Truth & Rumors > NHL

Isles won't give Leafs No. 1 pick

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The grandstand ing Brian Burke got the attention on TSN and in the Toronto newspapers that he apparently needs the way the rest of us need air to breathe, but the general manager of the Maple Leafs isn't going to get the first pick of the Entry Draft from the Islanders, no matter how often he announces his intention to get it from Garth Snow. Slap Shots has learned from a well-placed source that when Burke, as announced and as promised, placed a call to the winner of the lottery (the Islanders victorious in the postseason, quite the novelty, by the way), he was told by Snow that the Islanders would be willing to deal, all right . . . willing to deal for Toronto's seventh-overall selection, that is.

New York Post

Scott Gordon, Garth Snow, AP Scott Gordon, Garth Snow, AP
April 19, 2009  09:52 AM ET

With Tavares' agent saying he wasn't going to pull a Lindros (or Elway, or Eli Manning), and play for the team that drafts him, Burke's grandstanding is going nowhere. Perhaps Burke can learn some integrity from this young man.

April 19, 2009  10:26 AM ET

A)It's the Post so it's garbage.

B)Burke can say whatever he wants, but it's going to cost a lot to get that pick if he really wants it.

April 19, 2009  10:38 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

With Tavares' agent saying he wasn't going to pull a Lindros (or Elway, or Eli Manning), and play for the team that drafts him, Burke's grandstanding is going nowhere. Perhaps Burke can learn some integrity from this young man.

How does integrity get into this conversation. Pop, you try to stir the pot and do it well most often, but I don't understand this assertion...

Burke is among the most honest GM's you will find in ANY sport. People may not like him due to his brashness and penchant for telling it like it is, but I haven't heard anyone question his integrity. So, he doesn't grab the #1 from Snow, that is the Islanders choice and everyone will live by it. Burke is just trying to rebuild his club the fastest way possible, by putting some heat on some rival GMs, ethics has nothing to do with it.

Comment #4 has been removed
April 19, 2009  10:57 AM ET

if tavares goes to the leafs he will be a bust

April 19, 2009  11:25 AM ET

I don't understand why there is no playoff talk, only losers talk here. The Caps have lost two straight, the rookie sensation Mason has let in 8 goals to the Wings, Vancouver and Chicago are playing close games, And San Jose upset by a good Ducks team. And we get this CRAP??

April 19, 2009  11:25 AM ET

The Isles need Tavares simply because they need a player to create some juice for the team. No top free agent will go there right now. Tavares will put people in the seats and for that reason alone they will take him rather than make a trade for multiple player/ picks.

April 19, 2009  11:28 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

I don't understand why there is no playoff talk, only losers talk here. The Caps have lost two straight, the rookie sensation Mason has let in 8 goals to the Wings, Vancouver and Chicago are playing close games, And San Jose upset by a good Ducks team. And we get this CRAP??

Welcome to the loser thread, how are the Coyotes doing?

Comment #9 has been removed
April 19, 2009  12:27 PM ET
QUOTE(#9):

Yeah, but the owner Mr.Wang wants to move them to Kansas and if they keep the attendance low he has more reason to tell the league why he is moving them.

He doesn't want to move to Kansas City. He wants the Town of Hempstead to approve his Lighthouse Project to develop the area around the Coliseum. He can then build a new arena and then have a team and location that is attractive to potential free agents.

The only problem is the Lighthouse Project will create hundreds of jobs and huge amounts of money and the local politicians haven't figured out how to steal some of that without getting caught, hence the delays.

April 19, 2009  12:52 PM ET

I dont care about either team, but all this Brian Burke talk..New York do NOT deal with that idiot.

April 19, 2009  01:18 PM ET

Who care about this crap!!! Why don't we all just sit back, enjoy a nice Coor's Light, and watch the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup!!!

April 19, 2009  01:47 PM ET
QUOTE(#6):

I don't understand why there is no playoff talk, only losers talk here. The Caps have lost two straight, the rookie sensation Mason has let in 8 goals to the Wings, Vancouver and Chicago are playing close games, And San Jose upset by a good Ducks team. And we get this CRAP??

First:
You are aware that there is a whole site attached to T&R called "Sports Illustrated" aren't you? The playoff stories are all on the front page of the hockey coverage. You can click over to them and you won't see a single story about Burke or the Islanders.

A site about rumors is going to mostly contain... rumors! Trade rumors, draft rumors and free agent rumors. You won't find a lot of stories about teams in the playoffs because - brace yourself for this huge revelation: They're still playing hockey.

The teams who are picking up players, discussing trades and looking at free agents are the ones who are out of the playoffs.


Second:
This is one of the deepest free agent classes ever and a lot of people are interested in where the top dozen players will end up. Tavares is big news. So is Hedman. So are a bunch of other really impressive looking young guys in this draft.

Get ready for another revelation...

The top players are going to end up on teams that didn't make the playoffs, so articles about these guys and the coming draft will largely be about teams not in the playoffs.


Third:
Stories like this attract readers. A Maple Leafs story on any site always attracts a combination of people interested in reading about the Leafs and whiners who want to complain that the Leafs get too much media coverage.

If you really want to see less stories like this don't click on them, and whatever you do don't post comments in their discussion threads.

April 19, 2009  03:01 PM ET

So when Burke called Snow said he would take the 7th pick for San Joses first #26-30, The Islander second #31 and Bostons second #60? How great is that? Wonder what Burke said? Right Back at ya, Brian.... Go Garth....

April 19, 2009  03:05 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

Tavares is a bit overrated, he wont be an Ovechkin, Crosby, Lemiuex, he isn't going to be a mega star he is more of a Spezza with less assist but more goals that is good for 35-40 goals a year and 85-100 points a year.

And whats wrong with 35-40 goals and 85-100 points? What's the knock on him? Not the best skater? Not to compare but they have said that about alot of guys, most notably one who wore 99 on the back of his sweater

April 19, 2009  03:32 PM ET
QUOTE:

Didnt Burke get fined for the Frogren signing?

The Leafs were fined for the signing which was done by Cliff Fletcher before Burke was hired.

Comment #21 has been removed
Comment #22 has been removed
April 19, 2009  04:57 PM ET
QUOTE:

Burke is going about it the wrong way. You dont announce it to everybody that you're trying to trade/fleece the Islanders out of Tavares. You keep it quiet. Burke is shooting himself in the foot going this route.

Thank you bostongm. I'm also referring to the way he handled all of the back room 8u[[$hit which eventually led to him being hired by the Leafs. Are you trying to tell me that he wasn't pulling the strings from Anaheim when the Leafs hired his college buddy Wilson to be the coach? Please! Just because the guy is blunt doesn't make him honest. If he keeps this up, no-one will deal with him. He's already alienated Kevin Lowe in Edmonton with all of his whining after the Penner deal, which was perfectly legal. Burke's tactics in the past have bordered on or have actually been illegal. This Tavares talk borders on tampering.

 
April 19, 2009  06:04 PM ET

stop the presses....the islanders are going to take the highest rated and most marketable player in the draft? NO freaking way.

I guess when it`s the slanders we actually should be surprised. Any1 at T&R know that the playoffs are here?

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