Brian Burke's Toronto Maple Leafs 2009 Offseason Plan

As the best fan's in the NHL, we have to wonder what lies in the future of our Maple Leafs. Acquiring Brian Burke was the best decision we could of made to build a legitamte cup contender for the future.

This article will examine predictions for our future, and hopefully what Brian Burke will do this off-season.

The Draft

The leafs have played well as of late, however, looking ahead in their schedule, they encounter a stretch of 8-10 games in a row against teams competing for a play off spot. Teams like Boston, Philly, Buffalo, and others are in our forecast.

This will ensure the leafs plummet in the standings and inch closer to a bottom 5 lottery pick. With the injury bug hurting the leafs, the recent amount of marlie's call-ups, and the tough schedule ahead, the leafs will almost certainly plummet.

We realistically won't make it to the bottom three, so what will Burke do to get his desired choice? Well first off, we have no idea what Burke wants. Does Tavares or Hedman interest him? We need a star scorer but a Lidstrom-type defenceman wont hurt either.

How about Matt Duchene, Evander Kane, or Brayden Schenn? All these players are franchise players, and finishing anywhere in the bottom five is beneficial for the team.

If Burke does have his eye on Hedman or Tavares, expect him to pull off a draft-day miracle like he did to acquire the Sedin twins. Burke didn't trade as many players as expected at deadline day, I think he was saving them for draft day. If Burke requires a Tavares or Hedman, or both...he will get them. 

We have three picks in the first two rounds and heaps of expendable players. If I was the Islanders (lets say they get the first overall pick) and I was offered the fifth overall pick plus a player like Pavel Kubina for my pick, it would be a no brainer.

Expect Burke to be active on draft day, guaranteed...free-agency will be exciting as well.

Free Agent Period

The Sedin's were not resigned by Vancouver before the deadline, therefore they will hit the free agent market unless the two parties agree to a deal.

Expect Burke to make a run for these two if they hit the open market, I am certain they will play for the leafs and take a pay-cut if Burke offered. It was Burke who got them into the NHL anyway, they owe it to him.

Now look ahead to next years free-agency, 2010. Rick Nash will almost certainly be a Maple Leaf. He is a local boy who wants to experience a real NHL market. Imagine him with the Sedins? I can't.

My eyes will be blinded by the constant flashes of red-light behind the opponents goal after they score so many goals. Rick Nash can easily hit the 50 goal mark playing with the Sedin's.

Now if the leafs go for a forward in the upcoming draft, that realistically gives the leafs four stud forwards.

Looking into our talent pool, we have several up and coming players (Jimmy Hayes, 6'5 american-monster playing NCAA drafted in the second round last year, and Viktor Stalberg, 6'3 swedish-beast playing NCAA and is a candidate for the Hobey Baker award).

Viktor Stalberg- http://www.uvm.edu/~sportspr/mens_hockey/players/profile.php?sport=mens_hockey&player_id=489

Jimmy Hayes- http://bceagles.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/hayes_jimmy00.html

Hayes is being touted as a comparison to Philadelphia's prospect James Van Riemsdyk

While Stalberg is a quick and powerful swede.

These six players mentioned (pending the leafs pick a forward in the coming draft) are a solid core to base a contending team around.

Current Leaf Players

Jason Blake: Buy his contract out this off-season, he's having a good year but he does not fit the requirements for a re-building team, hes 35!

Ponikarovsky: Not sure when his contract is done, but trading him in the off season or let him hit free agency is the best bet with this player. He has had his chance with this team and is simply not in the re-building plans.

Ian White, Luke Schenn, Kaberle, and Stralman are a good core of current leafs to base the defence around. Add another studd defenceman to that mix, such as Hedman or a off-season acquisition and the defence is solid.

A healthy Toskala and Pogge as backup will determine if these two goalies make the cut after next season. If Toskala and Pogge can't live up to the challenge, then another goalie will certainly be acquired by Burke

This is the end of my rant, it is kind of organized—and I've been submitting all my mid-term essays for university the last few days so my ideas are everywhere. It is my first article here so be generous.

It's merely wishful thinking for the coming year or so with the Leafs. I think these decisions would build a solid cup contender, all comments are welcome!