Leafs fire Burke, appoint Dave Nonis as new GM

The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped a bomb on the hockey world Wednesday, firing general manager Brian Burke and replacing him with his protege Dave Nonis.

The surprising news comes just days before the lockout-shortened season is about to begin.

The league and its players agreed to a tentative agreement over the weekend to end the lockout. The league’s board of governors is holding a ratification vote Wednesday in New York.

Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment president Tom Anselmi made the announcement at a hastily called news conference in Toronto. He said Burke will remain with the Leafs as a senior adviser.

The decision came after MLSE’s new ownership group conducted an exhaustive review of all the company’s properties and concluded it was time for a change in the Leafs front office.

“We’ve decided to make a leadership change and move in a different direction for the general manager role,” said Anselmi.

MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum, who is in New York to attend the NHL meetings said it was “a decision of the board.”

When asked if he had a role in the decision too he said “Well I’m on the board.”

Anselmi said there was not “one incident or any one thing” that led to Burke’s dismissal.

“This was a decision that the board and myself collectively made,” Anselmi said. “It’s the product of a conversation that has been going on for some time.”

The sale of MLSE to BCE and Rogers Communications was finalized in August. Anselmi said the operational review began sometime after that.

Nonis and Burke have a long history after working together in Vancouver before coming to the Leafs.

“I’ve worked for Brian for most of my adult life and he’s always been a great friend and mentor,” Nonis said.

Burke held the Leafs job for just over four years. The team missed the playoffs in every season under his watch and is coming off a disappointing 13th-place finish in the Eastern Conference in 2011-12.

They made a head coaching change late last season, hiring Randy Carlyle to replace Ron Wilson.

Before being named GM and team president in November 2008, Burke spent three-plus seasons managing the Anaheim Ducks and guided them to a Stanley Cup win in 2007.

He also previously served in the NHL front office as senior vice-president and director of hockey operations and as general manager of the Vancouver Canucks and Hartford Whalers. The 57-year-old Providence, R.I., native was also GM of the 2010 U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team.

He arrived in Toronto as a somewhat divisive figure. Some fans hailed him as the saviour of the franchise, while others worried he wouldn’t be capable of rebuilding a team that hasn’t appeared in a playoff game since 2004.

Burke wasn’t afraid to make some big moves during his time with the Maple Leafs.

He landed Dion Phaneuf in a seven-player deal with Calgary in 2010 and the defenceman was named team captain. But Burke’s most hotly debated trade was a 2009 deal with Boston, when he acquired sniper Phil Kessel for two first-round draft picks and a second-round selection.

The Bruins used the picks to select star forward Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton and Jared Knight.

Nonis won’t have much time to prepare.

The league and union reached a tentative agreement to end the 113-day lockout last weekend. Pending ratification from both sides, the NHL is targeting a 48-game season that would begin Jan. 19.

“We’re going to have a very short window in order to make some decisions about this hockey team,” said Nonis. “We’re going to focus on that right now.”

[View the story “Twitter reaction to firing of Leafs GM Brian Burke” on Storify]

Twitter reaction to firing of Leafs GM Brian Burke

Storified by CityNews.ca· Wed, Jan 09 2013 12:05:12

The @MapleLeafs fire Brian Burke… Never saw this coming. Not so soon at least.Kyle Davidson
Brian Burke fired? That’s kind of uncalled for… I think he should have gotten one more year #LeafsNationNick Harrietha
.@BDayspring @Drlipid Brian Burke to be announced as new Jets GM. Not Winnipeg. New York.Jeff Carbone
I’m no Leafs fan (go Habs go!) but even I’m baffled by Brian Burke being fired. The hell is going on in Toronto??Laurie Lachapelle
WOW. Some pretty shady, underhanded mistreatment of Brian Burke, formerly of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was shafted. #powerstruggles #fbGoulet’sGirl
@mawetton: @CityNews stupid move. 48 game season…should have left things as they were #bestofluckbrian.Mary Anne Wetton
@CityNews @realkyper first the walk out then this. No Stanley Cup again this year. If I wasn’t mad at the Leafs before I am now. Just sad.Dale Crombie
@Rattube strange timing. I never thought he was the right fitAshley Ferriss
@CityNews I’m shocked at the timing. Not surprised as the Leafs haven’t made playoffs once under his watch. Best wishes Brian. Respect! :(Leonard Cloutier
As a fan of the Montreal Canadiens today’s news that Brian Burke was fired deeply saddens me.Alessandro Barreca
Brian Burke fired? Well, no way the Leafs can make the playoffs any less than they were before. Interested to see how that plays out.Rob Stemen

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