| Tonight at 7:00, the Toronto Maple Leafs will visit the | | | | most mistakes in their careers at the trade deadline |
| Florida Panthers in a battle against former Maple Leaf, | | | | because they feel they are missing that one final piece |
| Bryan McCabe, and his Panthers. Also, Brian Burke | | | | to win the Stanley Cup; however, Burke said he |
| addressed the media regarding his outlook towards | | | | advises every GM to put themselves in the position to |
| the remainder of the season, as well as what has | | | | make those mistakes because the Stanley Cup is all |
| been highly regarded as a "double deadline" year with | | | | that matters when it is all said and done. |
| the Olympic break and the trade deadline. | | | | "If you think you're close and you're missing one piece, |
| Brian Burke kicked off his brief discussion with the | | | | you go get it, because you don't know when you're |
| media regarding the team's position heading down the | | | | going to be back in the dance." |
| stretch with the exact statement everyone expects | | | | While it does not appear the Leafs are anywhere |
| Burke to make. | | | | close to their playoff march, tonight still plays a |
| "If I could make a trade today that would propel us into | | | | significant factor on the season, as does every other |
| the playoffs, I'm going to make it. I know with each loss | | | | game. This is the third of four meetings between the |
| it seems more remote, but that's still our goal." | | | | Leafs and Panthers this season, and Toronto has so |
| Brian Burke feels that there truly is a double deadline | | | | far taken the W in each affair. |
| this season, and that many teams will be wanting to | | | | The Panthers have struggled as of late, but Tomas |
| make trades prior to the Olympic break in order to | | | | Vokoun certainly has not. He has let in 2 goals or elss |
| have those players with the club immediately following | | | | in 8 of his last 10 starts, but the Panthers have been |
| the world event. Many GMs believe that certain | | | | unable to score goals recently. Tonight is also the final |
| players will elevate their game coming out of the | | | | game for Toronto's 5 game road swing. In that time, |
| Olympics, and that is a type of leadership many | | | | they have a record of 1-2-1. Florida is 1-1-1 in their last 3 |
| franchises are currently craving. | | | | games despite scoring just 2 goals in that span. |
| "You'll see activity before the Olympics, and then the | | | | Phil Kessel has 1 goal and 7 assists in a 7 game point |
| normal frantic activity for the 3 days after the | | | | streak. Matt Stajan has 4 goals and 5 assists in his last |
| Olympics." | | | | 10 games. Alexei Ponikarovsky has 3 goals and 1 |
| Burke acknowledged many of the rumors that are | | | | assist in his last 3 games, while Niklas Hagman seems |
| circulating around his team, but adds that the process | | | | to be back to his usual self with 2 goals and 2 assists |
| behind every trade is much more in depth than first | | | | in his last 3 appearances. |
| thought. | | | | Injuries: |
| "The trade is one phone call, but the work that's put | | | | Komisarek, Van Ryn and Grabovski are all on injured |
| into it usually takes weeks or months. After this | | | | reserve for the Leafs, while Horton left Thursday's |
| meeting, I think we're ready to go." | | | | game with a fractured tibia, and Nick Tarnasky, David |
| It seems Burke does have a few trades in mind, | | | | Booth and Kenndal McArdle are all on injured reserve |
| currently. He also added that many teams make the | | | | for the Panthers. |