Burke Fired

[Leafaholic99]

Still early but this 8-5 team is still completely Burke's. Take away a couple of his mistakes i.e. Connolly and Komisarek (which one way or another we have) this is a pretty fun team to watch. While there are a couple holes (namely a number one center) there are a number of pieces here worth being charged about I think... Even if we weren't 8-5.

The question that we'll never have answered is "would this lineup look the same with Burke as GM"?  Does Burke demote Connolly, get rid of Lombardi, get behind the callups of Kotska, Fraser, Holzer?  Who knows?

Aside from Lombardi, those are all coaching decisions you've listed.

Coaching decisions aren't made in a vacuum.  The GM would have input on player call ups/demotions.

I thought it was always upto the GM on who to call up/demote, with some input from the coach, but the decision is solely made from the GM?

 

[Zee]

Still early but this 8-5 team is still completely Burke's. Take away a couple of his mistakes i.e. Connolly and Komisarek (which one way or another we have) this is a pretty fun team to watch. While there are a couple holes (namely a number one center) there are a number of pieces here worth being charged about I think... Even if we weren't 8-5.

The question that we'll never have answered is "would this lineup look the same with Burke as GM"?  Does Burke demote Connolly, get rid of Lombardi, get behind the callups of Kotska, Fraser, Holzer?  Who knows?

Aside from Lombardi, those are all coaching decisions you've listed.

Coaching decisions aren't made in a vacuum.  The GM would have input on player call ups/demotions.

I thought it was always upto the GM on who to call up/demote, with some input from the coach, but the decision is solely made from the GM?

Pretty sure it would be input from a  number of sources.  GM would ask the coach of both the main team and the AHL affiliate on what type of player they need / who looks ready on the farm.  The coach is busy with his own team and he can't be expected to know everything going on with the farm team.  The GM would be the one overseeing the player development and watching AHL games as well as NHL.

 

[Deebo]

I will say, it's refreshing not having to hear Burke at least once a week and that the focus is solely on the team.

I thought in the rare times where the team was doing well, Burke was pretty quiet.

 

[Kin]

Pretty sure it would be input from a  number of sources.  GM would ask the coach of both the main team and the AHL affiliate on what type of player they need / who looks ready on the farm.  The coach is busy with his own team and he can't be expected to know everything going on with the farm team.  The GM would be the one overseeing the player development and watching AHL games as well as NHL.

The decision would ultimately be the GM's though, especially if it involved something as potentially thorny as demoting a veteran like Connolly.

 

[Zee]

I will say, it's refreshing not having to hear Burke at least once a week and that the focus is solely on the team.

I thought in the rare times where the team was doing well, Burke was pretty quiet.

Not really.  I remember when the Leafs were playing well last season Burke was on air everywhere.  Saw him on Strombolopous, heard him on multiple radio shows etc.  Bob McCown/Damian Cox even joked about it saying "next time the team wins 4 straight we'll expect you on" and they all laughed.

 

[Zee]

Burke hired as scout in Anaheim.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=416505

 

[Corn Flake]

Burke hired as scout in Anaheim.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=416505

Huh.  Temp job I would imagine until his next GM role comes about.  This is probably good for the Leafs to have him move on like this.  Gets him off the books too.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Burke hired as scout in Anaheim.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=416505

No surprise here that he's headed back to Anaheim.  Was thinking all along that somehow his 'affiliation' with the Ducks would one day land him back there.

 

[Zee]

Burke hired as scout in Anaheim.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=416505

Huh.  Temp job I would imagine until his next GM role comes about.  This is probably good for the Leafs to have him move on like this.  Gets him off the books too.

The whole "advisory" role sounded stupid to begin with.  They wanted Burke gone then just cut all ties.  Seems like it was a title in name only and he's now "officially" out.

 

[hockeyfan1]

@markhmasters: Statement from MLSE pres Anselmi: 'We both agreed that taking this role w/ Anaheim would best position Brian for his next GM opportunity'

 

[Britishbulldog]

Burke hired as scout in Anaheim.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=416505

Huh.  Temp job I would imagine until his next GM role comes about.  This is probably good for the Leafs to have him move on like this.  Gets him off the books too.

The whole "advisory" role sounded stupid to begin with.  They wanted Burke gone then just cut all ties.  Seems like it was a title in name only and he's now "officially" out.

Can Nonis and Burke make the trade now for Getzlaf and Perry for Kessel and Grabovski that Burke was so enamored with?  Both Anaheim players are paid less than either of those Leafs that Burke re-signed.  Have I mentioned that before? 

 

[Zee]

Now that Burke is there will Komisarek be following him to Anaheim?  Beauchemin re-discovered his game going there.

 

[Corn Flake]

hey guys!! he's a part time scout. he's not the GM again.

 

[Zee]

hey guys!! he's a part time scout. he's not the GM again.

I choose to imagine Burke manning the phones in Anaheim and Bob Murray off whimpering in a corner with a broken arm.

 

[ZBBM]

hey guys!! he's a part time scout. he's not the GM again.

I choose to imagine Burke manning the phones in Anaheim and Bob Murray off whimpering in a corner with a broken arm.

I wonder if BB will be a bit humbled from here on out, actually.  He more or less was a failure in the biggest GM gig he could ever want.

 

[Highlander]

I often have my problem with  Cox (read his last post about Burke today)  but to say Burke was a failure is completely incorrect, sorry but I am sorry to see him gone (even though I expected Nonis to hold the fort at some point) but if you look the Leafs, they  are in the best shape they have been in years...an up and coming team, filled with quality defensemen on the team and in prospects and an actualy Marlies team feeding quality players for the first time in years and years. I think Burke had a little more to do with this than any GM in recent history.

 

[drummond]

I often have my problem with  Cox (read his last post about Burke today)  but to say Burke was a failure is completely incorrect, sorry but I am sorry to see him gone (even though I expected Nonis to hold the fort at some point) but if you look the Leafs, they  are in the best shape they have been in years...an up and coming team, filled with quality defensemen on the team and in prospects and an actualy Marlies team feeding quality players for the first time in years and years. I think Burke had a little more to do with this than any GM in recent history.

Exactely my sentiment. Sure, Burke made some mistakes (Connolly, Komi etc.) but he gave this organization some respect back, got some key players going forward and looking back he was not that bad GM. He shot himself into the leg by his strong statements, but the direction of the team is definately right one. The Leafs are not burdened by some heavy long term contract, lots of prospects and youth in the system, decent draft picks. The guy had a vision and stood by his principles. I respect that. Compared to some other GM?s the Leafs had both in recent as well as distant past, he did relatively good job. Good luck Brian!

 

[Kin]

I'd like to think that standards for the team haven't fallen so far that outperforming JFJ qualifies a GM as a success.

 

[PG]

I'd like to think that standards for the team haven't fallen so far that outperforming JFJ qualifies a GM as a success.

When Burke was fired, DGB had a comment in his blog that said it all. He noted that the prospect pool was in a lot better shape than how he found it because it would have been impossible to make it any worse (I'm paraphrasing).

IMO he did a poor job. His big mouth made it seem even worse because anytime he made one of his grand proclamations (condescendingly, of course) the exact opposite would happen.

Good riddance.

 

[caver]

I liked Burke as the Leaf GM. Some did not care for his bluster, but he laid the foundations that can be built upon. The team he took over was used to parachuting in veterans just to end up in  10th place in the conference. The team has a decent core and some young help and it is Burke's work. I think Nonis will do a fine job but bringing Colton Orr back up and picking up MacLaren off waivers are not game-changing moves. This year's team that is starting to look like the best team Toronto has had in years is all Burke.