Editor In Leaf
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Grading Every Brian Burke Trade as the Toronto Maple Leafs G.M.

By Stephen Nixon

WINNIPEG, CANADA - JANUARY 3: Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs plays the puck down the ice during second period action against the Winnipeg Jets on January 3, 2015 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Leafs 5-1. (Photo by Lance Thomson/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, CANADA - JANUARY 3: Phil Kessel #81 of the Toronto Maple Leafs plays the puck down the ice during second period action against the Winnipeg Jets on January 3, 2015 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Leafs 5-1. (Photo by Lance Thomson/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ONTARIO – NOVEMBER 18: Brian Burke  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – NOVEMBER 18: Brian Burke  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

After winning the Stanley Cup in his previous job, Brian Burke was looked upon as the team’s savior when he was hired as Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager in November, 2008.

Unfortunately for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the success that Burke saw with the Anaheim Ducks did not transition to his new stint in Toronto.

When Burke was hired as the President and G.M. of the Leafs, it was a big deal. Burke had experience and a winning pedigree.

During his time with the Vancouver Canucks, Burke was famous for drafting Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and had a winning record during his six years with the team.

Following his time in Vancouver, Burke joined the Anaheim Ducks where his team would win the Stanley Cup in 2006-07. Burke’s gritty and tough style was apparent during that championship season, as the team fought their way through the Western Conference before beating Ottawa in the final.

Burke loved ‘old-school’ hockey and wanted his teams tough. Although the NHL was slowly changing away from that, Burke never changed his way.

Hired as the Leafs G.M. in November 2008, Burke’s first order of business was toughness, and it didn’t take long before his team saw players like Colton Orr and Jay Rosehill fill the roster.

With 41 total trades, including nine (!) with Anaheim, I’ll grade every trade but only provide insight on the bigger deals going in chronological order. (info from nhltradetracker.com).

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