Defending The GM

I won't lie, I'm a fan of Brian Burke. I'm a fan of the job he's done since he came to Toronto and, I still believe he's the right man for the job.

When Burke arrived in Toronto in the fall of 2008, he didn't have a whole lot to work with. He had very little in the way of prospect depth (Luke Schenn, and a bunch of maybes), and the pieces he had on the roster weren't likely to bring him much in the way of pieces to build with.

Now I won't go piece by piece on what he's managed to do over the time he's been with the Leafs. Or, the many mistakes he's also made. The mistakes seem glaring right now but, the truth is, all GM's make them. And not all GM's are capable of turning a "mistake" into an asset (see Lebda for Franson, Lombardi or, Beauchemin for Lupul and Gardiner).

Burkes Biggest Mistake.

Perhaps Burkes biggest mistake would be his loyalty to his friend, Ron Wilson. Wilson may have been fired last season, if not for the late run the Leafs went on. This run came mostly on the back of rookie goalie James Reimer. Hindsight, I'm sure Burke would look back at that, and wish he had not put so much stock in a hot rookie almost saving his teams/coaches season/job.

Now, on the verge of another lost season under Brian Burke, fans are starting to point the finger his way. Many are angry, feeling expectations were much too high, given the bravado in which Burke expresses what he wants for the future of the team. Fans shouldn't confuse his boisterous nature with promises broken this season. If you've listened to his message the past 3 plus years, it's been pretty consistent.

Burke Wants a Parade.

Brian Burke wants to build a winner in Toronto. But, he doesn't want to build what would be considered a "one and done" group. Meaning, he wants to build an organization that is competitive year in, year out. You can look at this as the Detroit model, if you like. Where they draft a specific type of player, and learn to play a specific type of hockey. Players that fit into the Leafs mould, and work their way up through the system. Now not every player is going to be 6'5, 220lb destroyer of worlds. There will be skill players, bangers and crashers, pick and shovel types. But everyone will fill a role. I believe if you look at his draft record over the time he's been here, it covers a lot of those bases. But 3 years isn't a lot of time to show the results of what he has done via the draft.

His Mulligan

Every GM gets at least one. The right to make at least one coaching change, to right the ship. Burke just recently made his, hiring the coach he won a cup with in Anaheim, Randy Carlyle. The people ready for his head, have to realize Burke didn't hire Ron Wilson. Ron Wilson doesn't coach a Brian Burke style game, which is why I believe it didn't work out for the two of them with the Leafs.

Carlyle is a Brian Burke coach. He will teach the young (and yes, they are very young) D corp how to play the game within his system. He will make players accountable at every level and, he won't bury guys like Wilson did, through the media.

If you look around the NHL, there are many GM's who have survived multiple coaching changes. Andy Murray in Ottawa. Doug Wilson in San Jose. Dean Lombardi has had a few guys come and go in his time. And how many coaches has Jim Rutherford (Hurricanes), Glen Sather (Rangers) and, George McPhee (Capitals) gone through in the ten plus years each of them have been with their teams?

Burke deserves at least the chance to make this work with a coach he didn't inherit. With a coach that better suits the plan he has for the Leafs.