The excitement is back in the Toronto Maple Leaf camp once again with the official announcement that Brian Burke has signed on to be the team's President and General Manager.
As I sat back and watched the official press conference yesterday afternoon, I couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu. Back in 1991, I remember the same sense of excitement in Leafs Nation when the fledgling Buds brought in Cliff Fletcher to break the curse that had been plaguing the Maple Leafs for 24 years!
So is Brian Burke walking into the same situation Cliff Fletcher inherited 17 years ago? Let's take a look at what Fletcher did in his first go around as Leaf GM.
When Cliff entered the picture he inherited a Leaf team that had gone 23-46-11 which was good for dead last in the Norris Division. The coach was Tom Watt who had taken over for Doug Carpenter, who was later fired during that season. Fletcher decided to keep Watt on as coach for the 1991-92 season.
September 19, 1991 - Fletcher trades Vincent Damphousse, Scott Thornton, Luke Richardson, Peter Ing, plus future considerations and cash to Edmonton for Glenn Anderson, Grant Fuhr, and Craig Berube.
Analysis: On the surface, it looks like Fletcher gave away young players for has beens. In reality, he was trying to change the losing atmosphere in the Leaf dressing room and brought in experienced players who had won cups. Yes, Fuhr's best days were behind him but he would have eventually been sent packing for a HUGE part of the Leafs eventual "cup runs."
October 7, 1991 - Fletcher acquired Ken Linesman from Edmonton for cash.
December 18, 1991 - Fletcher traded Tom Fergus to Vancouver for cash.
December 26, 1991 - Fletcher traded Mike Stevens to NY Rangers for Guy LaRose.
Analysis: All three of the above trades had no bearing on the future.
January 2, 1992 - Fletcher traded Gary Leeman, Craig Berube, Michel Petit, Alexander Godynyuk, and Jeff Reese to Calgary for Doug Gilmour, Jamie Macoun, Ric Nattress, Kent Manderville, and Rick Wamsley.
Analysis: Quite possibly the most lopsided trade in Leaf history. Leeman was a one time 50-goal shooter who would never come close to this again. Petit was a veteran defenceman who's best years were behind him. Reese was a career backup goalie, and Godynyuk was a promising defenceman who never panned out.
Berube was a throw-in, and Gilmour had come off seasons with 105, 86, 85, 91, and 81 points with the Blues and Flames. Macoun would log major minutes on the Leaf blueline over the next few seasons. Leeman would never score more than nine goals in a season after that, while Gilmour would break the 100-point plateau the following two campaigns.
March 10, 1992 - Fletcher traded Dave Hannan to Buffalo for future considerations. Also traded Claude Loiselle and Daniel Marois to the NY Islanders for Dave McLwain and Ken Baumgartner. Traded Lucien Deblois to Winnipeg for Mark Osborne.
Analysis:
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