I really think this is about the new owners, Bell/Rogers, wanting to bring in their own guy that will "tow the corporate line" so to speak. 4 of the 6 board of directors of MLSE are either Rogers or Bell employees. The last two are minority owner Tanebaum, and Dale Lastman who is a high profile lawyer in Toronto. Do you think Bell/Rogers have their fingers all over this thing?
As for timing, I don't think it is that questionable. Burke was one of the Leafs representatives during the CBA negotiations. They could not fire him during the negotiation process. There is a trade freeze until the new CBA is ratified. Teams cannot make deals until it is signed on the dotted line. If the board of directors wanted a new guy, their new guy, why not wait till Burke has finished the negotiations, and then relieve him of his duties before he can make any personnel decisions/moves/trades. Then bring in your new guy just before the trade freeze has lifted and he can start making all of the decisions.
Look what the new owners have done to the TFC. They have already changed the manager, coach, etc. Now they are doing it to the Leafs. If I was Bryan Colangelo of the Raptors, I would be calling my agent and my real estate agent!
Just my take on the whole thing. Your thoughts/opinions would be appreciated!
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14 Team Keeper PTS, +/-, PIM's *.3 20 Players, 4 center, 8 wing, 6 D-men, 2 Goalies, NHL cap $83 Million
Centers E Staal, Tavares, Willson, Roy
Wing Bourque, Malone, Eberle, Paajarvi, Kovalchuk, Kessel, Lupul, Zuccarello
Defence Seabrook, Burns, Carlson, Karlsson, OEL, JJ
Goal Kipper, Crawford
Taxi Eller, S. Koivu, Car Bomb, Bertuzzi, Armstrong, B. Campbell, Omark, Sobotka, T. Mitchell, Raymond
Prospects RNH, Strome, Connolly, McNeil, Niederreitter, Shirokov, Nemisz, Marincin, Teubert, R. Murphy
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