Maple Leafs Trade Rumors

"Former Vancouver Canuck general manager Dave Nonis said today he has had no discussions with the Toronto Maple Leafs about a management position with their team. Speaking on his regularly scheduled radio appearance on TEAM 1040, Nonis also said he would listen if the Leafs did call. "I haven't talked to anyone from Toronto at this time," Nonis replied when asked about anonymously sourced reports out of Toronto. "If they do decide to bring me in [for an interview] and tell me what they're thinking, there'll be a decision to be made."

" As the Dallas Stars slammed the Maple Leafs' door on Fabian Brunnstrom, the Leafs might have been unrolling a welcome mat for Dave Nonis. Speculation is percolating that Nonis will be in Toronto early next week, possibly on Monday, for an interview with the Leafs regarding the vacant general manager's job. "

"As anyone who's seen an Oliver Stone movie can tell you, it's now clear that Wednesday's TSN report was the first act in a sequence of events which will inevitably lead to Brian Burke and Dave Nonis reuniting in Toronto to run the Maple Leafs. I mean, who would argue differently? The crack management team at Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment has long since targeted Burke as the man who would be king of their empire. Nonis, his close confederate and former first lieutenant with the Vancouver Canucks, has recently been made available amid an equally interesting set of circumstances. Put it all together and the inescapable conclusion is Nonis has been approached to serve as a caretaker GM in Toronto while Burke completes the last year of his contract with the Anaheim Ducks."

"Paul Maurice is out as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and now the rumour mill can start churning, both over who's his replacement and who's the new boss. In the latter case, will that search lead back to Vancouver?...As for who might be part of that "new regime," the big rumour Wednesday was that recently fired Canucks GM Dave Nonis could be hooking up with the Leafs. TSN reported Toronto had approached Vancouver for permission to speak with Nonis. And the Canucks' response? "We do not plan on making any statement to confirm or deny the report," a team official told The Vancouver Sun."

" The curious timing of the firing of Paul Maurice leads only to further intrigue around the ever-intriguing and often inept Maple Leafs. Why fire Maurice now, especially after interim boss Cliff Fletcher announced at the end of the regular season that he wasn't going to make a decision on the coach -- and that the determination would be made by the new general manager? Why fire Maurice now, when the timing coincides with the Leafs asking for permission to talk to fired Vancouver GM Dave Nonis but have yet to have any meaningful conversation with him? What if Nonis, in some front-office role with the Leafs, wants Maurice to coach? What then? And what now? "

"The gang's all here: Steve Yzerman. Doug Armstrong. Bob Nicholson. Brian Burke. Even Scotty Bowman. Many of the names associated with the vacant Leaf general manager's job have come to Halifax for the world championships at some point, providing an opportunity for one-stop shopping. The Leafs' search committee, however, has not. "It does sound like a great grocery store, though," joked lawyer Gordon Kirke, who's on the committee with Leaf president Richard Peddie. Yzerman is here as Team Canada's GM, Armstrong is his assistant and Nicholson is the president of Hockey Canada."

"Did the timing of the dismissal mean the Leafs had found their general manager and were allowing him to arrive without blood on his hands? Did it mean the Leafs are so far from finding Fletcher's successor that the Silver Fox realized he'd better do what he said he wouldn't – fire the coach – and get on with rebuilding the club himself? Will Fletcher run the team until Brian Burke is freed up from his contract obligations in Anaheim next summer? Will the Leafs replace the current interim with another interim, say recently deposed Vancouver GM Dave Nonis, until Burke can arrive as the saviour? And why hasn't Burke signed that extension in Duckland yet?"

"The Maple Leafs are still waiting to hear if they have landed Swedish free-agent winger Fabian Brunnstrom. The 23-year-old had narrowed the field of suitors to four – Toronto, Dallas, Detroit and Montreal – and it was anticipated he would announce the decision on where he wants to play yesterday. But there was no definitive word. "We expect to hear in the next couple of days," Toronto's interim general manager Cliff Fletcher said. "

"Intrigue continues to swirl around the Avalanche's head coaching situation. Joel Quenneville's contract with the Avalanche runs out June 30 and general manager Francois Giguere has yet to give him an extension or disavow speculation he might be thinking of a change. Meanwhile, the coaching job with the Toronto Maple Leafs became vacant Wednesday. That is the team Quenneville grew up idolizing in Windsor, Ontario. It was the first team he played for in the NHL and the organization he got his coaching start with in 1991. The man who hired Quenneville as an assistant with the St. John's Maple Leafs, is current Toronto general manager Cliff Fletcher...Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere said he won't discuss specifics regarding Quenneville's status."

