The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

Forget about Dion Phaneuf for a second. Everyone is talking about that acquisition but what's more impressive to me is how Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke pulled off his 2nd trade of the day Sunday: Unloading forward Jason Blake (and goalie Vesa Toskala) to Anaheim for one of the conspirators that shattered my dreams in 2007, goaltender J.S. Giguere.

Jason Blake was a perennial bust when first signed by the Maple Leafs in 2007 for five years, totaling $20 million dollars in salary, based on getting 40 goals the season previous for the first time in his career. It took him two full seasons in Toronto to equal that mark and he's on pace for less than 20 this year.

Toronto's plans to rebuild their team to a contender, some would say, would take a couple of steps back so long as Blake and his contract were still on his roster. No team in their right mind would take Jason Blake on, especially when cap space is at a premium for contending teams.

But, Burke found a way. As a former GM in Anaheim, for all I know he may have incriminating photos of the entire front office and threatened to use them to pull off this deal, as I see absolutely no upside to this trade for the Ducks, except for the fact that Giguere pulls in a hefty $7 million next year on his contract. Anaheim re-signed their other netminder to a four year deal, so this might have been they only way to shed the "deadweight" off of next year's salary cap. You have to be savvy to find these deals, and full credit for Burke in doing so.

The Leafs still have some ways to go before being in a playoff position. Outside of Phil Kessel, no one in the lineup can really put the puck in the net. Rookie Nazim Kadri may or may not work out next year. And they gave up two first rounders and a second to get Kessel, further stumping the rebuilding process. They traded away Hagman and Stajan, the short-term effect on the team I figure will be evident for the remaining 30 or so games left in the schedule when they continue to flounder.

But Leaf nation has something now they haven't had in awhile: Hope. Excitement. Even if these trades don't work out, at least they had something to talk about to hold the fans over until next season. And full marks to Brian Burke for doing so.