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Leaf Rumours

Burke doesn't have to answer these questions about Kaberle though. Why does he keep making statements that bring it back into the media if it's essential the same place it's been for a month? What purpose does that serve?
 
Keeps people talking and thinking Leafs. He is in the entertainment business after all. I don't think he's said anything worth getting knickers in a knot.
 
number17 said:
I think some of us are over-reacting on this.

Everybody knows Burke is listening to offers, and Burke's repeatedly admit he likes Kaberle and he would like to re-sign him to an extension, but as a GM he wouldn't be doing his job if he doesn't listen to offers. That much is public knowledge.

So does Kaberle feel that 'disrespected' because Burke said he has 6 offers on the table but he still likes Kabby more than all 6 of them, as compared to if he gives you a partyline like "We're considering all options." ??? I don't think he does, and I don't think he should.

And Burke's take on the media, which I agree with, is the media is not your enemy. The enemy is your friend. He uses the media to 1. reach his fans, 2. sell the game, and he fully understands hockey is a game afterall, and teams need to sell it, and 3. every now and then, the media can be used as a tool to the rest of the league.

I remember Burke telling this story in an interview. When he was the GM of the Whalers, there was this rumor that Bobby Holik was on the block, some even said he's already been traded. Holik heard that, and called Burke. Burke told him "No, you have not been traded, and I am not shopping you around neither. You're staying here." Next thing Burke actually called up to the radio station to kill the trade rumor. During the interview with the station, he mentioned while he has no intention of trading Holik, nobody is untouchable, and if the right offer comes along he would drive him to the airport personally.

As soon as he got off the phone with the radio station, his phone rang, and it was Lou at the other line. Lou asked him "I heard you on the radio. You said Holik could be traded at the right price. So, is Holik available?"

So that's how the 2 sides started talking trade, and within a couple of days Holik was traded to NJ. Holik called Burke a liar because Burke told him he's not trading him, but the whole deal developed because Burke went on the radio station.

Any player will tell you Burke is a man who treats his players with respect, but at the same time Burke understands hockey is a game, and he understands in the entertainment business you need to sell yourself. Don't tell me as a fan you wouldn't rather hear Burke tell you "I have 6 offers on the table but I haven't seen anything good enough yet." than the JFJ partyline. If you are a player making $4.5M a year who feels 'disrespected' because Burke says that, well, too bad.
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17, that was 20 years ago when there was no email, no blackberrys, when team payrolls were under $10mn and when he was a gm in hartford, not toronto.

it just isn't the same.

and i'm just saying.. this is getting silly. i'm not overreacting in the least. frankly, i don't really care how the kaberle situation plays out. but i'm just saying, he isn't helping his chances at keeping kaberle if he can't work out a trade.

and the fact of the matter is that, increasingly, it looks like he won't be able to work anything out.
 
In general I don't really like Burke's public negotiations. He's done it a few times, including Antropov and Tavares.

Maybe the damage is questionable, but it doesn't help.
 
Probably worth mentioning that Clark McArthur received a 2.4 million arbitration award today which the Thrashers have walked away from. Should make the Blake Wheeler award interesting.
 
leafman101 said:
In general I don't really like Burke's public negotiations. He's done it a few times, including Antropov and Tavares.

Maybe the damage is questionable, but it doesn't help.
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Yeah, that's another thing.

He's been doing this with Kaberle since last summer and it hasn't netted him anything. He just likes reading his own quotes in the papers, IMO.
 
hockeylover said:
Probably worth mentioning that Clark McArthur received a 2.4 million arbitration award today which the Thrashers have walked away from. Should make the Blake Wheeler award interesting.
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When's Wheeler's hearing?......I read yesterday that him and the Bruins were planning on getting together this weekend to sort out a contract, so gotta think they're trying to get it done before it gets that far.


(especially after the Bruins hear what McArthur got)
 
McArthur
71GP 17G 14A 31PTS -4
81GP 16G 19A 35PTS -16 $2.4 million

Kulemin
73 GP 15G 16A 31PTS -8
78GP 16G 20A 36PTS 0 $2.35 million

Wheeler
81GP 21G 24A 45PTS +36
82 GP 18G 20A 38PTS -4

Any guesses to his arbitration number? Note that the arbitrator is allowed to take past seasons into account too. Wheeler's agent should argue he should get more than MacArthur and Kulemin because of his two-year split.
 
Well, technically speaking, Boston has all summer to fix their cap problem. They can be over the cap until the season officially starts.

Another interesting name is Stralman. CBJ's made it perfectly clear they are ready to walk away from the contract if the arbitrator reward Stralman with 'more than they can afford', which is believed to be $3M. Columbus knows Stralman will most probably get that number. I don't think Burke will go for it, but Stralman will be a pretty good guy to have in case Kaberle is traded.

Other interesting names who're waiting for salary arbitration include ...

Ian White
Niemi
Brunnstrom
Brule
Fehr
Fleischmann
 
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The evidence that can be used in arbitration cases:
# The player's "overall performance" including statistics in all previous seasons.
# Injuries, illnesses and the number of games played.
# The player's length of service with the team and in the NHL.
# The player's "overall contribution" to the team's success or failure.
# The player's "special qualities of leadership or public appeal."
# The performance and salary of any player alleged to be "comparable" to the player in the dispute.

Evidence that is not admissible:
# The salary and performance of a "comparable" player who signed a contract as an unrestricted free agent.
# Testimonials, video and media reports.
# The financial state of the team.
# The salary cap and the state of the team's payroll.
 
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