Leafs to give Burke 23 million reasons to leave ANA

[MacK_Attack 108]

There may be 23 million reasons Brian Burke is seriously contemplating leaving his post with the defending Stanley Cup champions for the crazy challenge of running the Maple Leafs.

That's the figure kicking around the hockey world that is expected to lure Burke from the Anaheim Ducks for the opportunity to rebuild the moribund Maple Leafs.

Five years and $23 million. Although some are saying that Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. will go as high as $25 million with perks if need be to get the man at the top of their wish list to take over the club's hockey operation.

For now, Burke isn't saying a word. Which for him, a man full of verbiage, can't be easy. Numerous Sun Media calls to his personal cellphone went unreturned yesterday.

And calls and messages left for lawyer Gordon Kirke, who is the key sporting figure in the two-man search committee to hire the Leafs next president and general manager, also were not returned yesterday.

http://torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/0...353881-sun.html

[zata40 3]

Does this mean the ducks will starts sucking again!

than again it is the torontosun, so i shouldn't get my hopes up

[MacK_Attack 108]

Does this mean the ducks will starts sucking again!

than again it is the torontosun, so i shouldn't get my hopes up

Here's Toronto Star:

The Maple Leafs are believed willing to make their new GM the highest-paid executive in the game and there are rumours the team is dangling a contract that would pay in the neighbourhood of $5 million per season. Peddie has also said his new man would run the hockey side of the operation autonomously, in similar fashion to the freedom Raptors president Bryan Colangelo enjoys on the basketball side.

Also, Burke's wife Jennifer is a noted broadcaster and host of a CBC show in the Vancouver market. It is believed that MLSE board member Ivan Fecan, who also happens to be CEO of the CTV network, has already opened the door for to get a job here. The couple has two children, aged 2 and 4, and the travel schedule for an executive with an Eastern Conference-based team is much lighter than a club in the West.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Hockey/article/416920

[zata40 3]

Here's Toronto Star:

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Hockey/article/416920

sweet, their is still hope.

[edicius 3,269]

Well, it's not like he can screw up the Leafs even more...

Oh wait, yes he can. He'll probably bring Bertuzzi with him.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Well, it's not like he can screw up the Leafs even more...

Oh wait, yes he can. He'll probably bring Bertuzzi with him.

He obviously didn't handle the situation well this season, but its hard to knock the playoff success he's had the past 5 seasons.

[Opie 308]

I have never been a huge fan of the guy but to say he would be worse than JFJ is a hard sell.

So even if he does mediocre as a GM there, he will be viewed as a success compared to whom he is following.

You never want to be the guy to follow a legend, but being the guy to follow a failure (in the eyes of Leafs fans) is not always a bad place to go. I mean seriously, how much worse can he make them, I mean besides bringing in Bert!

Look at it this way, the Ducks have a ton of UFA and RFA players this year and next.

Maybe he could take a couple of their players, then after next year he brings in Chrissy Boy!!

Then Nashville is moved to Oklahoma and Det and Tor are in the same division. I can dream can't I!!!

He could make the Maple Leafs better, could he make them champions, why not?!

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Sidenote: I love when people use the phrase "such-and-such million reasons". Technically, Burke makes a hell of a nice salary and while I'm not sure the amount (lets just assume $2-$2.5 million per year), wouldn't it make sense to to say "MLSE gives Burke $12-$15 million reasons to leave Anaheim" since that's the amount over what he's already making?

Hard to count the amount of money he's already making as "one of the reasons".

[Duck Guy 86]

i will be very erked if he does leave he has been great for the ducks

The Ducks are having talks with General Manager Brian Burke about a contract extension amid increasing speculation that the Toronto Maple Leafs have targeted him for the same job in their organization.

Michael Schulman, the Ducks' chief executive, would not say whether there have been formal discussions to extend Burke's contract, which runs through next season

-LATIMES.here

Edited April 22, 2008 by Duck Guy

[DraperFan MN 0]

i will be very erked if he does leave he has been great for the ducks

The Ducks are having talks with General Manager Brian Burke about a contract extension amid increasing speculation that the Toronto Maple Leafs have targeted him for the same job in their organization.

Michael Schulman, the Ducks' chief executive, would not say whether there have been formal discussions to extend Burke's contract, which runs through next season

-LATIMES.here

Duck Guy,

I like you. You're a stand up guy, so I don't mean to offend you when I say this:

I could care less if there is a successful franchise in Anaheim, and Brian Burke staying in Anaheim (while I really dislike the guy) gives the Ducks a better chance of being successful.

I do care if there is a successful franchise in Toronto. I hope Burke leaves, and leaves promptly to revive the Maple Leaf.

[Reds4Life 51]

If Burke leaves Anaheim, Ducks are screwed. I wouldn't mind it though

[Duck Guy 86]

Duck Guy,

I like you. You're a stand up guy, so I don't mean to offend you when I say this:

I could care less if there is a successful franchise in Anaheim, and Brian Burke staying in Anaheim (while I really dislike the guy) gives the Ducks a better chance of being successful.

