Burke should have a Nash or Bouwmeester at the top of his to-do list.
What Brian Burke wants, Brian Burke gets.
And his first order of business must be finding a way for his Maple Leafs to acquire either Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets or Jay Bouwmeester from the Florida Panthers. Both are franchise players and both will be available in the very near future.
Acquiring Bouwmeester might be easiest since he is slated to be an unrestricted free agent next July and has demonstrated no intention of spending the remainder of his career with a lousy team in a non-traditional hockey market, but getting Nash, who has another year remaining on his contract with the Blue Jackets before he can become a UFA would be a bigger coup.
When Burke was a rookie GM in Hartford, Burke made two trades on the draft floor to acquire the second overall pick where upon he chose Chris Pronger. Ottawa picked first and selected Alexandre Daigle ... and lived to regret it.
When the Sedins, Daniel and Henrik, were regarded as the best players not playing in the NHL, Burke stick-handled his way past opposing teams like they were pylons to grab the second and third overall picks in 1999 to chose the twins for his Vancouver Canucks. What exactly the Atlanta Thrashers were thinking when they chose Patrik Stefan first overall remains one of the great mysteries of all-time, but that's another story.
With Anaheim, Burke pried Scott Niedermayer away from Lou Lamoriello's New Jersey boys and when Pronger went on the market, the Ducks GM snapped him up faster than you could say, "Tell Stanley we'll meet him in California."
The Leafs are a team desperately in need of a marquee player and Burke made it perfectly clear the aging and indifferent Mats Sundin won't be back. Smart move.
Getting Nash will be difficult. He is the captain and best player on a team that has never made the playoffs, and while they are clearly an improved team and stand an outside chance of making it to the dance this year, you have to wonder if the young star -- a Brampton, Ont., native -- wants to spend his entire career playing in anonymity or would he rather return home where his status would shoot through the roof?
Columbus isn't likely to deal him this season, no matter what Burke offers. But let's say a year from now Nash, who is just 24-years old, makes it known he has no intension of re-signing with Columbus no matter what they offer him. And let's say the Leafs not so subtly let it be known they are in the market for an established young star to be the face of their franchise. Sound like a familiar scenario?
Bouwmeester, 25, mighty be an easier target. The Panthers are destined to finish near the bottom of the standings and will, in all likelihood, have among the best odds of obtaining the first or second overall pick in the 2009 entry draft which will give them a shot at either John Tavares or Victor Hedman. If they can acquire a few established veterans and perhaps another first round pick this year for Bouwmeester, they'd be crazy not to make the deal. After all, they get nothing if Bouwmeester walks away from them July 1.
Bouwmeester is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound highly-skilled ice hog who was leading all NHLers with an average of 28 minutes and 28 seconds of playing time per game through Saturday night's action. Although his numbers are down this season, with just two goals and 12 points in 22 games, he is coming off seasons of 15 and 12 goals. Though he is not nearly as rough and tumble as Pronger -- and we all know toughness is paramount on Brian Burke hockey teams -- he is a defenceman the Leafs could build a championship-calibre team around.
When introduced to the media Saturday, Burke let it be known he will impose his own personal trade embargo on Dec. 9 -- 10 days before the league does likewise, because he thinks it is important for families to be settled to spend peaceful time together during the Christmas season. So that gives him a little over a week to make a significant transaction to put his mark on his new team.
It would be a miracle if he were able to acquire Nash or Bouwmeester, a Christmas miracle if you will. It is doubtful he will set his sights that high on his initial transaction. It is more likely he'll settle for a thug to do his team's fighting.
Regardless, Burke will make a blockbuster deal sooner or later. And if he can bring a stud like Nash or Bouwmeester to town, then he is worth every declining dollar the Maple Leafs are playing him.
