Maple Leafs Fire GM Brian Burke; Name Dave Nonis New GM

[Cat Smasher]

Maple Leafs simply didn't want Brian Burke as face of franchise anymore

TORONTO - It was late in the Stanley Cup playoffs when the word began drifting out about Brian Burke.

How he was acting erratically.

How his life was spiraling in dubious ways.

How the new owners of the Maple Leafs, still not officially in place, were not happy with what they saw, what they regularly were hearing, what they believed about their prized hockey team.

It was late in the playoffs and the question was asked almost everywhere I travelled, with too many stories — some false, some true — being spread around late at night: He had become the topic almost every day. The questions being asked: What’s going on with Brian Burke? And how long before the Maple Leafs fire him?

One source told me in June that Burke would not manage one more game with the Leafs. That source proved to be correct.

[Cat Smasher]

Originally Posted by BROKEN*ORBITAL

Oh the hilarity. We have the Leafs "board" saying they were considering firing Burke after last season. They didn't believe in his decision making abilities, and were questioning his judgement.

Seems like it was "one" guy who wanted him gone, then he convinced and pleaded with the others and they finally came around. This peckerheads name is, George Cope. http://www.bce.ca/aboutbce/executiveteams/cope/

[Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

New Leafs owners said to dislike Burke from get-go



They wanted a corporate puppet.

Me thinks your right. Kinda surprised that Nonis was willing to be that but hey, it is "the center of the hockey universe" .

[J_Shelley45]

Translation: We don't want an American as the "face" of our organization. Simple as that. This seems to be the new excuse for the Toronto metro area... much like Montreal with non-francophiles. Good luck Leafs on another 5 year rebuild filled with Euro-hockey.

[I_am_Belak_2]

Originally Posted by J_Shelley45

Translation: We don't want an American as the "face" of our organization. Simple as that. This seems to be the new excuse for the Toronto metro area... much like Montreal with non-francophiles. Good luck Leafs on another 5 year rebuild filled with Euro-hockey.

I think they have like only 3 or 4 Euros on the team. One of them, Komarov, plays a gritty North American style.

[FistofFury]

And replaced him with his wannabe.

[Cat Smasher]

Brian Burke exclusive interview: Former Maple Leafs GM says he was ‘stunned’ by firing