Will Burke work?

Nice to see the NHL awards moving up the ladder of importance on the NA pro sports scene, moving to Vegas. Now if only someone in the entertainment capital of the world other than a hockey player or a puck bunny gave a shit? I guess you could've said the same thing when the show was in Toronto.

Speaking of hockey's mecca (minus its biggest hardware handout), now is the time for Brian Burke to shine. So much hype, so much said and promised, BB had better get busy doing the right things to get his stagnant club back into the sphere of relevance. Yes, I believe he's already started the process, but he knows as much as we do that it's all about the "big kaboom" kind of move, signing and or trade, especially in the big sschmoke. This is a guy touted to be able to sell a "Ketchup Popsicle" to a woman in white gloves, the least he can do is sell a wide-eyed Swedish goalie on the merits and potential of playing in Toronto. I'm waiting and expecting to hear good news on this one. Joe Nieuwendyk and the Stars are also in the mix for Mr. Gustavsson's services so it won't be a slam dunk, but surely BB's got an ace up his sleeve to land this guy. Right?

One Swede is better than two for the Leafs right now. I'll say it again: they should stay away from the Sedin twins. We can debate whether these guys are the right fit on the ice, but the ridiculous contracts they're reportedly after are definately a tough sell around here. The money, 5'ish plus, appears manageable, but over 12 years? Each? It's laughable. Hey, you can't blame a player in his prime for trying to get as much as he can for as long as he can. You can however fault a general manager for jumping in and signing off on such severe terms. And yet it's something we'll most likely be witness to later this summer when at least one GM gets suckered into okaying a massive, possibly disastrous contract by a crafty agent and the false promise of his overachieving client. The process of handing out of huge deals over years and years has persisted and will continue even with what's supposed to be a diminishing salary cap on the horizon. It's just so hard to resist, it's just the way many NHL GM's do (bad) business. Here's hoping BB isn't one of them. We take the Leafs head honcho for a lot of things (big mouth, hypocrite), but a sucker isn't one of them.

Something new

Congrats to Joe Nieuwendyk. We all knew he was going to be an NHL General Manager some day, but this soon? According to the Dallas Stars, who taught the hockey world how not to manage last season, the answer is an emphatic YES. After a bout of idiocy and loss in stature in Big D, the Stars appear to have righted the ship. Appearances can be depective, but not in this case. Joe's the smart choice. His ties to the organization made him an obvious candidate. His abilities with people and young players put him over the edge.

Is he the saviour?

The franchise Nieuwendyk led to its first and only Stanley Cup title is in need of a boost, both in the standings and at the box office. The team didn't make the playoffs this Spring, isn't making money, and the ownership situation is a mess. My guess is there's a lot more riding on Joe's presence in Dallas than just his job as GM. I mean, as far as hockey executives go he's only a rookie, so its not like he's guaranteed to produce a winner. I believe Joe's return is also meant to get the Stars back on the sporting map in Texas. The optics of this move are good in the Metroplex because Joe's known, respected, even revered. The results could be great because Joe's been successful at just about every stop he's made, even Toronto. And while the Leafs will no longer have Joe's poise and potential in the organization, the fruits of his labour could mean poise and potential in Toronto for years to come. He was, after all, key to getting college stars Christian Hanson's and Tyler Bozak to choose the Leafs. Both players, especially Bozak are expected to be solid contributors to an organization in need of them. Yes, he's Dallas bound, but not without leaving a positive influence behind, and that's just so Joe Nieuwendyk.

Thanks, Joe. And good luck.