Give the GM post to Nonis and stay on as president only.
I agree that Nonis should be the GM. It sounds like he does all the heavy lifting anyway.
I'm not sure about Burke as team president. He knows hockey but he seems to be losing the media and that's an important part of any team president's job.
You would think Burke knows better here. It would be one thing if he were simply upset about Cherry's comments but to sneak behind people's backs and try to get people fired certainly doesn't fit the blunt bill he gets labeled as(and I support Burke). The media is very critical here, he knows better.
I saw Cherry and MacLean at a charity dinner in Kingston
they were up on stage with a panel of Bryan Kilrae, Gilmour and Todd Gill
it was like watching Jonny Carson and Ed McMann .
They were amazing at setting up and telling stories. Cherry knew so many things about each of the guests and their careers. You could just tell how loved he was and is within the hockey community. He knew people at every level of hockey in every community related to these guys and you could kind of tell it would be that way with anyone he was talking to.
Seeing Cherry in that light really gave me a different and better perspective of him. He is an extremely loyal person that has been involved in hockey a long time and is obviously respected.
MacLean is awesome too. The guy has a photographic memory or something. He can recount and tell stories like no one I've ever seen. IMO he's a truly great Canadian broadcaster hockey and outside of hockey.
I know it will happen one day, but I can't imagine "Hockey Night In Canada" without Maclean and Cherry. Maclean's wit is the best part of the show IMO.
Funny how right in the middle of a horrific collapse and the changing of the head coach, the media spotlight has focused on the media relationships of the GM rather than the on ice issues.
It's almost as if it was being orchestrated to take the focus off the team while they try to right themselves somehow.
I love Cherry but I still don't understand how this guy gets away with half the things he says about "foreigners". Unfortunately we live in a society where its perfectly acceptable to talk poorly about anyone outside of Canada.
I agree that Nonis should be the GM. It sounds like he does all the heavy lifting anyway.
I'm not sure about Burke as team president. He knows hockey but he seems to be losing the media and that's an important part of any team president's job.
It may be the only course of action that saves his job and keeps the media off his back.
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All hockey questions are the directed towards Nonis and company.
Nonis is given a trial period (2-3yrs) by the fans.
Burke's plan and group continue.
Nonis' extension ends this summer so it may be the perfect time to hand over the reigns even though nothing will have changed from a command structure POV.
Classy response from MacLean. I don't know if Burke is cracking under the pressure of being GM in Toronto. As far as I can tell, he's had stubborn, argumentative and controversial moments long before he ever stepped foot in Toronto. I would guess this is more of a personality mismatch between Burke and the media. I can't say if his preoccupation with the media is affecting his abilities as a GM but I would expect that if he doesn't produce results by next season, the scrutiny may force MLSE to look elsewhere for a replacement.
Funny how it is ok for Cherry to have an opinion but not Burke....
Basically.
You can call someones coach "little Napoleon" and a "traitor" on national T.V and face no repercussions from it. And when the coaches boss stands up to it, Don has to take it to coaches corner and vents in front millions of people. Then add on the xenophobic ******** he spews out on top of it.
I've really refrained from criticizing Cherry cause I think his support for the military trumps a lot the bombastic garbage he says, But since Ron Wilson no clapping thing for military, And questioning someones else is support of the military based on one camera shot was ridiculous. Especially when this team does the most with it's armed forces of any team in the league.
You can call someones coach "little Napoleon" and a "traitor" on national T.V and face no repercussions from it. And when the coaches boss stands up to it, Don has to take it to coaches corner and vents in front millions of people. Then add on the xenophobic ******** he spews out on top of it.
I've really refrained from criticizing Cherry cause I think his support for the military trumps a lot the bombastic garbage he says, But since Ron Wilson no clapping thing for military, And questioning someones else is support of the military based on one camera shot was ridiculous. Especially when this team does the most with it's armed forces of any team in the league.
Well said.
One thing that is bothering me about this is the "behind our backs" BS. In all seriousness, what Burke supposed to do? Have a fist fight? Go on CC and have an arm wrestling match with Cherry? Burke dealt with this in a professional manner. Cherry blew it up on national TV.
