Leiweke is stepping down as President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment

[Cheese]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=459929

Well that was bloody fast! Must have realized its impossible to win with any team that has Toronto in front of it!

[Tyler]

No matter how good the job is, if your wife doesn't like the cold, you ain't staying in TO

[Pagal4321]

From what I've read looks like his aggressive vision was a cause of friction between him and the MLSE board. Read an article yesterday that stated Leiweke actually wanted to hire Burke to run the Leafs.

[EricCartman]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

From what I've read looks like his aggressive vision was a cause of friction between him and the MLSE board. Read an article yesterday that stated Leiweke actually wanted to hire Burke to run the Leafs.

Leiweke wasn't too much of a "yes man" worker he was more bold and aggressive (see bring Drake and Defoe on board), MLSE likely hated that and wanted him gone. Similar to the situation with Brian Burke, the timing is off.

MLSE has got to be one of the worst run organizations and having corporations as owner will do that to you. The focus is more towards making a profit rather than wining games and putting a successful product for your audience.

[browna]

^ Yup, he made his mark on the Raps and especially TFC. I suspect he was given that leeway only because he brought in Beckham with LA back when, and TFC needed the biggest injection.
The Raps benefited from a good season this past year, but again, he made some nice additions there and getting rid of Colangelo was addition by subtraction in the end.

TFC was in trouble, will probably make the playoffs for the first time this year, but likely revert back to a poor team sooner than later as no more money will be sunk in there by the new guy, after the multi millions paid to Dafoe and Bradley. LIke the Jays trade 2 offseasons ago, the purse strings will be tightened and the club will have to make due with what they have for a couple years or more.

The Leafs, its pretty clear that he wasn't allowed to touch, as all the members of the MLSE board assume that they can run a hockey team, and the MLSE cash cow, not some American.

Plus, as mentioned and as is similar to Rogers running the Jays, no matter the mediocrity on the playing surface, job #1 is to satisfy the large corporate owners and many/most on the board of MLSE, is seeing the money flow in, which is does. No matter what the President thinks about any of the clubs and the need to improve, or the minority of board members who may also want to see results, not just padded bank accounts; there will always be those focused soley on fiscal balance, in addition to the usual politics, making sure other members don't get more powerful then them by having the other's suggestions adopted etc.

Was a great hire given his previous CV with AEG, and the MLSE teams will notice his impact pretty quickly after he's gone.

[bluejays]

While I agree with everything here so far, this again reeks of MLSE workplace politics. I worked at the ACC for 4 years and from top to bottom the environment was very political and self serving - at all levels no matter what department. Things will never change when they continue to struggle for power over there. Money will continue to be made, but the fact of the matter is that so many are power hungry, it's pretty sickening, and these same people will do anything to get one over the next guy. I'm assuming Leiweke was experiencing some form of this and couldn't take the pressure of working with a bunch of idiots at various levels.

On a side note, I don't care what anyone says, hiring a 28 year old as an Assistant GM was an awful move. Hire him as some type of analyst, but to give him that position was nonsensical. I wonder who his dad is to gain him so much respect with that little experience (Jr's experience isn't NHL calibre experience).