Name	Howard Berger
Height
Naionality	American
Date of Birth	12-Sep-1981
Place of Birth	America
Famous for

The Detroit Red Wings began and ended the 2008-09 National Hockey League season by losing games on home ice. The entire hockey world knows which club toppled Detroit’s playoff drive at Joe Louis Arena a week ago Friday – the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Only a select few, however, remember the Toronto Maple Leafs kicking off the regular schedule with an upset victory over the Red Wings in Hockeytown last October. It was a fleeting moment for the Leafs, as the club missed the playoffs for a record fourth consecutive season, but long-sought stability in management indicates that better days lie ahead.

So many of your questions to me this week touched on the course of action general manager Brian Burke will pursue as he re-shapes the Maple Leafs this summer. The process actually began toward the end of last season, when Burke and his former assistant, Joe Nieuwendyk, convinced college free agents Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak to sign with the Blue & White. Nieuwendyk later departed to become GM of the Dallas Stars. The process continues as we speak, with Burke and Co. attempting to land arguably the top free agent in Europe: Swedish-born goalie Jonas (The Monster) Gustavsson. And, it will likely gain lots of steam during the next couple of weeks, with the NHL draft in Montreal, followed by the onset of unrestricted free agency July 1st.

Most fascinating to observe is whether Burke, as he’s implied, can execute a crafty, two-pronged arrangement… one that’ll improve the club for next season, without damaging its long-term agenda. And, this is where the Leafs’ GM will have to juggle all of the emotional strings tugging at him in his new hockey environment. He has spoken directly about the desire to end the Leafs’ playoff famine in 2009-10, but that objective, alone, could prove disastrous.

For all but a few years under Cliff Fletcher and Pat Burns, then a few more under Pat Quinn, simply qualifying for the post-season has been the Leafs’ sole ambition since 1967. The quest to sneak into that No. 8 position in the conference standings has incalculably tarnished the franchise in recent years. It's a precarious venture with limited upside that has usually culminated with the team out of contention, and hovering in a detrimental spot just beneath the playoff bracket. Burke finds himself in that dilemma this summer – his first in control of the Leafs – and is attempting to trade up from the club’s No. 7 draft position, as Fletcher was forced to do last year in Ottawa.

It therefore follows that Burke must optimally choose between two paths: Either attempt a staggering makeover that will enable the Leafs to immediately challenge for a top-four position in the conference, or continue a slow, patient route to contention, three or four years down the line with young prospects, and forget about making a playoff push next season. The choice of anything in-between – as has so often been the case – will almost certainly prevent the Leafs from moving forward.

Going for a quick fix, though not without precedent, will be a gargantuan task. Based on the 2008-09 Eastern Conference standings, it would minimally require the Leafs (81 points) to improve by 18 points for a top-four placing… 13 to just get into the playoffs, and another five to make the arduous venture worthwhile (Pittsburgh finished fourth in the East with 99 points as the No. 2 seed, behind New Jersey, in the Atlantic Division). To capture the Northeast Division title, outright, the Leafs would have to pull of an historical ascent, as Boston was 35 points superior in ’08-09.

I was asked, in many of your e-mail submissions, whether I believe Burke will take a prudent approach to building the Maple Leafs. In other words, if confronted with a choice between going for broke, or staying the course, which will he pursue? Obviously, I don’t have that answer right now; nor does anyone else. But, to me, it’s a no-brainer. Burke is a prime hockey talent with more than 20 years of front-line experience as a manager and league executive. Though he desperately wants to guide the Maple Leafs into Stanley Cup territory – and can envision the fruits of such labor in a market hungering for success – he will neither abandon the principles, nor the guidelines, to logistically move ahead in the post-lockout NHL.

On many occasions, I have trumpeted Burke as the best man to direct the Leafs’ fortunes. Though he has a spontaneous nature that could threaten methodical advancement, he will not be overcome by visions of grandeur. It merely requires him to review the Leafs’ chronic plan in most years since last winning the Stanley Cup, and to comprehend the ruinous nature of such strategy. To dither in middle ground between building through the draft and aiming for the far reaches of the conference standings – as is custom in Toronto – can no longer prevail.

Nor will it, in my opinion.

