I think they ran 1 too many EA Sports simulations and lost track of reality when they realized that they'd be fighting for a lottery spot. They figured jettisoning Burke would appease their fanbase and add the cherry to the top of their potential MacKinnon, Drouin selection
There's no telling what that ownership group will ever do, or why. If I had anything near the resume to have job in an NHL organization, I would take a college job if Toronto gave me the only offer.
Burke did well in the Gardiner, Lupul and Phaneuf acquisitions, but other than that, his signings and drafts haven't produced much and consecutive playoff-less years are more than enough to warrant a firing in Toronto. I will agree the timing's a little peculiar, so I'll wait for the rest of details behind the move to leak out.
Burke didnīt want Luongo, Nonis does....guess who won.
Since Luongo has a no trade clause and has been rumored to want to go back to Florida. It would be incredibly stupid of the Leafs to make the decision over that alone.
Bob McKenzie thinks it has more to do with the fact that he just sucks.
Carlyle apparently isn't safe either.
Actually Mackenzie said at face value it makes no sense to fire a GM at this time. He was floored/shocked by this move. He said few things in the business can shock him but this move did.
Keep in mind the reaction was based on the timing and he didn't comment on the merits
Since Luongo has a no trade clause and has been rumored to want to go back to Florida. It would be incredibly stupid of the Leafs to make the decision over that alone.
I thought incredibly stupid and Leafs went together hand in hand, like peanut butter and jelly?
Slava Malamud @SlavaMalamud
Yes, Kovalchuk is on the All-Star lineup in the KHL. 100% confirmed #NJDevils
Slava Malamud @SlavaMalamud
If Kovalchuk indeed participates in the KHL All-Star Game, he is likely to miss 1 or 2 days of #NJDevils camp. If he comes back, of course.
Slava Malamud @SlavaMalamud
Gotta tell you, the last time anyone was as exalted in Russian media as Kovalchuk is now, he wore a mustache and had people shot a lot.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have replaced general manager Brian Burke with Dave Nonis taking over as the new GM and senior vice president. Burke will remain with the organization as a senior advisor.
"Brian will not have direct authority over hockey operations, however this new role will allow our board and I to continue to benefit from his hockey expertise," MLSE president Tom Anselmi said in a statement. "We want to thank Brian for accepting his new role and staying on with our organization."
MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum was in New York City Wednesday for the Board of Governors meeting and said the decision to relieve Burke was made by the board.
It was surprising news to many that after a 113-day lockout, the Maple Leafs would fire Burke now.
"Not very often I'm at a loss for words, but today I am," McKenzie said.
So does this mean Tanenbaum wasn't on board with this move?
Is it possible that this move couldn't have been made during the lockout? Since player moves were locked, I don't think this is too far of a stretch.
The lockout had no bearing in this. The lockout isn't actually over yet. It won't be until both ratify. It's why there are still no official practices or contracts being signed yet. So if the lockout impact this move. Burke wouldn't have been fired until Sat when the new CBA is likely to take effect.
Also the lockout was a matter between the players and the NHL. It has no bearing in each team's internal management decisions.
It shouldn't necessarily insinuate that, as he's part of the board.
Boards do make decisions without unanimous votes. He could have been in the no column.
It just seems like he was passing the responsibility for the move to the board. Somewhat removing himself from the decision. As opposed to saying something like ' As a board, WE decided to fire Burke'. Something that would signal ownership of the move.
I'm not suggesting he is up in arms over this btw. Just wondering how on board he was with it happening.
Boards do make decisions without unanimous votes. He could have been in the no column.
It just seems like he was passing the responsibility for the move to the board. Somewhat removing himself from the decision. As opposed to saying something like ' As a board, WE decided to fire Burke'. Something that would signal ownership of the move.
I'm not suggesting he is up in arms over this btw. Just wondering how on board he was with it happening.
I know that the vote needn't be unanimous, but my point (which I suppose I should have explicitly made) was that saying the board made the decision is how a person is typically going to describe such a decision, which puts me in disagreement with your second paragraph. I don't think there's any subtext being implied, though for all I know he did vote against the move.
I know that the vote needn't be unanimous, but my point (which I suppose I should have explicitly made) was that saying the board made the decision is how a person is typically going to describe such a decision, which puts me in disagreement with your second paragraph. I don't think there's any subtext being implied, though for all I know he did vote against the move.
