Brian Burke on Demoting Colton Orr & Fighting

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke held court with reporters on Thursday to voice concern about the decline of the enforcer in hockey, saying: “The only lament I have on this is the fear that if we don’t have guys looking after each other, that the rats will take this game over.”

Leafs tough guy Colton Orr was placed on waivers Wednesday and the 29-year-old cleared at noon on Thursday. He will report to Toronto’s American Hockey League affiliate with no clear indication of whether he will ever play another game in the NHL. He still has a year left on his contract, worth US$1-million.