Brian Burke Out; All For Lou

"Wait, you guys weren't kidding, were you?
I'm actually fired?" - Brian Burke (probably)

 The lockout is over, hockey is returning, everyone is excited, but before the first puck drop on the shortened 2013 season, we already have experienced out first major surprise of the year. On the same morning the NHL Board of Governors officially approved the league's new CBA, the Toronto Maple Leafs fired their lightning rod General Manager Brian Burke. Nobody saw this move coming. Yes, the Leafs have been mediocre at best under Burke, but he wasn't fired at the end of last season. He wasn't fired halfway through or at the conclusion of another year without sniffing the playoffs. No. He was just dumped.
 Though Tom Anselmi said publicly that this did not factor into their decision, this move is all about one thing: Roberto Luongo.

The End of an Era?

 Approaching July 1st, the first day of free agency in the National Hockey League, everybody knew there would be some exciting storylines. Stars Zach Parise and Ryan Suter may find a new home, Justin Schultz' highly anticipated decision as to where he'll start his NHL career, who will bite on Islanders' emerging playamaker P.A. Parenteau, just to name a few. But nobody could have anticipated the end of an era for one of the most legendary players in hockey history.
 A few months ago, the possibility of Martin Brodeur playing his final year(s) in the NHL for someone other than the New Jersey Devils would have sounded perposterous. But due to limited talks with Devils GM Lou Lamoriello and lingering ownership issues, it may become a bizarre reality soon. Yesterday, Brodeur hired one of the best agents in the game, Pat Brisson, and TSN's hockey insider Darren Dreger reported Marty's interest in exploring the free agent market. There is no guarantee that Marty will opt out of the Garden State, but the fact that he is even considering donning a sweater other than the red and black sent shock waves throughout the hockey world and the twitterverse. The fact of the matter is, though, despite Marty's legendary status, he isn't exactly a perfect fit with all 30 teams in the NHL. In fact, there are very few possible clubs who can make a respectable proposal to Brodeur and have the move make sense...

Cash Grab

 As the old adage goes: Money talks, and Leafs fans knock.

 Toronto Maple Leafs' Mikhail Grabovski, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming summer, was the subject of many trade rumors this year.  The Leafs insisted they were interested in resigning the skilled centerman, but negotiations were tough.  The deadline came and passed, Burke couldn't get the draft picks he wanted in return, so Grabo ended up staying in Toronto for the time being.  Today, GM Brian Burke secured Grabovski would be donning a blue and white sweater for many seasons to come, as the two parties were finally able to come to terms on a contract extension worth $27.5 million over 5 years.  What should be a joyous occasion for Leafs Nation has become more of a heated discussion point in Toronto.  Is Mikhail Grabovski really worth a $5.5 million annual cap-hit for the next five years?