Brian Burke Presser at 12:00

[Boom King]

How is that a conflict of interest? Regardless of his cheque, he would in no way affiliated with the operations of the Leafs if he took a job elsewhere.

You don't think these sort of things are built into an NHL GM's contract? They get fired and hired all the time just like NHL coaches.

 

[BLONG7]

i wouldn't have fired him. at least not quite yet...

i'd love to know the reason behind the firing.

Burkie's demeanour...no doubt about it...just ask MLSE...

 

[Cor]

Are people pissed at Burke for being bitter?

Of course he is bitter, who wouldn't be? He got blindsided.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

steve simmons ‏@simmonssteve
If you do your job the way I try to do it, telling the truth, even when the truth is uncomfortable, you're going to upset people.

Steve Simmons is a punchline somewhere, literally and figuratively.

 

[Winreims]

Does anyone have Burke's statistics with the Leafs? Wins, losses?

2008-09 - 27-26-7
2009-10 - 30-38-14
2010-11 - 37-34-11
2011-12 - 35-37-10

Total record - 129-135-42

 

[htpwn]

steve simmons ‏@simmonssteve
If you do your job the way I try to do it, telling the truth, even when the truth is uncomfortable, you're going to upset people.

He's trending worldwide.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

I want to hear from the board of directors. I can't believe that they have not said anything yet.

You won't hear an honest peep from them.

 

[pooleboy]

What was wrong with Quinn trading prospects for vets at the time? He was trying to put the team over the top and win the Stanley Cup.

yes but thats why we have had this lul for the past 7 or so years. So many years we either traded our 1st round pick and our top prospects so when they were coming into there prime they would be here right now. Well.... Couture for Vesa Toskala is looking good. I cant remember off the top of my head who Quinn dealt but i know he dealt 1st rounders for Glenn Wesly (sp?) and even Francis. Those picks would be looking pretty good right now, (hindsight 20-20). You wont find a better job done by a GM, u can look at Edmonton and yes they tanked and got 5 pretty solid young players in there lineup today (hall, eberle, rnh, yakopov, Shultz) and those guys were picked the same time (or close to it lets not knit pick) as Burke was around. Well Kessel is better than all those players TODAY lupul can be argued to be as good. Phaneuf is way better than Shultz. With what Burke inherited he did the best job he could have done. He was hoping to be in the playoffs and still have all his picks. Everyone looks at the Kessel deal but what if those picks were at 10? well then they get nothing for Kessel essentially.

 

[Budsfan]

I dont think Burke sticks around. He seems bitter.

I think the reason he's bitter, is because they don't want him as Sr.Advisor for hockey operations but as Sr.Advisor reporting only to Tom Anselmi.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Ah I love burkie, I'll always wish him the best, except if he if he is in a habs management.

Mad respect for him till the end and a straight shooting loyal friend till the end.

 

[Mess]

Whether you liked Burke or not, you have to admit things are going to get a lot more boring on the media front. He left the way he came. Brash, outspoken, and always a great interview.

The shot at Simmons was classic.

Irony.

The shot at Simmons (and indirectly by extension the Toronto Sun & Sun Media) was in fact one the very apparent underlying reasons (his uncontrollable personality) to maintain emotions and come across professionally when conducting himself in public as a representative of MLSE that got him fired. Many of these media outlets are extensions of/or work under the MLSE corporate umbrella or are advertising/marketing means to generate more revenue for MLSE.

You don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Publicly insulting the media deserved or otherwise needs a corporate filter that requires diplomacy something of which the "Burke brand" simply doesn't have and as Burke arrogantly stated has no plan of changing.

The fact that each time ownership changes and he is shown the door should be a life lesson to learn from previous mistakes opportunity as to what will get you fired above the results of the team.

 

[Budsfan]

I want to hear from the board of directors. I can't believe that they have not said anything yet.

They probably won't face the press but have a flunky like Tom Anselmi, speak for them.

 

[Confucius]

I want to hear from the board of directors. I can't believe that they have not said anything yet.

Yeah because it was obviously too uncomfortable for Burke to talk about it.

 

[Porn*]

Simmons is a tool... F him.

 

[Liminality]

I doubt Burke got fired because of his feud with Simmonds.

 

[Polk High]

Missed the presser. Is there synopsis available?

