Brian Burke

Brian Burke. You know him, and you either love him or hate him. It's easy to understand why either way. Burke is the kind of GM who doesn't hide behind jargon or double speak, and he is honest in both his approach to the media and building his teams. He has proven to be successful no matter where he has been, whether it was laying the building blocks for a franchise like Vancouver, or building the cup winner in Anaheim. Now he's been in Toronto for a few seasons, with mixed results. However, most will admit that the future is now bright for the Leafs, first time in a long time someone can actually say that.

After a seemingly disastrous trade with Boston for Phil Kessel, which got them Tyler Seguin and a Stanley Cup as well as this year's pick up defenseman Dougie Hamilton, Burke has managed to right the ship, and the team when on a remarkable late season run, being in the playoff hunt towards the end of the season, after yet another dismal Maple Leaf October. He also managed to recoup a first round draft pick (from boston of all teams) by FINALLY trading the last of the Muskoka 5, Tomas Kaberle in exchance for Joe Colborne, a 2011 first round pick, and a conditional pick in 2012. Let us not forget that he also managed to trade Brent Lebda for Cody Franson and Matthew Lombari (who is still battling concussions, but in a Lebda trade, it's a good pick up)...and there was much rejoicing. yay.

Despite his off season moves, there is another reason to like Brian Burke, and that's simply because he doesn't give one single miniscule puck what anyone thinks of his job. Let us go back to July 1st, the start of this crazy free agency period, and the absolute joke that was the Brad Richards frenzy. Let us not kid ourselves, everyone on their mother knew Brad Richards was going to sign in New York. Why they had that circus is beyond me, but regardless, Brian Burke was overseas visiting Canadian servicemen and women on Canada Day....and oh yeah He's American. Toronto Sun reporter Steve Simmons, who I generally appreciate his candor, went on to say that you don't do that kind of thing on the start of free agency. I can ALMOST understand the point he is trying to make, however in this technological age, there is no way Brian Burke wasn't in contact with the other people in the front office. The Leafs did manage to re-sign Grabovski and MacArthur, who were excellent last year for them, as well as sign Tim Connolly, who if healthy, will be their number one center which is something they sorely need to play alongside Kessel.

Perhaps the most, endearing (for lack of a better term) quality about Burke is how he speaks to the media. He's upfront, candid and honest. There is no mincing of words or tiptoeing through the tulips with Burke. Case in point, watch this video of the press conference he did a few days after free agency began. Look how he defends his players to the media, and doesn't take shit from anyone. Feel free to jump to about 9 minutes in and hear him respond to Steve Simmons. The fact that he is calling shenanigans on all these long term deals is great too. It's not like he's doing it to be spiteful or to complain for the sake of complaining *coughdeanlombardicough*. He's saying what everyone knows and no one else will admit. For that I have to say kudos to Brian Burke. Here is a guy in the biggest hockey market in the league, essentially giving the league the finger. I can only imagine that when all is said and done, when all these contracts aren't played out, Burke is going to have a shit eating grin on his face. Just to bring leafs fans down to Earth a bit, that'll happen before a parade.