Former NHL netminder and Arizona Coyotes goalie coach Sean Burke is pondering a management position with another NHL club.
The former teammate of Leafs Team President Brendan Shanahan was given permission and spoke to the Leafs and San Jose Sharks in May and has been linked to the Calgary Flames based on his prior affiliation with Flames GM Brad Treliving with the Coyotes.
According to Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona, , Burke turned down offers that entailed a management/coaching role and it is expected that his new position will be strictly a management position. The Leafs likely were one team that offered him a dual position, since he was extremely successful in tutoring goalies Ilya Bryzgalov, Mike Smith and Devan Dubnyk.
Toronto’s goaltending coach position remained vacant until recently. The Leafs were in the mix for Kings assistant Kim Dillabaugh(who joined the Philadelphia Flyers) and have hired Steve Briere as the successor to Rick St. Croix.
Shanahan indicated after dismissing GM Dave Nonis last April his preference to add someone with NHL experience to the current group of assistant GM Kyle Dubas and Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter. The resume of candidates such as former Washington Capitals GM George McPhee and LA Kings VP of Hockey Operations Mike Futa fit that description, Burke’s does not.
“I’m comfortable with the group(Dubas and Hunter) right now and how they’ve been working together.… Shanahan told Sportsnet’s Arash Madani last month . “I’ve actually been very pleased with how the group has been working together and the relationships that are being established with some other teams throughout the league."
The Leafs may still be looking to add another to their hierarchy after being turned down by Brandon Wheat Kings GM Kelly McCrimmon last month.
Revisiting McPhee, Futa or another candidate may happen at some point this summer, but after the three-headed management team pulled off the massive trade of Phil Kessel, made smaller deals for Zach Hyman and Taylor Beck, re-signed Daniel Winnik and signed Matt Hunwick, P.A. Parenteau, Mark Arcobello and Shawn Matthias, it is possible that Shanahan has grown confident in the current structure that he feels no further additions are necessary.
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