[News] Brian Burke Fired - Nonis hired

[Tinordi]

You would have to be insane to trade Gardiner for Luongo and his boat anchor.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

RT @DarrenDreger: Timing of Burke dismissal very odd. He and all brass were at Marlies game last night in Hamilton. Truth will surface. Something fishy.

the best thing with Burke is we will know why he got let go. I wish Darryl Sutter would open up the same way when we canned him, but he has too much class.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

RT @DarrenDreger: Timing of Burke dismissal very odd. He and all brass were at Marlies game last night in Hamilton. Truth will surface. Something fishy.

No question with Nonis being a primary source for Dreger we'll most certainly get a partial truth out of this.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

You would have to be insane to trade Gardiner for Luongo and his boat anchor.

So insane you'd get yourself fired rather than go through with it?

Maybe he went out in a magnanimous blaze of self-immolating glory.

That's Burke's style.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

As has been mentioned 1000x times

Luongo has said he would waive it, doesn't want to do wrong by the Canucks

but even if it comes to it

Luongo won't except a trade to _____, then the Canucks Waive him and he gets picked up by the team in 30th instantly

Yes but the circumstances have changed haven't they. I'm not speculating that he won't only that he should consider not going to Toronto given the added baggage of a GM getting fired for him to become a Leaf. I really don't see anything good coming out of this for the Leafs or Luongo. Besides the Leafs have only always been bidding against themselves as there's never been any real proof of other teams being interested outside of hearsay. Yzerman despite being on the list of suitors wanted no part of that deal and I expect Panthers ownership also wants no part of committing that money in that market. Burke had the right idea just to wait out Gillis and got fired for it.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Must have been a bet between CBC and Rogers/Bell... Looks like old man Cherry is the king of the barn after all.

In all seriousness, there is much more to this story I am sure. The timing is just very odd, and very sudden. I didn't think that Burke would last past the end of this season, but firing him now makes no sense at this time.

All I know is Don Cherry is definitely wearing a big smirk right now.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

So insane you'd get yourself fired rather than go through with it?

Maybe he went out in a magnanimous blaze of self-immolating glory.

That's Burke's style.

That's gold Jerry! Gold!!

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h...9QEwBA&dur=883

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

This is probably bad news for the Flames, I bet the Canucks are asking for a ridiculous package like Gardiner, Bozek and a first or something and the Leafs are probably willing to fork it over.

And 1st rd picks are more valuable than ever with the new rules allowing all non PO teams a chance at he #1 overall...will see a lot less trading of these over the summer and only those assured of spots at the deadline i would think.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Must have been a bet between CBC and Rogers/Bell... Looks like old man Cherry is the king of the barn after all.

In all seriousness, there is much more to this story I am sure. The timing is just very odd, and very sudden. I didn't think that Burke would last past the end of this season, but firing him now makes no sense at this time.

All I know is Don Cherry is definitely wearing a big smirk right now.

I wonder if he'll be happy if they trade for Lulongo

[howard_the_duck]

There is no way it's something as transparent as trading for/not trading for Luongo. That would look AWFUL on the Leafs Brass there is no way that would fly from a PR standpoint.

I think there is more to it. A knee-jerk fire like this almost surely means something went on behind the scenes IMO.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by nik-

haha, how terrifying must this be for Leaf fans. Not so much that Burke is gone but, if the rumours are true, that the ownership wanted Luongo so bad that they'd fire the GM over it. Vancouver almost has them over a barrel now, I'm sure some horrible overpayment is impending.

Well, my never-ending wish for the Leafs to be dysfunctional and suck for the rest of my life is still looking like its on track.

That's a very, very strange time to fire your GM with all the work that position requires in the next week or so.

Cowperson

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

I thanked this because it's my favourite political quote of all time.

Mine too because it so ridiculous and i was pleased to have a chance to break it out.

[AR_Six]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Add to that, they must be giving up a king's ransom now. Gillis knows the Leafs can't turn back, and now could be asking for even more.

Certainly Kadri's gone, but how extreme could it go?

Rielly?

I don't really agree with this. The market hasn't changed since yesterday, and I still think we're looking at roster player + prospect + pick. One rumour had Kadri + Bozak + 3rd, another Frattin + Bozak + 2nd. That all seems reasonable. I see zero likelihood of Reilly going anywhere or this escalating much beyond where we last saw negotiations sit and I fully expect that a deal will be made that looks a lot like what's above. Gardiner is also not going anywhere.

From a purely monetary perspective I really believe that Toronto + Luongo = playoffs, which is obviously worth a significant dollar value. I imagine Burke's hesitancy to make this deal was, to no small extent, ego.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Dumb organization is dumb. They'll probably hire an executive type to replace him too. Its nice to know for fans of every other Canadian team that no matter how bad or pathetic things look, there's always the Leafs.

[christoph186]

Pretty rough timing considering the shortened season coming up... Yet again, how could they do worse..

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I think there is more to it. A knee-jerk fire like this almost surely means something went on behind the scenes IMO.

Maybe but what changed in the past week that couldn't have been addressed over the past four months? IMO it's reasonable to expect that Luongo is involved. I expect Leafs ownership believes they are a goaltender away from making some sort of run in this 48 game season and that Burke wanted to wait out Gillis and get Luongo on his terms (no assets in return or wait him out to be UFA) and didn't want to look like a fool for going back on his principles and dealing for a contract he spoke out against.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

Brian Burke is much better at promoting Brian Burke than he is at building a winning NHL team.

Great self promoter. Average GM.

Burke believes in himself too much to be a good GM.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Maybe but what changed in the past week that couldn't have been addressed over the past four months? IMO it's reasonable to expect that Luongo is involved. I expect Leafs ownership believes they are a goaltender away from making some sort of run in this 48 game season and that Burke wanted to wait out Gillis and get Luongo on his terms (no assets in return or wait him out to be UFA) and didn't want to look like a fool for going back on his principles and dealing for a contract he spoke out against.

Firing burke for not trading for Luongo when no trades are allowed implicates the organization in collusion and tampering.

[CaramonLS]

This is obviously setting up the inevitable move of promoting Pierre McGwire to GM.

[bubbsy]

late to the party.

Holy crap balls.

Seems extremely strange timing, and points to some definite head-on conflict with tml exec's vision and burke's.