I do care if there is a successful franchise in Toronto. I hope Burke leaves, and leaves promptly to revive the Maple Leaf.

haha its all chill i am pretty sure most people here would like to see burke go to toronto to help them out rather then stay at the duckies

Edited April 22, 2008 by Duck Guy

[esteef 2,679]

f*** Burke either way! Just think of all the "loopholes" he can find with Toronto backing him!

[bellarina 1]

f*** Burke either way! Just think of all the "loopholes" he can find with Toronto backing him!

Here here!!

[Yemack 1]

I live in Toronto and it would be Toronto media's dream if Burke comes here.

Although I don't know if Duthie in TSN would welcome it. oh man there is going to be a quite firework

[betterREDthandead 58]

Bookmark this post and come find it in two years. If Burke goes to the Leafs, the Leafs will turn into classless, leg-stomping, elbowing, sucker-punching, dirty rotten goons. That's what Anaheim is now. That's what Vancouver was when Burke was GM there. Remember Bertuzzi-Moore? Remember Bryan Allen and Z? Marc Crawford? Hell, Toronto wasn't far off that a couple years ago - just wait til Burke gets into town.

I have less than zero respect for Burke because of the way his teams play under his "leadership". Burke was the league's disciplinarian, the one and same guy who handed down a whopping one-game suspension for Clod the Turtle's hit on Draper.

If Burke goes to Toronto, the Ducks will fade back into both mediocrity and a semblance of respectability for their conduct. And the Leafs will go right back to their Darcy Tucker, Bryan Marchment ways, only twice as bad.

Just watch.

[ashenhigh 9]

Bookmark this post and come find it in two years. If Burke goes to the Leafs, the Leafs will turn into classless, leg-stomping, elbowing, sucker-punching, dirty rotten goons. That's what Anaheim is now. That's what Vancouver was when Burke was GM there. Remember Bertuzzi-Moore? Remember Bryan Allen and Z? Marc Crawford? Hell, Toronto wasn't far off that a couple years ago - just wait til Burke gets into town.

I have less than zero respect for Burke because of the way his teams play under his "leadership". Burke was the league's disciplinarian, the one and same guy who handed down a whopping one-game suspension for Clod the Turtle's hit on Draper.

If Burke goes to Toronto, the Ducks will fade back into both mediocrity and a semblance of respectability for their conduct. And the Leafs will go right back to their Darcy Tucker, Bryan Marchment ways, only twice as bad.

Just watch.

on the nose, well said.

[akustyk 84]

He obviously didn't handle the situation well this season, but its hard to knock the playoff success he's had the past 5 seasons.

technically speaking, you can give it to Burke for being able to develop

a team based on good draft picks from previous GM into a nasty pack

playing over the edge and escaping with this strategy because NHL and

its refs don't have balls call a penalty what is a penalty and tends to

pamper its super-stars (Pronger) and let them escape with what nonstars

are whipped.

Burke is not a bad GM but gets waaaay too much credit. let him run

the Ducks for another 5 years and we'll all see what he's worth.

I mean: people often say Holland won cups because he had Ilitches

money and good draft core left to him. but this guy kept Wings on

top of the NHL despite lockout (which was a severe blow to Wings

future) despite huge shortage in draft talent supply. Lamiorello is

similar story, and have also to give it to guys like Sutter in Calgary

who run a team that simply is for real when it comes to playoffs.

but despite all this all we hear is how wonderful Burke is. yeah...

at screwing NHL rules and using his old friend at offices to cover

up for this.

I want him to go to Toronto and have sick relation with MLSE

(which he'll surely have if nothing changes there). they might

finally make it to playoffs but I really don't see this becoming

a true story. which would only show the real value of overrated

Burke

[FrozenPuck 0]

Can't see the owners of the Ducks doing the Leafs a favor and just lettting him go. There'd have to be a hell of a return for the Ducks - a myriad of picks, something Toronto needs if they're rebuilding.

[MacK_Attack 108]

Can't see the owners of the Ducks doing the Leafs a favor and just lettting him go. There'd have to be a hell of a return for the Ducks - a myriad of picks, something Toronto needs if they're rebuilding.

The Ducks owner has always said he'd let Burke go if he wants to go.

Teams are no longer allowed to be compensated if their executives or coaches leave for a team in the midst of a contract.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Burke to the Leafs - e5

Bertuzzi to the Leafs - e5

You heard it here first!

[ilmickeyli 40]

Burke to the Leafs - e5

Bertuzzi to the Leafs - e5

You heard it here first!

hahahahhaha

[Duck Guy 86]

Burke to the Leafs - e5

Bertuzzi to the Leafs - e5

You heard it here first!

lol they can have bertuzzi if they want

[MacK_Attack 108]

lol they can have bertuzzi if they want

Bertuzzi for Jason Blake.

[akustyk 84]

Bertuzzi for Jason Blake.

the scariest thing about that is that Bertuzzi might even be had

for Boyd Deveraux. now rewind the time to 2004 and tell Wings

fans they could have had the Thug for Void