Saturday, October 22, 2011

How about those Leafs?

Brian Burke lucked into a Stanley Cup ring when he happened to be GM of the Annaheim Ducks when they won the cup in 2007. Even though the make-up of that winning team had little to do with him he was able to ride that victory to a new job as General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the iconic teams in the NHL.

The Leafs have yet to make the playoffs under Burke's stewardship. Even though his team beat Montreal in overtime tonight, nobody seriously believes they are contenders. Burke has been in the driver's seat for four years. Don't the fans at least deserve a contender?

Maybe not. There doesn't seem to be much of a link between keeping your job and having a winning record once you're at the general manager level. Look at Glen Sather. One of the highest paid front-room guys in the NHL. What's his record? Better than Brian Burke's I suppose, but certainly nothing to write home about. He's still milking the Gretzky cow.

The NHL has made the front office a pasture for lame-ass has-beens. Fans pay big bucks to see the NHL's product on the ice. It's time to give them what they pay for. Brian Burke may have a very compelling back story, but he's not the guy who will lead the Leafs to another Stanley Cup.

Let's see some changes now. Goodbye Burkey, and goodbye Mr. Wilson.

Go Leafs go.

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