Burke Fired

[LuncheonMeat]

A quote attributed to Burke regarding the Leafs success this season.

"Sometimes you do the hard work and set the table and somebody else eats the meal."

Quite honestly I find that a little distasteful, I mean sure he might still be a little or a lot sore about being canned, but would it have killed him to throw out some platitude about being happy for Nonis and the players? Instead he reminds everyone that all the credit should go to him.

It's one quote, I'm sure there was more to the interview what he thinks of it.

It seems out of character for Burke, he was always giving credit to other people when he was here. Nonis and JFJ come to mind as people who he went out of his way to praise.

I heard the full sound bite and Burke DID give props to Nonis.  I would be pretty sour if I were Burke so I don't blame him for what I think was a jab directed at Leaf's ownership group.  And it's true, he was always quick in the past to give credit to past GMs for drafting and laying groundwork.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Just out of curiosity, wonder what Burke is really thinking and feeling regarding the Leafs' success (and the fact that he's currently not a part of it?

 

[Bender]

A quote attributed to Burke regarding the Leafs success this season.

"Sometimes you do the hard work and set the table and somebody else eats the meal."

Quite honestly I find that a little distasteful, I mean sure he might still be a little or a lot sore about being canned, but would it have killed him to throw out some platitude about being happy for Nonis and the players? Instead he reminds everyone that all the credit should go to him.

It's one quote, I'm sure there was more to the interview what he thinks of it.

It seems out of character for Burke, he was always giving credit to other people when he was here. Nonis and JFJ come to mind as people who he went out of his way to praise.

I heard the full sound bite and Burke DID give props to Nonis.  I would be pretty sour if I were Burke so I don't blame him for what I think was a jab directed at Leaf's ownership group.  And it's true, he was always quick in the past to give credit to past GMs for drafting and laying groundwork.

I wouldn't say he's off point. Bob McKenzie stated as much that the GM he's most impressed with this season was Brian Burke, in the sense that the Leafs are doing far better than anyone expected.

 

[Highlander]

Burke did set the table and we are having the benefits. His firing was a disgrace and should have been done at the end of this season. Water under a bloody big bridge.

 

[Strangelove]

Burke did set the table and we are having the benefits. His firing was a disgrace and should have been done at the end of this season. Water under a bloody big bridge.

Pretty strong language supporting a GM with an atrocious record.  A new ownership group came in, assessed the situation, and decided that a blusterous guy with no obvious long-term plan wasn't right for the team.  It's hard to argue with them.

I'm still not convinced that the stretch of success this year isn't a flash in the pan.  The Leafs have a lot of work to do to become a true contender, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[#1PilarFan]

A quote attributed to Burke regarding the Leafs success this season.

"Sometimes you do the hard work and set the table and somebody else eats the meal."

Quite honestly I find that a little distasteful, I mean sure he might still be a little or a lot sore about being canned, but would it have killed him to throw out some platitude about being happy for Nonis and the players? Instead he reminds everyone that all the credit should go to him.

It's one quote, I'm sure there was more to the interview what he thinks of it.

It seems out of character for Burke, he was always giving credit to other people when he was here. Nonis and JFJ come to mind as people who he went out of his way to praise.

I always thought he gave JFJ too much credit.

 

[Kin]

I don't know, there's also something way too self-congratulatory about that quote. Like, even if you buy the idea that Burke "set the table" for what's going on...I mean he had four years and the team's tied for 5th mid-way through the season.

 

[L K]

I don't know, there's also something way too self-congratulatory about that quote. Like, even if you buy the idea that Burke "set the table" for what's going on...I mean he had four years and the team's tied for 5th mid-way through the season.

Not to mention that the Leafs are only 5 points up on 9th and Washington has a game in hand (and a much easier division).  Burke can pat himself on the back if the team actually locks down on a playoff spot.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I don't know, there's also something way too self-congratulatory about that quote. Like, even if you buy the idea that Burke "set the table" for what's going on...I mean he had four years and the team's tied for 5th mid-way through the season.

He set the table for a nice appetizer.

 

[Highlander]

In the cap years since the prior agreement it takes 4-6 years to build a contending team (look at Edmonton) ..so who would expect Burke to build the winner in such a short space, this is a new world in hockey, kids...you had to give him the extra year or two to do so. In any case as I have stated on this site many times that Nonis was groomed by Burke to supersede him at some point, in this case sooner than later. In a forthcoming email I will build my case on exactly the table that Burke set.  Those of you, like Nik expected a Messiah and it takes some time to come out of the desert.....don't we all know that?

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

In the cap years since the prior agreement it takes 4-6 years to build a contending team (look at Edmonton) ..so who would expect Burke to build the winner in such a short space, this is a new world in hockey, kids...you had to give him the extra year or two to do so. In any case as I have stated on this site many times that Nonis was groomed by Burke to supersede him at some point, in this case sooner than later. In a forthcoming email I will build my case on exactly the table that Burke set.  Those of you, like Nik expected a Messiah and it takes some time to come out of the desert.....don't we all know that?

