There's more to that quote that never gets added. Like he will not trade youth for older players that won't be part of the long term future of the team. That he will stay away from trades of that nature that the Leafs were guilty of prior to his hiring.
Unfortanely people took the Kessel trade as quick fix which I'll never understand do to the player he brought in was 21 years old. Rather you like Kessel or not trading for a 21 year old isn't a quick fix... People hated that he wanted to make the playoffs and was vocal about it like wanting to win was a bad thing because so many are pro tank and continue to miss the boat that Burke didn't trade even 1 young player for something that would be gone in a year or 2. In fact he did the opposite of what he was flamed for but this is LeafNation right. You know the land where people are rational..
Burke has balls and isn't afraid to make bold moves as it should be to be a gm, as much as people are so adamantly pro tank to rebuild it takes success in all 3 tools available to the GM to build a contender. Trades & UFA is just as important as Draft & development all 3 require balancing and hits. Fail in one and you will fail to build a contender... Edmonton is figuring this out as we speak as the golden boys aren't so golden anymore.
Tell you one thing Burke did a hell of a better job than what happen out in Edmonton that many on here were glowing about how much better of a future they had than Burke's Leafs LOL!
Burke did F@u(k up though when he hired Carlyle
That is just sad.
