My First Thoughts on Brett Lebda

Sigh! Has anyone told Burke that it's okay to offer players under $1,000,000? It's especially true if they're 5'9 defensemen who have never played in a top four pairing in their career. That's what our fearless leader has done today, as many of us prepare to embrace the mediocrity that his two NHL-level free agent signings provide.
This is contract number 48 out 50, so at best we can expect two new faces to fill three holes up front (haha, fill holes). Of course there is the Kaberle trade that will provide us with an offensive weapon, which Burke has gone out of his way to ensure must happen, and must be for a player that will get the fan base back behind his moves. I am still largely in favour of the direction he's going in, but I can't see why Armstrong and Lebda would be prioritized over a serious run at Kovalchuk. I can't see why there is more competition on the Marlies roster than on the Leafs. And I can't see why you wouldn't low ball guys like Lebda and Armstrong instead of throwing top dollar contracts their way.
Lebda fits the age range Burke wants with this team, he's a puck mover so after Kaberle leaves it won't just be Gunnarsson relied on for passing the puck. He's bound for the second power play unit, and as a sixth defensemen he's an upgrade over Finger and Exelby, and amazingly he's also cheaper. I guess what I'm saying is that although I don't understand this move, I still trust that Burke is better at building a hockey team than me.


Since I was initially upset by this move, Here is Lebda getting sucker punched
by Daymond Langkow

If you feel like reading a more optimistic view on Brett Lebda, please check out Raskofalltrades post on LeafsHQ. It also features a great video of Colton Orr murdering Brett Lebda.