With that as a backdrop – and during a break from family activities here in suburban Rochester – I respond to some of your questions:

Q. Brad in London, Ont. writes: “Howard, you were critical of Brian Burke for his stance on Dany Heatley, yet you say he’s the best man to run the Leafs. How can you have it both ways?”

A. What has one got to do with the other, Brad? If Burke offered an opinion on the best steakhouse in Toronto and I disagreed, would that mean I feel he’s incapable of building the Leafs? It’s apples and oranges. You can put any spin on it you wish, but I felt Burke’s admonition of Heatley, three years after trading for Chris Pronger in Anaheim, was contradictory. In no way was it related to the high regard I have for Brian as a general manager. In fact, if you’ve followed my blogs in recent years, you’ll know that the aggressive pursuit of Pronger (who walked out on Edmonton in mid-contract) – coupled with the signing of free agent Scott Niedermayer – is the move that sold me on Burke as the man for the Leafs. Acquiring first-ballot hall of fame defensemen in consecutive summers told me all I needed to know about double-B.

Q. Andrew in Whistler, B.C. writes: “Howard, I still see a glaring hole at the forward position next season with the Leafs (even if they keep Mikhail Grabovski, and if Jiri Tlusty stays up). Any chance you see the club focusing on a defensive game in front of Vesa Toskala or Jonas Gustavsson; obtaining another high draft pick in 2010, then perhaps going after a big name up front like Rick Nash in free agency or via trade?”

A. Andrew, I believe yours is both a logical and likely scenario. Though Grabovski was dynamic at times last season, and Alexei Ponikarovsky attained a career high in goals, the Leafs were devoid of a legitimate top-six forward in the absence of Mats Sundin. Burke isn’t going to overcome that shortfall in one summer. Therefore, I think he’ll pursue modest additions in free agency, and will concentrate on the back end. I can easily envision Burke going after Mattias Ohlund, the defenseman he had in Vancouver. Ohlund will be 33 in September. The durable blue-liner would provide the Leafs a calming, veteran influence – he has missed no more than five games in four of the past five NHL seasons, playing all 82 last year with the Canucks, during which he was an efficient plus-14. Defenseman Mike Komisarek of the Canadiens has also been linked to a potential Burke move. Though often erratic in his own zone, Komisarek is younger than Ohlund (he’ll be 28 in January) and is more of a physical presence. I’m not at all sold on the Leafs’ GM breaking the bank to sign the Sedin twins, though I believe they are still young enough for the club to build around in the next half-decade. Other forwards – not packaged together – will be available during that time, and Burke will garner best results by building the traditional way… from the goal out.

Q. Jeff, who hails from Peterborough, Ont. but is currently teaching in South Korea, offers this suggestion: “Howard, since the Leafs will be under the cap in the coming season, why not spend money on a few big-name players – the type that are sought after at the trade deadline each year – then deal those players next March for prospects or draft picks? What is wrong with building a team that way?”

A. It’s an interesting concept, Jeff, but it’s fraught with peril. Adding a couple of big names to the current Leafs line-up will do nothing more than keep the team in its familiar state: Not quite of caliber for the playoffs, yet strong enough to evade a high draft slot. As we’ve seen, that’s a prescription for enduring failure. It will also limit the opportunity for young players to skate regularly with the club next season. Burke would be far better to ensure the Leafs are looked after in goal – we obviously don’t know whether Toskala will bounce back from his groin and hip operations, or whether Gustavsson, if signed, is the real deal – and bolster the blue line with a veteran addition or two. Once the club has a solid defensive posture that blends with Ron Wilson’s coaching tenet, it can focus on building an attack. I’d much rather see Hanson and Bozak given every opportunity to develop as legitimate NHLers next season. Bartering top-end free agents for future help at the deadline in March could also be thwarted by an untimely injury. It’s too risky.

Q. Rob from Newmarket, Ont. writes: “Howard, just for fun, can you identify the top three players (UFAs not included) Brian Burke will seek to purge from the roster before next season?”

A. Clearly, you’re not limiting this exercise to three, Rob. If Burke is truly intent on beginning a turn-around, he’ll replace more than a half-dozen components from last year’s team. And, it could include big-name players such as Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina. With Curtis Joseph already confirmed not to be returning, I’d suggest that Jamal Mayers and Lee Stempniak could find themselves elsewhere by early October. Don’t bet your life’s savings on Ponikarovsky returning either.