 

[Suntouchable13]

yes but thats why we have had this lul for the past 7 or so years. So many years we either traded our 1st round pick and our top prospects so when they were coming into there prime they would be here right now. Well.... Couture for Vesa Toskala is looking good. I cant remember off the top of my head who Quinn dealt but i know he dealt 1st rounders for Glenn Wesly (sp?) and even Francis. Those picks would be looking pretty good right now, (hindsight 20-20). You wont find a better job done by a GM, u can look at Edmonton and yes they tanked and got 5 pretty solid young players in there lineup today (hall, eberle, rnh, yakopov, Shultz) and those guys were picked the same time (or close to it lets not knit pick) as Burke was around. Well Kessel is better than all those players TODAY lupul can be argued to be as good. Phaneuf is way better than Shultz. With what Burke inherited he did the best job he could have done. He was hoping to be in the playoffs and still have all his picks. Everyone looks at the Kessel deal but what if those picks were at 10? well then they get nothing for Kessel essentially.

So what are you supposed to do if you're a team that is close to winning? Just stand pat and not try to put them over the top while other teams are wheeling and dealing? It did not work for Quinn. You'd rather have those picks now than trying to go for the Stanley Cup? I am talking about strictly Quinn, what JFJ did later was not acceptable as the team was not close to winning anything.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Irony.

The shot at Simmons (and indirectly by extension the Toronto Sun & Sun Media) was in fact one the very apparent underlying reasons (his uncontrollable personality) to maintain emotions and come across professionally when conducting himself in public as a representative of MLSE that got him fired. Many of these media outlets are extensions of/or work under the MLSE corporate umbrella or are advertising/marketing means to generate more revenue for MLSE.

You don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Publicly insulting the media deserved or otherwise needs a corporate filter that requires diplomacy something of which the "Burke brand" simply doesn't have and as Burke arrogantly stated has no plan of changing.

The fact that each time ownership changes and he is shown the door should be a life lesson to learn from previous mistakes opportunity as to what will get you fired above the results of the team.

Fair enough, but a degenerate like Simmons doesn't deserve to be extended such courtesy. Simmons has never been objective in his analysis of Burke, and he has hit him below the belt on numerous occasions.

Simmons is a disgrace to journalism.

 

[Auston Marlander]

It was on sportsnet actually. He said Burke was being hypocritical by saying himself, and the players didn't get the job, while he said RW did a good job. May said during his time there, he felt the players did not play as well as they could have - seen by some players doing well after they left the leafs.

He was basically trying to say RW was a massive failure with the Leafs and the players, and Burke failed to deal with him at the appropriate time.

I watched it on LeafsTV.

 

[colchar]

I can only imagine the article simmons will by writing up LOL that tool got OWNED, gonna be sooooo butthurt he wont be able to sit for a week

He is still butthurt over Burke slapping him down in a press conference a couple of years ago.

I missed the Simmons portion so hope the whole thing is available online somewhere so that I can watch it.

 

[colchar]

One of these board members made a mistake...

http://www.mlse.com/inside_mlse/board_of_directors.aspx

Look at who joined the board recently (like Mary Ann Turcke) and you will find the meddling ego-maniac who has interfered on an epic scale with hockey operations...

I'm guessing whoever it was, they were offended by Burke's loud personality - and really felt that they wanted to show who was boss...

It was Cope - that info has been available for a couple of days now.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Well it is pure irony the shot at Steve Simmons was the reason why Rogers/Bell fired Burke.

I love Burkie for this, didn't agree with some of his hockey moves, but as a upfront, colourful Hockey GM, I loved it.

Hard to believe he won't be associated with the Leafs anymore. Senior advisor is a ghost post...What Hockey job is similar to the The Leafs that can bring as much prestige?

The Habs, if he joins Dudley and the Habs, it would be even more ironic.

 

[Rockinz]

where can we see the entire presser?

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Fair enough, but a degenerate like Simmons doesn't deserve to be extended such courtesy. Simmons has never been objective in his analysis of Burke, and he has hit him below the belt on numerous occasions.

Simmons is a disgrace to journalism.

My dad's a journalist and when I mentioned some of his tactics he was laughing and saying man does he work for a paparazzi magazine

 

[dubey]

I doubt Burke got fired because of his feud with Simmonds.

lol

I certainly hope not. We would be in a lot deeper trouble than we currently are.