"The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired coach Paul Maurice, sources tell TSN. Maurice originally joined the Maple Leafs orginization June 24, 2005 as head coach of Toronto's AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies. He was promoted to the Maple Leafs on May 12, 2006 following Pat Quinn's dismissal. Assistant coach Randy Ladouceur has also been let go. Maurice compiled a 164-76-65-22 record in two season with the Leafs, missing the playoffs both years."

"Who is Fabian Brunnstrom and why are so many NHL teams - including the Canadiens - interested in him? Brunnstrom is back home in Sweden trying to decide where he would like to play after a whirlwind North American tour. He spent two days in Montreal, visited Detroit and Denver, and talked to people in Dallas and Toronto. He has been hailed as the best hockey player not under contract to an NHL team and has attracted a lot of attention as a 23-year-old free agent. Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey said yesterday he felt Brunnstrom has the talent to play in the NHL, but a quick look at the Swede's résumé suggests this guy poses more questions than Alex Trebek."

"But is it all over for good? That's the multi-million dollar question that Sundin refuses to answer, maintains he can't answer yet. "I don't even know whether I want to continue playing, put in the work that's necessary to start another season. I have to listen to my body and I'm not hearing anything yet." Nor has he heard, Sundin points out, from the Leafs about whether there's any interest in him. "They don't even have a new GM yet. Who knows if that person will want me? Shouldn't it be up to them to let me know first? I mean, it's impossible to have this conversation until other decisions are made.""

"A question mark continues to float over winger Darcy Tucker's future in Toronto, with indications persisting that he will be the first Leaf to be bought out of his contract once the period for buyouts opens June 15. Tucker remains in the dark about whether he will return for a ninth season in a Maple Leafs uniform this fall. And while no one from Leafs management has contacted him, it's believed the 33-year-old winger's name has already passed through the board level at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment as a leading candidate for a contract buyout."

"Vancouver isn't on Fabian Brunnstrom's travel itinerary, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Canucks are off the list of NHL teams with whom the Swedish free agent may potentially sign. Brunnstrom was reported in Dallas on Tuesday and will also be travelling to Detroit and Montreal and likely Toronto for some mutual tire kicking, as the 23-year-old forward gets down to the nitty gritty of where he will play in the NHL this fall. The Canucks were on the verge of getting Brunnstrom's name on a contract two weeks ago, but the surprise firing of GM Dave Nonis put the move on hold."

"Sources tell TSN Swedish prospect Fabian Brunnstrom is in Dallas and attended Game 3 of the Stars - San Jose Sharks Conference Semifinals with the Stars showing great interest in signing him. Brunnstrom is on a mini-North American tour, checking out the cities he is considering as potential sites to begin his NHL career. He is expected to be in Denver on Thursday for Game 4 between the Avalanche and Red Wings."

"Wherever he goes, off or on the ice, Avery attracts attention. There are goons and there are goofs – and we mean that in a good way, sort of. What team wouldn't want him, the way he has been playing, mixing agitation with aggression and the odd goal? The Maple Leafs could do worse in the summer free agent market."

"Many theories have been put forth about the abrupt halt in the Maple Leafs' pursuit of Brian Burke, including a rumour that the National Hockey League interceded to keep him in Anaheim for the final year of his contract."

"The announcement Wednesday that Brian Burke would be returning to the Anaheim Ducks for the last year on his contract struck us as being, well, somewhat academic."

"The Maple Leafs might deploy Mats Sundin as a closer in their pursuit of free-agent Swedish forward Fabian Brunnstrom."

