The level of angst across Leaf Nation was incredible over the past week after Brian Burke announced that he would be completing the term of his current contract and staying in Anaheim for another season. Then to top it off, the ever vigilant media did 48 hours of nonstop analysis.
If Brian Burke really wanted to come to the Toronto Maple Leafs he could get out of his contract. If he expressed a strong enough desire to leave Anaheim, his employer would let him go. Afterall, who would allow someone to be in charge of their organization who didn't want to be there. Burke may want to move out east to be closer to his family but in his mind it doesn't have to be the Leafs. Then again, he does like his situation in Anaheim so he may even be persuaded to sign a contract extension. So forget the nonsense about waiting out the year for Burke. He's not that interested in Toronto.
But don't despair Leaf Nation. Burke is not a hockey Messiah. He has a good track record but he is not at the top of the heap. As GM of the Canucks, Burke’s teams missed the playoffs two of six years, went out in the first round three times and were eliminated in 7 games by the Wild in their lone second round appearance in 2003. He had some awful draft picks with the Canucks and traded R.J. Umberger for Martin Rucinsky - a move that just reeks of JFJ/ MLSE level incompetence: a first round prospect exchanged for an oft-injured mid-pack vet who played all of 13 games for the Canucks. Burke traded away a Canucks’ first round pick to bring Trevor Linden back to Vancouver. And what became of that first round pick? The Caps used it to select a guy by the name of Alexander Semin. The ridiculous Bertuzzi signing. I could go on and on to point out terrible draft picks, signings and trades made by Burke but why bother. He's not coming to Toronto anyway.
Though the top executives are just not available and likely not interested in moving here. However, there are some good executives who just as good as Burke who might be interested in the Leaf job. Don't ask me who they are. However, the media just can stop speculating who might get the job and quite a few swear to have inside information. Somehow I doubt Gord Kirke knows himself. With 8 teams still in the playoffs, he may still need to wait to get permission to talk to some candidates.
But if I was asked to come up with a name of a guy who would do a great job and would also be available, it would be Doug Armstrong. He apprenticed under Bob Gainey and was an Assistant GM when the Stars one the Stanley Cup. He built the current Stars team that just knocked off the Ducks and could do the same to the Sharks. You could do a lot worse.
12 years ago