Q. Peter in Toronto writes: “Howard, why do you show so much negativity toward fans of the Maple Leafs?”

A. Who, me? Actually, Peter, I don’t feel the least-bit negative toward the NHL’s most loyal supporters. But, there’s no doubt the addiction to the Maple Leafs is detrimental, because the hockey club frequently chooses to take advantage rather than reward it. That said, you have never heard me suggest Leaf fans should abandon the club in any way. Also, don’t feel, for a moment, that this unconditional reverence began in the current generation. I’ve made the point before, and it’s been largely overlooked in most e-mail correspondence, so I’ll make it again: I was the poster-boy for myopia and delusion as a fan of the club during the Harold Ballard years. Never in the history of the franchise were fans duped to such an extent. So, I feel supremely qualified to point out hopeless addiction, and its effect on the Maple Leafs. Burke makes frequent noises about matching performance to loyalty – a reward that is grossly overdue.

Q. Dino in Toronto writes: “Howard, why all the talk about not bringing back Justin Pogge? He’s only 23 and has just one full season behind him as starting goalie in the American Hockey League. I don’t get it: Goalies mature later and there is no one else in the Leafs’ system with NHL potential.”

A. That may change, Dino, if Burke is successful in wooing Gustavsson to the Leafs. Otherwise, I feel it’s almost take-it-or-leave-it with Pogge. True, goaltenders often come of age later than position players, but I sense the Leafs aren’t impressed with Pogge’s commitment and work ethic, nor are they sold on his mental toughness. Pogge is a restricted free agent and must be qualified by the hockey club. As I said, neither choice will surprise or overly intrigue me.

Q. Jakob in Hartford, Conn. writes: “Howard, among the Maple Leafs that are 28 years of age or older, who provides the best on and off-ice leadership for younger players?”

A. When healthy, Jakob, there’s no question that Mike Van Ryn fits the bill (Van Ryn turned 30 in May). Unfortunately, the past two seasons have been an injury write-off for the veteran defenseman, who had a black cloud following his every step, it seemed, in his first campaign with the Maple Leafs. Otherwise, Van Ryn has the temperament and personality to handle any situation. He quickly endeared himself to Ron Wilson, who encouraged him to hang around the dressing room during his frequent spells on the disabled list, mainly because Van Ryn’s goofy sense of humor alleviated tension among his teammates. If he can avoid Sick Bay a bit more often next season, Mike could play a leading role in the Maple Leafs’ shift toward respectability.

Q. Jason from Dryden, Ont. writes: “Howard, what is your sense of the direction Burke will take with Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina?”

A. I fully expect at least one of the veteran blue-liners to be traded this summer, Jason. It will be much easier for Burke to peddle Kaberle, but he’s the player the GM would rather keep. What I find difficult to understand is Burke’s frequent contention that if he trades Kaberle, he’ll have trouble finding a defenseman of similar quality before next season. Why is that important? Wouldn’t it be best, in any deal for Kaberle, to land a prospect that may resemble the Czech-born defenseman three or four years down the line? Kaberle’s contract is ultra cap friendly, but that isn’t likely to be a pressing issue under Burke’s plan to have sufficient cap space next season. So, I believe the GM will listen closely to offers for Kaberle, many of which could be attractive. Moving Kubina’s $5 million stipend will likely be far more of a challenge.
On this very special Sunday, I extend warm wishes to all fellow dads out there. I’m extremely fortunate to have my own father in good health and spirits at almost 76 years of age.

If you’re a long-time Leafs fan, or would merely like to learn a bit about the decent clubs of the 1970s, I invite you to tune in Monday to Hockey Central at Noon on THE FAN-590. I’ll be joined in studio by an idol and mentor of mine – hall of fame writer Frank Orr of the Toronto Star. Frank covered the junior hockey scene in the 1960s while backing up the newspaper’s prime Leafs reporter, Red Burnett. He then took over the Leafs beat in the 1970s and quickly became the standard by which all hockey writers were measured. Frank followed the Leaf teams of Darryl Sittler, Lanny McDonald and Borje Salming, while maintaining an intriguing relationship with the cantankerous owner, Ballard. He’s a terrific storyteller and I trust you’ll enjoy hearing some of his recollections on Monday.