Brian Burke Gives his Take on Who he'd Trade in the Core Four

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Julien Trekker
May 30, 2023 (9:25)

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Even after stepping away from his official position within the NHL, the influence of Brian Burke continues to echo throughout the hockey community.

Recently, Burke set his analytical sights on the Maple Leafs. In a surprising revelation, he disclosed his choice of player he'd consider trading from the team's lauded Core 4.

Burke's Unfiltered View on the Maple Leafs' Core 4

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Burke's opinions on the Core 4 have drawn significant attention. He made his views clear when he stated:

"I've been pretty open in real time about the fab 4 and the contracts they were given at that time. I called it out as it was happening. Nicky, I believe you recall me saying that the sequence in which they signed them and the sums they paid them was a mistake. The no trades, the terms�I critiqued every part of it."

"It's easy to play the 'I told you so' card when things go south, but not many spotted these snags. I did, in real time."

As for the Core 4's future trajectory, Burke engaged in speculations:

"There's a real question about how they will align everything, what their next move will be. There are some timeframes that are now coming into play. This job is tough! But it is achievable."

Burke Gives his Take on Who he'd Trade in the Core Four

Burke isn't one to shy away from making tough calls, and when asked to single out a potential trade candidate from the Core 4, he had a ready response.

"You have to figure out two things�what to do with Mitch Marner and whether Auston Matthews wishes to re-sign with Toronto. If Matthews decides to stay, I believe Nylander would likely be the first to be traded from that group."

And Burke didn't hold back his admiration for Tavares, another key component of the Core 4.

"Tavares has been a great guy, I don't see him leaving. He's worked extremely hard, and he's an excellent player."

The notion of trading anyone from the Core 4 may seem a hard pill to swallow, but from Burke's vantage point, it's an intriguing perspective that's too important to ignore.

As seen on Daily Hockey Dose - Brian Burke Identifies the Core Four Member He'd Consider for Trading

Previously on HockeyLatest

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POLL
30 MAI \| 260 ANSWERS Brian Burke Gives his Take on Who he'd Trade in the Core Four Who do you think will get traded first?
Matthews	54	20.8 %
Marner	51	19.6 %
Tavares	23	8.8 %
Nylander	132	50.8 %
List of polls