in NJ where they check their egos at the door and play the grinding game.
Haha. Kidding aside, good deal for Oilers. Habs have log jam at D, unless one D-man is going out, useless to bring another one in. Also, would rather stand pat because of the pool (tinordi, beaulieu, Ellis.
Easy there, their goalie is still a huge ?. Not so confident in Dubnyk doing the job
I think the issue with him is whether he can take that many games. I was pretty impressed with him at the Spengler Cup. He played amazingly. Can he be that consistent though, and against fully NHL rosters? I share your skepticism, although I'd add that the Fistric move instantly insulates Dubnyk. It's really the Oil D (obvious, I know) contributing to their downfall. If they can clear it up even a bit, I predict playoffs.
The drive for #1 in the draft is on!
