A Shocker!!! Totally Unexpected, at least by me. New Ownership, new direction it appears.
An unexpected bomb appears to have dropped on the eve of training camp, as the Toronto Maple Leafs announced the firing of general manager Brian Burke. Dave Nonis will take over as the team’s new GM.
Burke was relieved of his duties on Wednesday morning. MLSE president Tom Anselmi said Burke would remain with the organization in an advisory role.
“This is a decision that the board and I collectively made” Anselmi said, adding “There’s no good time to do this.”
Nonis and Anselmi both dismissed speculation that long-rumored trade speculation involving Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo played any role in the decision to remove Burke.
“This has been a conversation the board and I have been having for several months,” Anselmi said.
The news rocked the city. More than a dozen television cameras had assembled inside the Air Canada Centre media room for a media conference on Wednesday afternoon.
The Toronto Raptors were set to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, and the court sat, darkened and quiet, out in the main bowl.
Burke could not be reached for comment. It appeared as though his company mobile telephone had been disconnected.
“It’s definitely weird timing,” Leafs forward Mike Brown said on Wednesday.
Burke was named general manager on Nov. 29, 2008. The Leafs hold the NHL’s longest active post-season drought, having not made the playoffs since 2004.
“I’m thrilled we will be back on the ice,” he tweeted on Tuesday. “I regret what our fans have had to sit through. We are grateful for their loyalty and patience.”
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minir
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke Fired:
---Ahren wrote:Did you see the press conference minir, looked like Nonis was going to throw up...
I bet Luongo to TO happens by the start of the season.
Yes i caught it on Leafs Home Page Ahren. Nonis had the kind of look i am assuming that was on my face when i first heard it. Total surprise and totally unexpected.
As to Luongo i personally think the deal is already done, simply awaiting the CBA to be ratified before its announced. I simply hope T.O. didn't give up too much to get him as the length of his contract is hard enough to swallow.
All i do know is Nonis had better pull a couple of rabbits out of his hat very quickly & get off to the best Leafs start in history or he will be replaced come summer. Can he do it, i'm not sure, but lets hope so.
Should be interesting to watch.
Go Leafs Go!
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Larry
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24giovanni
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2943
- Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 1:03 pm
Hi 24giovanni & CD
Kessel is bigger than he looks at 6ft & 200lbs. and is very durable it seems. If they can find him a #1 center there is no reason 40+ goals a season should be well within reach.
Kessel registered 30 goals (55 points) in 2009-10, 32 goals (64 points) in 2010-11 and 37 goals (82 points) in 2011-12. All without a #1 centerman.
It brought the Leafs what they needed (scoring) & gave a boost to the Bruins that they much desired as well.
The Leafs may not have gotten the better in this trade, but did not suffer too badly either imho.
A Win, Win.
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Larry
Kessel is bigger than he looks at 6ft & 200lbs. and is very durable it seems. If they can find him a #1 center there is no reason 40+ goals a season should be well within reach.
Kessel registered 30 goals (55 points) in 2009-10, 32 goals (64 points) in 2010-11 and 37 goals (82 points) in 2011-12. All without a #1 centerman.
It brought the Leafs what they needed (scoring) & gave a boost to the Bruins that they much desired as well.
The Leafs may not have gotten the better in this trade, but did not suffer too badly either imho.
A Win, Win.
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Larry
CableDude wrote:Is it online anywhere?
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Hi CD
Not sure but it will be on one of the sports shows or news somewhere i'm sure.
Not all that interesting as it was typical crusty Burke taking responsibility for not winning enough and announcing he is up for a new GM job with someone immediately.
He said he was shocked at being fired as it was totally unexpected and he was still trying to get his head around it.
That was about it
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/01/11/al ... e-saturday
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Larry