Toronto Maple Leafs better than before according to General Manager Brian Burke –NHL offseason Update
According to Toronto Maple Leafs' general manager, Brian Burke, his team is much better than last season and is ready to perform come October when the new 2011-2012 season starts, even though they missed out on a number of big free agents during the 2011
National Hockey League's (NHL) free agency which started on Friday, July 1.
Burke’s main regret was missing out on top free agent, former Dallas Stars' centre, Brad Richards, who could have helped Toronto reach new heights, but still sees his team as improved from before.
According to sources, Burke had made a long-term offer to the 31-year-old Richards, a six-year, $42 million contract to be exact.
Richards took thee opportunity of a better offer from New York Rangers which was a nine-year, $60 million deal. Burke accepts his shortcomings on not being able to hire Richards.
"We made a very substantial offer to Brad Richards", Burke said on Wednesday during the Leafs' prospect camp. "What we offered I don't think is material. We lost out on the Brad Richards sweepstakes for two reasons — one, we didn't offer as much money as
other teams and more importantly we didn't structure the contract like other teams did”.
Burke does not believe in making such long-term deals which are mostly not lived up to by the players because of their duration. He believes in making realistic and substantially shorter term contracts which the player will actually play for.
"I cannot believe — and I'm not going to name names — but I do not believe players are going to play 10 years that have signed or nine years, especially when the compensation for the final three years is $1- or $2-million", said Burke.
Although Burke did not reach an agreement with Burke, Toronto was able to sign players like Tim Connolly to a two-year, $9.5 million contract, along with Cody Franson, John-Michael Liles and Matthew Lombardi.
They might not have been considered to be at the same level that Richards was, but they are certainly players who can change around the image of a team, which at the moment, Toronto Maple Leafs are entirely focused on doing.
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