Leafs Brian Burke is Dealing with the Biggest Loss Of His Life!

     On a night when the Toronto Maple Leafs had one of their best wins of the season, they were actually dealing with their biggest loss.  As we all know by now, Brendan Burke, the 21 year old son of Brian Burke was killed in a traffic accident on Friday.  Reports say the accident was caused by snowy road conditions in Indiana.  A passenger, 18 year Mark Reedy, also lost his life in the tragedy.
     As a husband and father of two wonderful children I can't describe the torment the Burke family is trying to endure.  I can say, as a parent, losing a child is my greatest fear.  Nothing could hurt more than the news the Burke family received on Friday.  As such, I would like to add my thoughts and prayers, to the growing list of people, not just fans, offering their condolences.
     As trivial a hockey game is, at a time like this, I should say I was proud of my Toronto Maple Leafs last night.  The games still must be played and somehow Leafs players and management must find a way to go about their lives and jobs with some perspective.  Last night the players did just that.   In a 5-0 win against the other Ontario team, Leaf players paid tribute to their boss by playing with their hearts.  Phil Kessel, Luke Schenn, and J.S. Giguere are all players Brian Burke has shown rock solid support for in more ways than one.  Even Giguere, a Leaf for only three games, has reason to be grateful for Burke's loyalty and support.  Fittingly it was these three players who lead the charge in showing their support for the Burke.  Kessel and Schenn both had two goals and Giguere responded with his second shut-out in as many games.  Giguere probably put it best after the game when he said,

"I think our goal here is to make sure that Burkie and his family don't have to worry about us."

     Hopefully for all concerned, the Leafs can continue like this.  With the state of the media hounded franchise, and the upcoming Olympics, Burke and his family have a huge burden to deal with over the coming weeks.  Time is the only cure for what ails the Burke family presently.  Let's hope they're be left to deal with their grief without the interruption of non-important matters.


 

Kessel Needs to be Better!

     With just one goal in his last twelve games Phil Kessel is causing Leafs fans to wonder if he's the player Brian Burke thought he was getting when he traded for him in September.  Obviously Kessel is a highly gifted player and already the most talented player on this team.  The question is, does he have ALL the tools needed to help guide the Leafs to the promised land. 
     Phil Kessel's recent mediocre play is not the reason for the Leafs latest lack of success, but it is a contributor.  December was a very important month for the Toronto Maple Leafs.  It was an opportunity to reach a number of key milestones and position the team for a genuine run for the post season.  With teams like the Flyers, Canadiens, Islanders and Thrashers plummeting in the standings, last month was a golden opportunity to move up and gain some ground on the rest of the Eastern Conference bottom dwellers.  Unfortunately the Leafs and Kessel failed to take advantage.
     The Leafs came out of the blocks like gangbusters in December.  They began the month going 6 - 3  with 5 of those wins coming against Eastern Conference rivals.  Phil Kessel was on a 3 game goal streak with 5 goals and 5 assists in those 9 games.  With Kessel scoring at more than a point a game they were making a charge and moving back towards respectability.  They even looked like they may finish the month at 500%.

     Since that charge, the Leafs and Kessel have been far from respectable.  They went 2 - 5 in the last seven games of 2009 and began the new year with only 1 win in their first 5.  During this period Kessel has managed just 1 goal and 1 assist.  His point production is worst among all noteworthy Leaf forwards and is even taking a backseat to 3 defenseman.  Even Luke Schenn has been more prolific during this span.
     Nobody is expecting Phil Kessel to carry this team single-handedly.  He also gets a pass for having to play with such a talent starved group of forwards.  Combine this last point with fact that opponents have figured out that if you shut-down Kessel, you shut-down the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Having said this, stars in the NHL are supposed to be able to overcome such things and find ways to succeed.  Not only has he failed at this he's become all but invisible.  If Toronto is going to salvage this season at all, this just cannot happen.
     It's still much too early to judge whether Brain Burke gave up too much for Kessel.  Carolina is trying their best (or worst) to land the number one pick in next years draft so leafs fans may not have to endure the agony of watching Boston use our selection to take Taylor Hall.  With every loss however, it does seem certain Burke did trade a lottery pick.  Too make matters worse, none of the players Burke aquired last season with the exception of junior prospect Nazeem Kadri are making much impact at any level.
     All this boils down to one important fact.  The team we have this year is probably going to look very much like the team we have next year.  Granted Burke will have some money to play with in the off-season and many of our current players may not be back, but with teams holding on to their young core players more than ever, good, young, free agents may be hard to land.
     Kessel is not big, he's not truculent, and he's not a fighter.  He's a fast, flashy forward, who can beat defenseman and goalies from almost anywhere.  He's been this for most of the season, hopefully he will wake up and bee that player again.  If not, this already disastrous season will only bet worse.