Brian Burke Out as Leafs GM

Well, puck heads, since the lockout is over, players are returning to the ice and general managers are trying to beef up their team with players so that they have a great season. Well, unfortunately, for one GM, he won't be calling the shots anymore in terms of players and trades.

That's right. The Toronto Maple Leafs, a team I worship at times and has great colors and a retro look, have fired general manager Brian Burke. He was also relieved as president, but will remain as a senior advisor to the Maple Leafs' board. He has been with Toronto since November 29, 2008 but was not able to bring Toronto to the playoffs in his years as the Leafs GM.

The Leafs have not made the playoffs since the 2003-04 season and now they will hope that the former GM of the Vancouver Canucks, Dave Nonis, will lead them to that playoff appearance. Nonis was the team's senior vice president of hockey operations, but now he'll be under more pressure as the new GM to bring in the right players so that coach Randy Carlyle can effectively guide the team to the playoffs.

You may recall the Leafs changed owners in June but the timing of this firing might come as a surprise to people, considering the fact that training camps are due to start on Sunday and that the season will start next week on Jan. 19.

The MLSE president Tom Anselmi said Burke handled the news with "a lot of class."

"It's a shock for a lot of people." said Nonis. "Brian had a pretty strong rapport with a number of them and was very good for them."

Unfortunately, Nonis does not have a lot of grieve and that this will have to be a quick turnaround in a lockout-shortened season. Plus, the Leafs and their fans really want a playoff to cheer in. However, Nonis did say Randy Carlyle and his staff will stay on. Burke hired him late last season after firing Ron Wilson.

Burke won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and was the GM for the USA team that won the silver in the 2010 Olympics.

Well, good luck to you, Brian Burke. There's plenty of NHL jobs out there to search for. One will pop up for you. Meanwhile, the Leafs have a lot of work ahead of them and it'll be up to Nonis to see if he can put the pieces into place to make it a successful season.