Edmonton is one example. On the flip side there are examples like Ottawa and Philly (amongst some others).

Burke didn't have ANY success in his 4 years. That the team will finally (likely) make the playoffs in it's 5th year isn't some huge testament to Burke's prowess as a GM.

 

[TML fan]

I think it's a strong indicator that his firing wasn't entirely because of his record.

 

[L K]

I think it's a strong indicator that his firing wasn't entirely because of his record.

Isn't that how it always works though.  If you wear out your image, a modicum of success is rarely enough to overcome that.  However if you have a good rapport with your employer and have that same modicum of success you are more likely to stick around.

Burke was loud and that wasn't so bad on its own, but when his declarations rarely panned out it just became a problem.  He was bigger than the team and that's really now how a hockey team should be run.

 

[Kin]

In the cap years since the prior agreement it takes 4-6 years to build a contending team (look at Edmonton) ..so who would expect Burke to build the winner in such a short space,

Name the notable hockey personality who said "I don't believe in a five year rebuild". Was it:

A) Brian Burke
B) Brian Burke
C) Brian Burke
D) Nik
E) Brian Burke

For those of you at home who answered D, this is the part where Moe Howard would bonk you on the head with a hammer.

 

[L K]

In the cap years since the prior agreement it takes 4-6 years to build a contending team (look at Edmonton) ..so who would expect Burke to build the winner in such a short space,

Name the notable hockey personality who said "I don't believe in a five year rebuild". Was it:

A) Brian Burke
B) Brian Burke
C) Brian Burke
D) Nik
E) Brian Burke

For those of you at home who answered D, this is the part where Moe Howard would bonk you on the head with a hammer.

Also, aside from making a really bad team, has Edmonton really done anything to avoid the basement?  It's not like they went out and signed players to make their team better.

Here were the bottom 5 teams in the NHL in the 1st year post-lockout:

Pittsburgh, Washington, Boston, St. Louis and Chicago

The bottom 5 teams in the NHL in the 2nd post-lockout year:

Philly, Washington, Phoenix, LA, Chicago

Chicago took 3 years to go from awful team to 100+ point team.  Washington did a very similar thing.

Edmonton has taken forever to be a playoff team because they have relied exclusively on the draft to get better.

Toronto has taken forever to be a playoff team because they have sat far too much in the middle between rebuilding and acquiring NHL ready assets.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Didn't Chicago go like 9 years being a bottom team?

 

[dappleganger]

Didn't Chicago go like 9 years being a bottom team?

Between '97-'98 and '07-'08, they only made the playoffs once, in '01-'02.


Also after the '85-'86 season, they changed their name to 'Chicago Blackhawks'.

They were previously 'Chicago Black Hawks'.

 

[Kin]

Tallon only took them over in '05 tho'.

 

[Champ Kind]

I don't know, I find the recent surge of anti-Burke sentiment unfair.  I liked the guy, I liked what he did for this team, and I think his legacy endures.  He went through some really difficult times and that may have impacted some of his behavior.  But I'm not sure how anyone can say that he didn't at least "help set the table" for the moderate success the Leafs are enjoying this year. 

I will no longer comment on Dave Feschuk or read his articles for that matter.  Of all the crap, biased Leaf reporting I've read, this is likely the worst.  When he says:

Nobody's saying Burke didn't make significant contributions to the organization. But his mistakes far overrode his successes...

I can't help but feel there's something more to the commentary because this is just, frankly, not true.  Hate Burke's approach, hate his personality, whatever.  But he did some good things for this team and, in my opinion, appeared honorable in doing so.

For anyone interested, here's the full article: link

 

[Zee]

I don't know, I find the recent surge of anti-Burke sentiment unfair.  I liked the guy, I liked what he did for this team, and I think his legacy endures.  He went through some really difficult times and that may have impacted some of his behavior.  But I'm not sure how anyone can say that he didn't at least "help set the table" for the moderate success the Leafs are enjoying this year. 

I will no longer comment on Dave Feschuk or read his articles for that matter.  Of all the crap, biased Leaf reporting I've read, this is likely the worst.  When he says:

Nobody's saying Burke didn't make significant contributions to the organization. But his mistakes far overrode his successes...

I can't help but feel there's something more to the commentary because this is just, frankly, not true.  Hate Burke's approach, hate his personality, whatever.  But he did some good things for this team and, in my opinion, appeared honorable in doing so.

For anyone interested, here's the full article: link

Read the article, it sounds like a personal vendetta against Burke, probably dating back to the incident where Feshuck interviewed Reimer's mom about his concussion, and Burke snapped.  I think Burke's biggest mistake was not firing Wilson before the start of the previous season.  He needed a coach in there that would get the team to play a more defensive style.  Sure he made some terrible free agent signings but his trades were pretty good, and the team as it stands was mostly put together by him.