"Brian Burke very much wanted to talk to the Maple Leafs about their opening for a new hockey boss. But his bosses with the Anaheim Ducks said no chance. That, in short, is what happened yesterday, just 24 hours after Burke said he didn't know if he'd be back with the Ducks next season. Burke will now have to grit his teeth and fulfill the fourth and final year of his existing contract next season knowing he could have had the Leaf job."

" Peddie, the president and CEO of MLSEL, and sports lawyer Kirke now have some interesting choices: - Wait for the playoffs to run their course and see if any high-profile names become available. Should the Detroit Red Wings or San Jose Sharks go all the way, GMs Ken Holland or Doug Wilson might look to cash in elsewhere. - Concentrate on unfettered candidates, such as Doug Armstrong or Jim Rutherford. - Go after team presidential timber such as NHL exec Colin Campbell and sports agent Don Meehan and let them make the call on a GM. - Stay the course with interim GM Cliff Fletcher. "

"The Maple Leafs general manager search will now move past Brian Burke and continue with further candidate interviews, but the end process may wind up where it currently sits – with Cliff Fletcher in command. "The process continues," said Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment president Richard Peddie last night, after word that Burke – the apparent frontrunner for the Leafs job – would be staying in Anaheim to honour the final year of his contract. The Leafs had no further comment, keeping with the organization's party line set by both Peddie and Toronto sports lawyer Gord Kirke, who are in charge of the interview process. Peddie said the fact the GM search "continues" is in no way affected by Burke's decision. "

"Brian Burke said nothing yesterday to quell speculation he may be Toronto bound as the next general manager of the Maple Leafs."

"Burke couldn't give a straight answer because as much as he likes to slag media in these parts about unfounded rumours, he knows darn well he is at the top of the Maple Leafs' list to become the new hockey boss for a franchise that has become synonymous with embarrassing failure."

" The worst-kept secret in Toronto hockey will be front and centre today when lawyer Gord Kirke makes his presentation to the board of directors of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. In that meeting, Brian Burke of the Anaheim Ducks will be revealed as the two-man search committee's candidate of choice to become the next president and general manager of the Maple Leafs. "

"General Manager Brian Burke, the man who put the final major pieces together for the team's championship run the previous season, is expected to be aggressively courted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the coming days to run their team. In a season-ending news conference at the Honda Center, Burke would not say whether the interest is mutual."

"Foremost among the uncertainty is the status of General Manager Brian Burke, who Tuesday addressed persistent reports out of Canada that the Toronto Maple Leafs will target him to take on the same role with the proud but struggling Original Six franchise."

"The Maple Leafs should know in the next six weeks or so whether captain Mats Sundin has any interest in re- signing with the club for 2008-09. His agent, J.P. Barry, said he probably won't hear from Sundin until early June."

"The Maple Leafs are on a list of six teams, along with the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins and Dallas Stars, which have submitted proposals/offers to Barry."

"Brian Burke appears to be on the fast track to become the Leafs' next general manager. The board of directors of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, at a meeting later this week, will be presented with a list of priorities for the hockey club. "

" There may be 23 million reasons Brian Burke is seriously contemplating leaving his post with the defending Stanley Cup champions for the crazy challenge of running the Maple Leafs. That's the figure kicking around the hockey world that is expected to lure Burke from the Anaheim Ducks for the opportunity to rebuild the moribund Maple Leafs. "

"There was good news and bad news for the Toronto Maple Leafs Monday, according to sources close to club owner Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. The bad news was there will be no news conference Tuesday to announce that Anaheim Ducks general manager Brian Burke is the new general manager of the Maple Leafs. There may not even be one next week."

"The Ducks are having talks with General Manager Brian Burke about a contract extension amid increasing speculation that the Toronto Maple Leafs have targeted him for the same job in their organization."

" Burke, who has one year remaining on his deal in Anaheim -- with a five-year extension on the table but as yet unsigned -- has not expressed an interest in the Toronto job at this point. But the speculation is out there, and as long as the job remains unfilled his name will be connected to it."

"Asked if the Toronto Maple Leafs have sought permission to speak to him about their vacant GM job, Risebrough said, "They can't ask me." Asked if they've asked owner Craig Leipold for permission, Risebrough didn't answer."

