Burke no Longer Ducks' General Manager
Speculation Runs Rampant He'll Be Named New Leafs GM
Nov 12, 2008
It took all of this writer's strength to not write the headline of this story "Burke to Be Leafs' New GM", because, while the facts clearly state otherwise, it's really only a matter of time before that becomes a fact in itself.
Ducks Grant Burke His Wish
As reported by media outlets across Canada (and presumably America) on Wednesday, the Anaheim Ducks relieved Burke of his duties as the team's GM, with his contract set to elapse at the end of this season and his previously having made clear that he would not re-sign with the team with which he won the 2007 Stanley Cup.
As his replacement, Anaheim named former Chicago Blackhawks general manager Bob Murray. Of course, this is not the story here. And the burning question on everyone's minds is when will Burke be named Toronto's new GM.
Burke Grants Toronto Fans Their Wish... Sort of
Now cue the Toronto media frenzy, one that almost single-handedly handed Burke the position last year upon outgoing GM John Ferguson Jr.'s dismissal last January. Following the firing, names were fired out at the public seemingly at random, all of people who were allegedly lining up to take Ferguson's job. The names were of the numerous variety (Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford and Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland being just two examples) and on a list not necessarily of the backed-by-a-single-grain-of-truth variety.
Still, hockey fans should realize that where there's smoke emanating from a rumor, there's a fire of sorts. The most predominant name on that list was Burke's. When the search began, Burke was of course under contract with the Ducks and any and all questions dealt his way from then up to this point on the subject were neatly deflected away, as if by a goaltender into the corner of the ice. Of course, the goaltender here not once flat-out denied that he would be the Leafs new executive (but not once said he would to avoid charges of contract tampering), which ended up just adding more fuel to the rumors.
Burke's Heart Is out East
The official party line out of Burke right now is that he refused the Ducks' latest contract renewal offers because his family is in Boston.
According to him, for the past 11 years he has regularly made the commute from the West Coast to see his kids from his first marriage. He has made that trip twice a month, every month, over that period and for anyone, let alone super GM Burke (which he is), such a schedule would be extremely grueling. As such, if his decision to leave his job as Ducks GM is based solely on this factor, it is an understandable one to say the least.
In his press conference's question-and-answer period, Burke made it very clear that his heart was with his family, both from his previous marriage and his current one.
"I still don't see them enough and when I'm gone I'm leaving behind a four-and-a-half year-old and a two-and-a-half year-old, and I don't think it's been fair to either group. I think it's time if I get the chance to get in the same time zone I'm going to take it," he said, clearly hinting for whoever was listening that there is a chance he will be under the employ of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment very soon.
Technically Burke is still employed by the Ducks as a consultant. But, according to reports, in that capacity, he is free to search for another job. Take from that what you will.
To dismiss the inevitable Burke-to-Boston rumors, there is little chance that the Bruins would be willing to throw current GM Peter Chiarelli under the bus just for the purpose of hiring a new driver. Chiarelli has been doing a great job and has made the Bruins an above-average team since taking over the reins after the 2005-2006 season.
Really, as Burke made clear, while answering another question, he is not in the business of taking anyone's job.
"There's only one job open in the National Hockey League today, so I don't know about being sought after," he said. "I hope that this situation does not change any other GM's situation. But I'm not sure what the job market is in November for a GM. I'm going to find out, but I don't know what it is."
Of course, the one job he eluded to is the one currently held by Leafs interim GM Cliff Fletcher, and Burke, despite what he says, knows what the market is for GMs, and the writing is clearly on the wall for Fletcher to step aside in the near future. Burke is undoubtedly the man MLSE has been looking for and, more importantly, the right man for the job.
For a rebuilding team such as the Leafs, it's funny to say, but the time is right now, or at least whenever they and Burke decide to make it official, anyway.
