Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie

Toronto Maple Leafs have apparently fired Brian Burke as general manager. Working on official confirmations.

lulz

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7 straight years missing the playoffs, with one of the highest payrolls and largest fan bases in the league. Yeah I can imagine why he's out. He hasn't done anything really, got a few big name players through trades, but beyond that, they're really no better off with him, than without him. Maybe they are worse off given who those two first round picks have turned into.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahaha


(breathe)

(breathe)


aaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie

Dave Nonis is the next GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Unclear whether that is interim or unconditional appointment

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I don't get it, why now? They had 9 months to fire him and they are doing it now. Did he show up in a Habs jersey?

EDIT: Oh and I forgot:

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They should have fired him years ago. Actually they never should have hired him. But Sabretoothpick is right. Why now, right when everything is getting started at break-neck speed? Evidently, incompetence runs rampant at all levels in that organization.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The ghost of Harold Ballard is alive and well, and continues to fuck everything up for the Leafs.

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This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
--Emerson

So much for the best GM in the league, eh TO fans? Lol.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

I feeeeeeeeeeeeel so bad for the Maple Leafs.

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There is speculation that Burke might got fired because he didn't want to trade for Luongo, but that's just a rumor.
Whatever it is, I can't believe a organization like that couldn't figure it out last summer.

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Honestly, I think you're all underestimating how truly bad the Leafs were when Burke took over. Their goalies were Andrew Raycroft, Vesa Toskala, and Scott Clemmenson. They had an aging Mats Sundin who refused to let go of Toronto, and therefore, wouldn't let Toronto trade him for draft picks or prospects. Their best defensman was an overrated Tomas Kaberle who always seemed to be available, but was never traded either. Bryan McCabe was finally traded eventually. After that, literally nothing.

Upon his hiring, their AHL affiliate, the Marlies, were a shambles. Coming off a season where they were miraculously 1st in their division (seriously, I have no idea how), they were still a wreck. Burkie deserves credit for building a majority of the depth back into Toronto's AHL system, resulting in a first place finish last year, and a great start this year, still in first place.

I'm of the minority, but I don't feel he was given enough time to succeed in Toronto. If Toronto fired him because of the Luongo thing, they're truly dumb. They needed a veteran goalie to mentor the young guys, Scrivens and Reimer, not a guy to just up and steal the spotlight.

Toronto is just a poorly run franchise, and it starts with their terrible ownership, who seems to have their hands way too much into things, kind of like the NY Jets of the NHL. It's terrible to see how tarnished that brand has become to the NHL.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

Burke has done a good job with them, like you said, they had no prospects at all when he took over.

It's too bad they fired him, because they were on the right track and moving forward.

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Exactly. I feel like ownership felt pressure from the fans, which under no circumstances, should any organization do.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

he clashed with the new ownership group. from the start. than he didnt want to trade for luongo. he was gone. they were saying that kessel was tied at the hip with burke and kessel is gone, especially once burke gets a new gig. and he will really soon. maybe even in buffalo, depending on how things go in the near future .

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Burke will be snatched up long before the Sabres get rid of Darcy.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

Burke will go to the next team in need of a serious rebuild. Probably not this year, but at season's end he has a job again with a club needing a good GM.

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He has made some head scratching moves but he is one GM you want in a rebuild. He gets things done. I mean Toronto aside, I would be happy having him here. He is much more proactive than Darcy IMO.

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Ya know, Burkie said today in his presser that he didn't put any blame on the roster he inherited when he first became GM of the Laffs. But in all honesty, that team was a mess when he first went to 'Tronna. He's made some bonehead moves for sure, but in all honesty, it's not like he's Mike Milbury. Also, for how many years did he have to answer to the whole committee on MLSE board? You'd have to think any move he was going to make would have to be approved by a board of what, 12 people? Then the Toronto teachers union, it was like fighting a losing battle.

He's an aggressive GM that isn't afraid to take chances. If it blows up in his face, he'll man up to it. Over all, he's a great hockey mind and I won't be shocked once the game gets back on the ice, he'll land another GM job.

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

At worst Burkie was good for bending Bob Murray over at least once a year. With trades as rare as they are now, that's worth a lot. FFS, he signed Beauchemin as a free agent(from ANA), and then gave him back to Murray for Gardiner and Loops. He should win an award for that. btw, the Leaf fans didn't even like Beauchemin, either. I believe he also got a cup winning goalie from him for Jason Blake's horrible contract. I like Nonis, but they will regret this move. Plus Carlyle was Burkie's guy, too. Blow Laffs blow

i also admire burkie personally. you know, supporting gay rights and accepting (hell, embracing) his son, and subsequently losing his son. dude just really is a solid guy and good GM. glad hes out of toronto. i like to root for him.

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I agree. If it weren't for him embracing his late son, the You Can Play project would not have gotten the head start it did without him. Good on him and his family for heading up that project. As long as he doesn't go to Philly or any of the Northeast division teams, I'll root for him. No matter what team he joins, he's still a great guy.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550