I'm not a fan of Cherry. He's definitely right in this though.
I've never liked Burke, not even when he was in Vancouver. For him to try and use his position to influence a television network shows his true character. He has none. I understand he may be trying to shield his players, god knows we could use some shielding here too, but .... really.... are you that ****ing insecure Burke that you need to only have positive stories about your team.... News flash.... you suck... you've sucked since the lockout (and way before), its not the media's fault. You have more money than any team to throw at UFA's, great draft position... yet you still suck.... perhaps... just perhaps... after 3 seasons... it might be your fault.....
There are people I don't like in this world, and I have some influence over them...... I've never tried to get anyone fired.... it's just a ****** thing to do...
Burke should worry about the Leafs and concentrate on icing a competitive team. I am pro Burke and liked what he was doing with the Leafs (up until now), but I'm starting to get tired of him.
He says he will make this team a "Black & Blue" team. Then we end up as a fast, soft team. Now we're going back to trying to ice a tough team again? He also says that free agency is our draft. Doesn't go after the top tier free agents. Only Connolly's.
Does Burke really have a proper plan?
That's simplistic. I don't anymore, but that doesn't mean I won't support the firing of someone who actively corrupts the minds of Canadian youth on my tax dollars. Many people are blind followers, and are influenced by celebrities. If he wants to spout his intolerance on SunTV, then let the people who still mouth their words when they read deal with him there. He can stay off the public broadcaster and out of our city hall, though.
As for Burke, I have no problems with him or what he's done, other than keeping Wilson on as long as he did. He's actively stated what his goals are. He has 3-4 former GM's under him. If opportunities to acquire the players he feels are needed, without overpaying between the four of them, were there, he'd make the deal. It should also be noted that Wilson's style largely dictated what players were acquired, and we'll see players geared towards Carlyle's style be targeted now.
Burke's not going anywhere. He's now served as a mouthpiece for MLSE for just over three years. He makes, likely, over $5m. He's got a lot more on his plate than just GM duties, so the only possibility we see is Nonis taking over, and really, he's likely doing a significant share of work anyway. Most of us, this year, expected the playoffs. The Leafs were well on their way before Wilson finally wore out his welcome. The team will likely retool a few players in the off-season, a few rookies might make the team, and the young team, as a whole, will continue to develop. It'll be fine. Let's just hope we get a top five pick.
That's simplistic. I don't anymore, but that doesn't mean I won't support the firing of someone who actively corrupts the minds of Canadian youth on my tax dollars. Many people are blind followers, and are influenced by celebrities. If he wants to spout his intolerance on SunTV, then let the people who still mouth their words when they read deal with him there. He can stay off the public broadcaster and out of our city hall, though.
As for Burke, I have no problems with him or what he's done, other than keeping Wilson on as long as he did. He's actively stated what his goals are. He has 3-4 former GM's under him. If opportunities to acquire the players he feels are needed, without overpaying between the four of them, were there, he'd make the deal. It should also be noted that Wilson's style largely dictated what players were acquired, and we'll see players geared towards Carlyle's style be targeted now.
Burke's not going anywhere. He's now served as a mouthpiece for MLSE for just over three years. He makes, likely, over $5m. He's got a lot more on his plate than just GM duties, so the only possibility we see is Nonis taking over, and really, he's likely doing a significant share of work anyway. Most of us, this year, expected the playoffs. The Leafs were well on their way before Wilson finally wore out his welcome. The team will likely retool a few players in the off-season, a few rookies might make the team, and the young team, as a whole, will continue to develop. It'll be fine. Let's just hope we get a top five pick.
I agree with almost everything you say, except it's my understanding that HNIC is not really using any of our tax dollars, because it actually generates enough revenue to pay for itself. But that's a minor point.
I know it will happen one day, but I can't imagine "Hockey Night In Canada" without Maclean and Cherry. Maclean's wit is the best part of the show IMO.
This. Sure, cherry is a blowhard, he still does have some good insight and is entertaining. RMac is by fair the best host doing hockey anywhere these days.