" Somewhere between Farjestad and Front St., the legend of Fabian Brunnstrom has been super-sized. In fact, within 24 hours of Sun Media reporting renewed interest by the Maple Leafs in signing the free-agent winger, vital stats being quoted on this side of the Atlantic by a Leafs official added one inch in height and 15 extra pounds to the 23-year-old's Swedish League growth chart of 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds. "

"We interrupt this regularly scheduled programming – otherwise known as the Stanley Cup playoffs – for the Maple Leafs' pursuit of Brian Burke. It begins today. Officially, that is. Unless Gord Kirke has presented the MLSE board with an entirely different game plan, Burke has been the No.1 target of the Leafs since John Ferguson was fired in January and he's still the No.1 target."

" The Maple Leafs should learn soon whether they have won the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes. "There are two or three teams on his short list and we are one of them," Leafs assistant general manager Jeff Jackson said last night from Dallas as he travelled to San Antonio for the Marlies' American Hockey League playoff series. "

"One of the funniest ongoing soap operas surrounding the changes enveloping the Vancouver Canucks is the saga of Fabian Brunnstrom, the allegedly much sought after Swedish Elite League forward looking to jump to the NHL... What's even more amusing is that now we're told by TSN than his now apparent destination is the Toronto Maple Leafs, another team where it is felt he might have a chance to play on the top six. But they have no GM or by extension coach either, right? They have exactly the same situation as Vancouver, unless it's already wired Brian Burke is going there and Nonis is going to be his right-hand man? We can't believe that."

"The possibility that Brian Burke might – just might – become the next general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs is slowly moving into place. What was once a long shot is now possible thanks to a few happy coincidences."

"With Dave Nonis out as Vancouver's general manager, the rumours have already started that Brian Burke (photo) will return to Lotusland to head up the Canucks. Hey, wait a minute, isn't he supposed to be coming to Toronto to resuscitate the Maple Leafs? Something is surely afoul for the Ducks executive."

"Cliff Fletcher said no firm decisions have been made as to which Maple Leafs, if any, will be bought out."

"At this rate, Brian Burke will be in Toronto by the end of the month. Or the week. Burke's Ducks, it's fair to say, have laid two enormous eggs so far in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and now have to win at least four of the next five against a Dallas team that appears motivated and hungry to keep the chances of a repeat alive."

"The assumption in hockey circles is that Brian Burke is all but certain to be the next GM of the Maple Leafs. That's nice. It's just not quite so certain at this time. The truth is, the Leafs have not yet spoken to Burke, period. And now more Burke rumours circulate, about him having interest in returning to Vancouver."

"Mats Sundin won't keep the Maple Leafs waiting all summer before declaring his playing status for 2008-09... Traded Toronto enforcer Wade Belak, an unrestricted free agent this summer, would consider returning to the Leafs but wonders if the next general manager will be game."

"Leafs coach Paul Maurice got neither an endorsement nor a condemnation from interim GM Cliff Fletcher as the pair staged their respective season-ending press conferences yesterday."

"As condescending, self-satisfied pretenders go, Paul Maurice must be near the top of the list of pro sports coaches of recent memory. So welcome aboard, Coach: You'll fit right in as a member of the media. That's just a guess of the direction the rink-wise genius's career is headed once the long-awaited saviour of a Leafs general manager comes to town and cleans house."

"Anaheim Ducks GM Brian Burke, who had distanced himself from Leafs talk all winter, caused ripples of excitement last week by upgrading his status to "remote." But expect Peddie and sports lawyer Gord Kirke to wait until all playoff teams end their season before discontinuing their search."

"Fletcher said the candidates who are under contract to other NHL teams will not be contacted until their teams are out of the playoffs. Since the front-runners are Brian Burke of the Anaheim Ducks and Ken Holland of the Detroit Red Wings, Leaf fans will undoubtedly take an unusually keen interest in the Western Conference playoffs."

"Paul Maurice is not on the verge of being fired as coach of the Maple Leafs. At least not yet. Interim general manager Cliff Fletcher confirmed yesterday that he will not make the call on Maurice’s future, that he will leave that decision to the incoming general manager, assuming the hiring of his successor will be accomplished in due course. "