However, one could also apply the same tack in advocating your viewpoint. If it’s just about basing NHL franchises in the largest population centers, then why not move the entire league to China or India ? If they can have the nerve of trying to set up shop in places like the Arizonan desert or the heart of Dixie, then trust me, there’s no way you could fail in a place like Shanghai or Bangalore …

You remember a hot 10 game start?
You remember Lupul and Kessel getting a ton of points while the team was playing .500 hockey?

Decent teams struggle to make the playoffs, which the Leafs are doing.
Good teams find a way to get into the playoffs.
Brian Burke has failed to build a good team
He has drafted as poorly as his processors

Then you say “I don’t think they’re necessarily a serious playoff contender”.
Really? You don’t? Well that is shocking or the biggest understatement of the day.

You sound like a poor poor Leaf fan

Guess what reality Burke has painted for you
In 2 more seasons Kessel and Phaneuf are unrestricted free agents.
aka in 2 more seasons if the Leafs are not contenders you can kiss both of them goodbye.
How does having Dougie Hamilton and Tyler Seguin under team control for the next 6-7 seasons sound now?

And I just LOL’ed literally with your final statement bout rebuilding.
The Leafs have not been a contender since Gilmour, Wendell and Felix because they have refused to rebuild.

If the Leafs rebuilt they would have a future that had something to look forward too, now you are 2 seasons away from rebuilding being shoved down your throat.

You don’t get Yzerman, Sakic, Forsberg, Malkin, Ovy, Crosby, Stamkos, Tavares types by struggling to stay a .500 team for 20 years.

Yup you’re a Leafs fan

I don’t think they’re necessarily a serious playoff contender with all the pieces that have and are lacking (real top line center anybody??), but I still think that some of the moves Burke made have had a positive impact in the short term. Phaneuf doesn’t look like a fat lazy turd anymore like he did in Calgary. Lupul was an all-star this year– didn’t really see that happening with the Ducks. And then Kessel, for all his defensive woes, is lighting the lamp more than anybody in the league (Save for those Stamkos and Malkin guys, heard they’re pretty good.).

I understand the hate due to the teams struggles, but would you rather watch another Oilers/Islanders/Jets rebuild, especially in Canada? It takes time, and it doesn’t really seem like Toronto fans would be happy with waiting for anything to happen.

A team that needed rebuilding sacrificed it’s future for what? Phil Kessel and a shot at .500?

Utter failures in the Draft and Free agency on the whole while Burke has been there.

Burke refused to be bad for a few seasons and rebuild the Leafs, he tried to spin his way to a Cup on a .500 record, luck and arrogance.

As a Wings fan this pleases me to no end, but if you Leaf fans who can’t see that Burke’s ego is bigger than the Blue Maple Leaf at center ice you’re blind.

ps: what the hell’s happened to Carlyle ? … I remember this guy as a “stud” on the Jets blue line ? .. but now he looks like some old Santa Claus or something ?