I'm not a fan of Cherry. He's definitely right in this though.
I've never liked Burke, not even when he was in Vancouver. For him to try and use his position to influence a television network shows his true character. He has none. I understand he may be trying to shield his players, god knows we could use some shielding here too, but .... really.... are you that ****ing insecure Burke that you need to only have positive stories about your team.... News flash.... you suck... you've sucked since the lockout (and way before), its not the media's fault. You have more money than any team to throw at UFA's, great draft position... yet you still suck.... perhaps... just perhaps... after 3 seasons... it might be your fault.....
There are people I don't like in this world, and I have some influence over them...... I've never tried to get anyone fired.... it's just a ****** thing to do...
So Cherry is right to be pissed and do something about it when Burke tries to get him and Maclean fired but when Burke essentially does the same thing when Cherry constantly goes on national TV and tries to get Wilson fired he is insecure and wrong.
Cherry was right for calling out that ignorant loser Wilson in the first place for not applauding Canadian Veterans. Kudos to Leafs Nation at the ACC for stepping up and sending that arrogant southbound jackass Wilson packing.
And for Burke to then go after Maclean & Cherry to their bosses about it is equally as pathetic as what Wilson did in the 1st place to start the whole thing. Burke has started a war with the media here that he is going to lose.
The 18 wheeler has already gone off the cliff and Burke is living on borrowed time as Leafs GM. When the 2 headed monster Robbers & Hell Media takes control of MLSE in the summer don't be surprised if Burkie fails his performance review and is fired.
There is always a line, that was my point. It works both ways is all.
I love Cherry but I do agree that his opinions on Wilson are much like Bobcat's. They hated him personally and that carried over into their pieces. Personally, I think that crosses the line when you work in the media, even in opinion pieces but that is my own opinion on the issue.
If Burke tried to talk to MacLean about it and was turned down, I see no wrong in going over their heads to discuss the issue.
Now that being said, since it is the CBC doing most of the reporting on what Burke wanted, I take it all with a grain of salt as there is a fine line here; one easy to exaggerate
Burke wants his cake and to eat it two. He loves the media when he can control it and hates it when he can not. I am saddened with the way hockey has gone in its attempts to control the media to the extent that player interviews are largely dry, rehearsed and boring. Reporters who even think of reporting critically are essentially gagged by having certain privileges taken awar or their jobs threatened.
He is not the only one but Burke has a massive ego with an insatiable appetite for exposure that can only be fed by the media. Unfortunately, it's the double edged sword that slashes back at him which he doesn't understand. The guys is brillaint of that I've little doubt but he is his own worst enemy and I believe the pressure of operating in a big market where he can not tightly control every message is taking its toll on him.
I dont like Cherry a lot but when you miss the playoffs for as long as the Leafs have, you're going to be painted in a negative way in ANY show. Just take it...
His Ontario rant was dumb BUT he does have a passion for the Leafs. Burke can't expect every talk show to be all rosy about the Leafs when they can't make the playoffs in a league where 50%+ make the playoffs.
Easiest way to shut up the critics and haters: Win. If you can't do that, you just have to take it all in stride.
There are people I don't like in this world, and I have some influence over them...... I've never tried to get anyone fired.... it's just a ****** thing to do...
You can't equate trying to get the average person fired for office politics with this. Cherry slandered a Canadian citizen, by essentially calling him a traitor, on the tax funded public broadcaster. This isn't a one-time event, either. Cherry has been making xenophobic/racist/ignorant comments for over 25 years now, and he's made millions off it. Don't feel too bad for him, if he gets fired. He'll be absolutely fine.
So Cherry is right to be pissed and do something about it when Burke tries to get him and Maclean fired but when Burke essentially does the same thing when Cherry constantly goes on national TV and tries to get Wilson fired he is insecure and wrong.
The difference is, Cherry is doing his job and Burke is not. We have all watched Coaches Corner since we can remeber and it is the purpose of the program to provide extremely subjective bombastic opinions that rile up the masses and generate good ratings. Cherry has succeeded greatly at this.
Man I'm stupid 
