MCKENZIE: MAPLE LEAFS REPORTEDLY FIRE BURKE AS GM"The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired general manager Brian Burke, reports TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie.
Burke had been the Maple Leafs' president and general manager since November 29, 2008. The club has missed the playoffs in every season under his watch and are coming off a 13th-place finish in the Eastern Conference.
The club will hold a press conference at 1:45pm et/2:45pm pt. Watch full coverage RIGHT NOW on TSN and TSN.ca for all the latest.
Burke's NHL career began in Vancouver in 1987 when he was hired by Pat Quinn to be the director of hockey operations for the Canucks.
In 1993, he left the job to become GM of the Hartford Whalers before stepping down after one just one season to join the NHL front office as executive vice president and director of hockey operations.
In 1998, he returned to Vancouver to become general manager of the Canucks and following the 2003-04 season, Canucks ownership chose not to renew his contract.
Burke then became general manager of the Anaheim Ducks, where he won the Stanley Cup in the 2006-07 NHL season. He stepped down as GM in 2008 and joined the Maple Leafs shortly thereafter, replacing interim GM Cliff Fletcher.
Burke was also the general manager for the United States national men's ice hockey team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver."
Leafs press conference can be watched HERE 1:45 ET
UPDATE: @TSNBobMcKenzie: Dave Nonis is the next GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Unclear whether that is interim or unconditional appointment.
TEAMS NEWS POSTS:
We've decided that with the season back, we'll be asking that Team News is posted once a month, preferably during the first week of the month, on the same weekly schedule as before. Visit this post to see the schedule.
Also, since a lot of people can't remember who's even on what team anymore (Me this morning: "Wait, when did Schenn get traded??") we're hoping that everyone can post a Season Preview for their team sometime before the season opens on the 19th. Thanks!