All is quiet on the GM front, but yesterday Sean Burke said he is nearing a decision on his next destination and that an announcement may come within a week.
Shanahan and Burke have a history together from their New Jersey days, and it’s been reported the Leafs have interviewed Burke at least once.
It’s not clear what Sean Burke could add to the existing structure and personnel mix that isn’t already there, and it seems unlikely he would be filling the Leafs vacant goaltending coach role as he’s turned down multiple offers for a lateral move to another team in the same dual coaching-management role he filled in Arizona. Between Mike Smith’s emergence under Burke, Ilya Bryzgalov’s success in Phoenix (and not so much anywhere else), and Devan Dubnyk crediting him as a key figure in his turnaround when he looked to be on his way out of the league, it’s obvious Burke is a great goalie coach option — but it’s also well known his aspirations are on the management side of things.
He has a little more managerial experience than some may be aware of — Burke served as the Director of Prospect Development with the Coyotes for a couple years between 2008 and 2010, and has been assistant to GM Don Maloney since 2013 after joining the coaching staff as goalie coach in 2010-11.
Burke taking the GM’s role in Toronto — if the Leafs are one of the offers he’s considering, and it is for the GM’s role and not something else — obviously doesn’t really mean what it would mean in a more traditional configuration. It’s no secret Shanahan has final authority on all major decisions, he’s courted FAs and negotiated the Kessel trade, and he’s not going to be taking a step back in any meaningful sense if Burke comes to Toronto.
Friday Links:
- Craig Morgan: Former Coyote exec Sean Burke weighing options with other organizations (FOX Sports)
Burke was reportedly in discussions with both the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks at one point, and there has also been speculation tying him to Calgary and former Coyotes assistant general manager Brad Treliving, who is now the Flames GM.
I - Jared Clinton: Kadri “dedicating his life” to fitness as biggest season of his career approaches (THN)
“I think he’s in the best physical shape of his career at this point, and it’s still early,” Mantzavrakos said. “Nazem’s a highly skilled player and he’s always worked. I want to set the record straight with that. But what he’s done now is he has basically taken a more aggressive approach to (his fitness) and he’s dedicating his life to it. He sees the importance, he sees where he’s at in his career and he really wants to add some more speed and mobility to his game.”
I - Jonathan Willis: 10 best NHL analytics free agent signings (Sportsnet)
Parenteau has been a solid possession player for ages, and he scores at an impressive clip at even-strength. He’s coming off a bad shooting percentage year and some atrocious usage in Montreal, but he’s all of two seasons removed from a near-point-per-game run with Colorado and is a great bounce-back candidate.
I - Josh Cooper: Winners and losers in 2015-16 NHL schedule mileage (Puck Daddy)
The Detroit Red Wings must really, really love playing in the Eastern Conference. Per the 2011-12 super schedule, Detroit traveled 42,865 miles. On this graph they will travel an estimated 33,487 miles. Those 9,378 or so fewer miles go a long, long way. In 2011-12 the Blue Jackets, the other former Western Conference team moved East, went 42,831 miles. On the above graph they will travel an estimate 37,602 miles.
