The Hockey News: Headlines: Source: Brian Burke and Leafs come to terms on president-GM deal

Source: Brian Burke and Leafs come to terms on president-GM deal

2008-11-27 19:20:00

TORONTO - Brian Burke and the Maple Leafs have agreed to terms on a deal that would see the former Anaheim GM take over as Toronto's president and general manager.

A source confirmed the two sides had come to terms, with an announcement expected Saturday. Burke would become the 13th general manager in the club's 92-year history. He stepped down as Ducks GM on Nov. 12.

Reports have pegged the deal as a six-year contract, including the rest of this season and five more, worth about US$3 million a year.

The news comes after months of speculation about Burke's future.

"I am really excited that Brian is able to get this straightened out, if it is true," Toronto coach Ron Wilson said.

He'll replace Cliff Fletcher, who was hired as interim general manager following the firing of John Ferguson in January.

"He's done a great job setting the table for Burkie. An unbelievable job," Wilson said after the Maple Leafs' 2-1 shootout loss in Ottawa on Thursday night.

Burke spent the past three-plus seasons managing the Ducks, leading them to a Stanley Cup title in 2007. He stepped down after declining to sign a contract extension that would take him beyond this season.

His arrival in Toronto will be greeted by a few familiar faces. Burke and coach Ron Wilson are former roommates at Providence College while he and player personnel director Al Coates worked together with the Ducks.

While Burke delivered a Stanley Cup to Anaheim in 2007, it was a different kind of situation than he'll face in Toronto. The Ducks already had young stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in their system when he arrived, along with No. 1 goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere. The Leafs are nowhere near that rich in talent right now as they begin the process of rebuilding.

The Maple Leafs have already undergone some significant renovations during 11 months with Fletcher at the helm. He has shipped 11 regulars out of town - including a trade earlier this week that saw Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo sent to St. Louis for Lee Stempniak.

COMMENTS (14)

Sort: Oldest | Newest | Love | Hate Filter: All | Videos

J H Posted
(2009-04-30 07:23:38)

I think it is a done deal. It is definitely going to be interesting in Toronto as well as the NHL with Brian Burke at the helm. I really don't know how he will do in Toronto with the rebuilding process, but I think he is perfect for the job on a personality level. There is 5 reasons why he will succeed in toronto I think. He is a loudmouth, Ron wilson, nowhere to go but up, he'll bring the attention back to toronto, and he is the best suited person for this job. we'll see how he does the next 6 years

Paul W Posted
(2009-04-30 07:23:34)

what a plum job !..6 year deal,9 million to spend in off-season(probably 13M when Blake is gone), likely getting a high draft pick this year and not really any UFA's to resign in the off-season. what GM wouldn't like those terms??...certainly wasen't the situation that JFJ had when he came in, were he was expected to win immediately or else !

Brandon Posted
(2009-04-30 07:23:33)

Man of Speel, are you JFJ in disguise? lol. You're GM approach would likely be to give up something for nothing and acquire nothing for something. lol

Bob Allisat Posted
(2009-04-30 07:23:33)

BUILD, DEVELOP, YOUTH. Try a dozen undiscovered, hot new players and goalies and then sign the best to first contracts. Then you'll see some hungry dog motivated play. The rest of the slackers and million dollar babies go. As for all those old farts on the MLSE Board of "Directors" they better keep their noses the heck out of hockey and into crooked condo deals. Or Burke is likely to tell them to F.O. and find work tomorrow morning in any other great Hockey city.

Cai Dizzle Posted
(2009-04-30 07:23:33)

The rest of Canada doesn't care!!!!!!!!!!

Jim Posted
(2009-04-30 07:23:32)

Man of speel, I hate to tell you, but Toskala, even though he is playing like crap right now, is worth more than a 4th round pick. At trade deadline, you dont realize what people will give up, the sharks were ready to hand over a first rounder last year for Kubina, and kaberle was going to Philly for a first rounder and Jeff Carter. Toskala, would probably get you a good prospect and a second rounder. Maybe a first if someone is desperate.

Beleaf Posted
(2009-04-30 07:23:32)

I shouldn't have used the term "high" draft picks I suppose for Antripov and Ponikarovsky, but I believe that Kaberle and Toskala can indeed accomplish this (and by high picks, I'm not necessarily referring to 1st rounders - a 2nd or 3rd rounder is just as valuable). That being said, imo, with Burke as GM the return would be far greater than what one would expect for the 2 Russians. His ability to assess prospects and draft the right players is what makes him highly sought after as a GM. This is in large part of course due to his ability to gather the right advisors around him, but that's what a good manager does. So while Antripov and Ponikarovsky might be 3rd-liners on another team, and the return might be low draft picks or prospects that have been given up on, Burke has the ability to draft future stars with these picks, or see a hidden gem in a prospect. As for Toskala, if he was put up on the trading block, he'd easily be the most sought-after goalie in the league by teams looking for better goaltending. He's playing on one of the worst teams in the league - if he were on a better team, his #'s would be much better. He is a #1 goalie without a doubt, and every GM in the league knows this.

Man_of_Speel Posted
(2009-04-30 07:23:31)

First of all Beleaf, the only player of the four that will get anything significant for would be Kaberle. The two Russians would be third to fourth liners on any other team in the NHL. Toskala would get some kind of return but not near what people believe maybe third or fourth round pick nothing more

Beleaf Posted
(2009-04-30 07:23:31)

I'd like to see Kaberle, Ponikarovsky, Antripov, and Toskala now traded for good prospects and high draft picks, let the Leafs play-out this season and finish last, buy-out Blake's contract at season's end (if they can't trade him before for a sack of pucks), and draft Tavares. Build the team around Schenn, Tavares, and Pogge with Grabovski, Stajan, Stempniak, and Finger as a start to the supporting cast. Ride out the next few seasons as an up-and-coming team, let the 3 cornerstones develop and mature, hope that the prospects and draft picks from Kaberle/Toskala/Antripov/Ponikarovsky start coming to fruition by then, majority of the supporting cast will then be tested veterans, and the Leafs will actually look like a contender by then. Biggest mistake would be to try and pull moves to improve the team immediately and try to make this year's playoffs, or become a stronger team in the next year or two. Then we're right back to where we started, and no better.

David Cooper Posted
(2009-04-30 07:23:31)

One thing is for sure ... if Brian Bruke can't lick the Leafs into some kind of shape, then likely no one can. That's not to say he'll turn them into a cup winner any time soon, but making, and competing in, the play-offs has to be the goal for the next few seasons.