Confirmed with Link: Brian Burke Fired, Hired as Senior Advisor | Dave Nonis Hired.

[Stats01]

Mark Spector Sports ‏@SportsnetSpec
Sounds like Burke did NOT want to make Luongo deal, while many in Leafs org did. Burke a principled man.

Nonis has always liked Luongo, he was his man in Vancouver. I think a deal is closer now.

 

[Savvy]

No, they don't have a history of that. You're thinking of the teachers pension funder / richard peddie.

Just because rogers came into the fold doesn't mean the board still doesn't consist of a lot of the same people and the same philosophy.

 

[selltrade]

Terrible draft record, terrible UFA signings,, good trade record,, no playoffs in 4 years, see ya

 

[leafsfuture]

@SportsnetSpec: Sounds like Burke did NOT want to make Luongo deal, while many in Leafs org did. Burke a principled man.

I could see this being true, Burke hated the front-loaded contracts, which are now illegal.

But would MLSE fire him just because of this?

 

[Drew311]

I wonder if Burke's golden boy Kessel isn't as untouchable now.

I guess it depends on which direction ownership wants to take the team.

 

[Punch Drunk Loov]

He'll be considered for sure. There was an extensive selection process in MTL. He came second.

You don't know what the bias might be on that report

 

[Tombernack]

I fear that this is a mistake but I will wait for the facts. Lolz if Pierre is hired

 

[TML g u n n e R s*]

I dont understand why burke was not in for a LOU move... unless gillis was asking for the world..

 

[Stephen]

For the people out there cheering this move...

Please realize this is like pressing the reset button.

There is absolutely no guarantees the new GM will come in and want to tank. For all we know it could be some young impressionable guy like JFJ who MLSE can "mould" which means... make him do what we want.

I'll reserve judgement until we get word on the replacement... but from the outset this looks like an awful awful move for an organization that was just starting to form an identity

We don't need to tank, just make decisions that make the Leafs better. Although I do fear what the reset button will look like...

 

[knicksfan89]

for all of you blasting this move, let me say this, I never ever liked burke, he was the Isiah Thomas of NHL general managers as far as I was concerned, I blame him for our failures since 2004, and I am certainly glad he's gone, many of you folks say the maple leafs are going down the crapper because of this, I disagree with that completely, this could make this franchise great

 

[Stats01]

If Pierre McGuire is hired, this franchise has reached a new low.

 

[Auston Marlander]

New GM announced!!

This just in, Mass Suicide by Toronto Maple Leaf fans following hiring of new General Manager.

 

[Eyedea]

What, you drink Canadian-made swill?

Gotta keep it local lol

 

[pspot]

terrible draft record, terrible ufa signings,, good trade record,, no playoffs in 4 years, see ya

+1000

 

[Mess]

Season hasn't started yet.

Be careful what you wish for.

A loyal Leaf fan base today got more than "I'm sorry letters in the papers", from Ownership as they got actions as well as MLSE new ownership took control and issued decisions based on accountability for the teams failures on the ice.

I applaud MLSE for their decision and desire to give Leaf Nation better results,as their actions now spoke louder than words.

Its going to take the new GM time to clean up this mess created by Burke, and with only 1/2 a team (13 players) under contract next season they don't need to "Clear the Slate" this time around as that is happening naturally through failed team building of the past regime.

 

[Stats01]

Nonis you have 10 days to get Luongo

 

[CupofOil]

You guys seem really upset for a guy who has done little to improve the team, i figured that Leafs fans would be calling for his head after 4 years of missing the playoffs under his watch and seemingly having no plan going forward. I'm shocked at the reactions here.

 

[htpwn]

Mark Spector Sports ‏@SportsnetSpec
Sounds like Burke did NOT want to make Luongo deal, while many in Leafs org did. Burke a principled man.

If that is the case, EVERY single Leaf fan should be angry. Ownership meddling is NOT a road to success.

 

[K19*]

Good!!!

And LOL at the people crying over this on the first couple pages. It's literally funny to see all these losers who love Burke. Completely foolish. I hope these Burke supporters take their fandom elsewhere now that he's gone.

 

[TML g u n n e R s*]

If Pierre McGuire is hired, this franchise has reached a new low.

LMAO.. who the **** said this

 

[FireEverybody*]

Yeah working great for the Oilers.

 

[Fogelhund]

Wow, this came out of nowhere.

This is disappointing, Burke's a smart man and one hell of a trade maestro. They better have a very good replacement lined up (or just hand the job to Nonis) or I'm going to be really upset.

Nonis has been involved in many of the trades as well. We'll see if Nonis is the new guy.

Personally, I don't care who the GM is, I just want the team to build a winner long-term.

 

[trellaine201]

Why the hell did they wait sooooooo long. What a bunch of losers running this conglomerate!

 

[Menacer]

Nonis seems like a pretty loyal Brian Burke guy, and if Burke was fired because of a disagreement with the new ownership group, I doubt Nonis would even want to jump in as interim GM. Also I just realized every major sports outlet I'm following regarding this news also happens to own the new owners of MLSE. I wonder if the people at TSN/Sportsnet have to be more respectful of the new ownership and if we can even guarantee we are receiving objective information ...

 

[achtungbaby]

Don't worry we've heard this before - once the new guy is hired they will all immediately begin the "OUR NEW GM IS THE BEST BURKE WAS AN IDIOT I ALWAYS SAID HE WAS" Campaign.

Burkites should all personally apologize to me

Too true. Let the Burke bashing begin in earnest. Just remember at the time of his firing that 75% of this fanbase still believed he was doing a good, if not great, job.