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FROZEN FAITH

is it possible to build an empire
overnight? On January 9, 2013,
Brian Burke—President and General
Manager (GM) of the Toronto
Maple Leafs—was fired from his
duties for failing to live up to his
own expectations set years prior.
Personally, | believe that he had
dismantled a team that was holding
onto old assets. He stepped into the
office with virtually a star depleted
team, and rebuilt most of the
foundation that Toronto currently
occupies today. This is a big deal to
me, as well as Leaf Nation, because
| believe that Burke had not only lived
up to what he promised, but he had
created a whole new atmosphere
and a new look to an_ original
franchise. | would like to take a look
at what Brian Burke accomplished
during his tenure with the Leafs, why
Dave Nonis shouldn't have control of
the club, and why Kyle Dubas should
be the next GM of Toronto.

Brian Burke was hired on
November 29, 2009, after stepping
down from a management position
with the Anaheim Ducks. At this point
the Leafs were coming off numerous
disappointing seasons having not
made the playoffs since before the
lockout in 2003. | am the avid fan
watching the games from the comfort
of my living room; | was ecstatic
about the change. | would tell myself
that things could not get any worse
since the team was already one of
the worst teams in the league. The
way he handled himself in interviews
was phenomenal. Saying he would
create a new look to the organization

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by : Drew Adams

and build a team that was fit for North American style hockey.
He would use intriguing words like truculence, pugnacity,
testosterone, and belligerence when he would describe the team
that he envisioned. It sounded like just the team | wanted, and
just the team we needed. These are just words he spoke though,
so would he follow through? During Burke’s four year tenure
as GM of the Leafs he had brought in a core group of players.
Within the first year he had made over twelve trades. The first
big splash was when he traded two first round draft picks for
Phil Kessel, an already developed and promising superstar. Leaf
Nation erupted—pissed off about giving up two years of first
round picks for an American born hockey player. He acquired
defensemen like Dion Phaneuf and Francios Beauchemin, tough
guys like Colton Orr and Jay Rosehill, and one prospect that
particularly stands out, NazemKadri.