LAS VEGAS — Brian Burke made news at his season-ending press conference in the spring of 2009.



The former Maple Leafs president and general manager boldly declared his intent to acquire the No. 1 overall pick at that summer’s draft. He wanted it for John Tavares.



“I just think he’s a helluva hockey player,” Burke said. (He eventually settled for Nazem Kadri at seventh overall.)



Burke was an open book that way.



After he fired Ron Wilson as the Leafs head coach in 2012, Burke explained that it would have been “cruel and unusual punishment” to have him stand behind the bench for another game at the Air Canada Centre to endure more “Fire Wilson” chants. He talked about Luke Schenn as a potential captain, made no secret about trades he turned down (including for Schenn) and complained that “rats” had taken over the game following the demotion of Colton Orr.



He was, in short,...