Burke Era Over

Last spring, a veteran GM made a keen observation about the state of the Maple Leafs under Brian Burke

"I don't know if he'll get to finish the job," said the GM. "But he's really set them up well for somebody to turn them into a winner."

Now we'll find out. The stunning replacement of Burke today by his longtime right-hand man, Dave Nonis, was and was not shocking.

Shocking in that there were no rumours it was going to happen, and the timing is downright bizarre, with the 113-day lockout having just ended and the season set to start Jan. 19. Why throw the entire organization into flux now?

But not shocking because of all the rumblings on the street.

The guess is here is Burke was fired for one of two reasons.

One, at least half of the new MLSE ownership team, Bell, was seemingly prepared to fire Burke during the summer. The boss there, George Cope, reportedly disliked Burke's management style and brash public comments, and thought he was "bad for the brand."

Two, both Bell and Rogers are keen on a deal for Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, and Burke was resisting such a move. He said repeatedly of late that he was "90 per cent" certain he wanted to go with the combination of James Reimer and Ben Scrivens in net, and had talked several times about his frustrations of dealing with Vancouver GM Mike Gillis, particularly since he wasn't sure dealing for Luongo was the right move.

Clearly, it wasn't anything Burke had done lately, because the lockout had prevented all NHL general managers from making any moves since Sept. 15th. 

Only a strong season with a playoff berth was going to save Burke anyway, particuarly with the folks at Bell not on side. it's not clearly how supportive the executives at Rogers, the other half of the MLSE alliance, were of Burke.

Just as Nonis succeeded Burke in Vancouver in 2004, he now takes over a young Leaf team with substantial assets in terms of prospects and developing talent and few long-term contractual obligations, essentiall under the terms of the new NHL-NHLPA collective bargaining agreement.

He also inherits Phil Kessel, who was the signature acquisition of Burke, a controversial deal that backfired when Boston ended up with the No. 2 pick in the draft and won the Stanley Cup, as well.

Nonis, interestingly enough, acquired Luongo for the Canucks in 2006 from Florida in a deal for Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alex Auld, and now will definitely make a strong push to try and land the veteran goaltender.

Nonis, however, is philosophically more committed to the slow and steady, build with youth approach. Along with Burke, he was the executive who put many of the pieces in place with the Canucks that ultimately helped that team make a run to the 2011 Stanley Cup final.

He had no idea this was coming, even earlier this week. Burke, meanwhile, returned from Russia on Sunday after attending the world junior hockey championships.

The NHL will undoubtedly be rather unhappy with the Burke decision as it upstages the ratification of the new CBA in New York.

The Leafs are saying Burke will stay with the club as a consultant, but that seems more cosmetic than an indication that he will actually fill an advisory role to Nonis.

 

 

Comments

[SJB]

As usual, the idiot new owners think they know how to run a hockey team better than a veteran GM. I have about had it rooting for this moronic, stupid team. They'll probably trade away all the good young talent Burke has been accumulating over the past few years for a bunch of over the hill bums (Luongo). This team will never win because they are not willing to wait for kids to develop. I'm sick of these dipshits!!

Burke inherited a team that had nothing. He had to start from scratch. He could have traded for over-the-hill bums and just squeaked into the playoffs each year like all the other shitty GMs before him but wisely chose the rebuilding route. It takes many years of missing the playoffs to finally emerge as a good young team. Look at the LA Kings who just won the cup as an example. Chicago and Pittsburgh as other examples. Burke was given 4 years! Now these moron new owners will probably make the new GM trade for Luongo, giving up a bunch of good young talent and taking on Luongo's ridiculous contract. The guy is 34 and he has 10 years left on his contract!! We'll see what happens but if these owners start blowing things up before giving these kids a chance, I've had it with this team. They care more about getting playoff gates than building a long term winner. Sorry about my venting but I have about had it with stupid owners continuing to make this classic team into the laughing stock of the NHL.

[Doug]

Burkes ego seemingly prevented him from accepting the challenges he would
face in Toronto with the fans and the media. His attitude would also put him at
odds with other GMs ie Gillis, Snow of the same nature.
As someone else said he has built a solid foundation of youth, however Toronto
needs a GM with demonstrated lower profile, diplomacy and the ability to relate
to the media and fans.
Great interview with Dickey on 590.

[Ken Chevis]

There once was a GM named Burke
Who came to Toronto to work
He filled out his rosters
With hockey imposters
And drove all the faithful berserk.

[Geoffrey Blaine Phipps Johnson]

What a waste of time, money and verbiage....
The constant line growth of commentary on a team and organization that is absolutely useless boggles the mentally stable mind..
Sports writing must be like a person who consistently needs to prove they are necessary expenses to fill a fish bowl, especially in toronto, there are an
Over abundance of them writing about nothing all the time!!

Good luck with that, fire all of them...

[Lisa]

Mr.Cox : It is always a treat to read your article,,,,,Like B,B. said himself,the real reason he was fired now is not winning enough games...REALLY ??? ....I am just happy that he is no longer the face of the Leafs !!!

[Big Stuff]

R&B didn't know if there was going to be a NHL season this year and once they found out there was going to be one, they immediately gassed the old wind bag Burke. R&B should be applauded for firing BB. R&B also know the Leafs need a serious goalie upgrade. Burke was comfortable starting this season with Riemer & Scrivens? That brain dead decision alone is worth firing BB over.