Questions For Burke As Ducks Visit Toronto
21/10/2008 01:36
Brian Burke's status will be the hot topic of discussion over the next couple of days as his Anaheim Ducks visit Toronto for a Tuesday night showdown with the Maple Leafs.
Burke, who is in the last year of his contract with the Ducks, has long been rumoured to be the top candidate for the general manager's job in Toronto held by interim executive Cliff Fletcher.
Burke is expected to meet with the media on Monday afternoon, but is not expected to address the topic with much - if any - detail.
"I'm going to tell them all the same thing," Burke told the Orange County Register over the weekend. "I've been offered a generous extension (by Anaheim). There are family issues involved and we're still trying to sort it out. There is no change to anything."
Burke's position in Anaheim appears to be in limbo for the time being, as the league's suspension of Ducks co-owner Henry Samueli remains in effect. The NHL handed Samueli an indefinite suspension in June after he pleaded guilty to one count of lying to federal investigators about his role in a stock options scandal.
Adding more intrigue to Burke's arrival is a Globe and Mail report from two weeks ago that the NHL would keep an eye on potential player transactions between the Leafs and Ducks because of the possibility of Burke becoming the Leafs' next GM.
In an interview with The Sporting News, Burke was asked if he felt a trade between the two teams would represent a conflict of interest and he replied concisely. "All the discussions with Toronto are done by (senior vice-president of hockey operations) Bob Murray," Burke replied. "There are no issues there."
Sources told TSN earlier this month that the Maple Leafs made a strong pitch to acquire defenceman Mathieu Schneider as part of a package that included winger Bobby Ryan and a conditional first-round pick in the 2009 draft.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Actually, folks, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Brian Je . . . , er, I mean, Burke deserve each other!