The name of Sean Burke has been mentioned as one option for the Toronto Maple Leafs vacant general manager’s position and that possibility became more likely on Friday, as TSN’s
Darren Dreger reports that Team President Brendan Shanahan requested and was given permission by the Arizona Coyotes to speak with former NHL goalie earlier in the week.
Burke has served as an assistant to Coyotes GM Don Maloney and goaltending coach since 2009 and has been credited with helping the careers of Ilya Bryzgalov, Mike Smith and Devan Dubnyk, but the former Canadian Olympian is looking to advance his career in management after serving as part of Hockey Canada’s staff for the most recent World Junior Championship.
Shanahan and Burke were teammates in New Jersey from 1988 to 1991 and again with Hartford from 1995 to 1996. The 48-year-old ex-goaltender could be a good fit in Toronto instead of experienced options such as Peter Chiarelli, Ray Shero or George McPhee, since the GM position with the Leafs will involve the input of Shanahan on a day-to-day basis and the involvement of Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter and Assistant GM Kyle Dubas.
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The NHL Draft Lottery will take place on Saturday at 8pm EST, as 14 teams looking to get lucky and win the right to select Connor McDavid. The Buffalo Sabres and Arizona Coyotes have greatest percentage chance of winning(totaling 33.5) and if the Toronto Maple Leafs do not win the lottery, they are likely hoping that the Sabres and Coyotes win, if they are to get a potential franchise center in Sunrise, FL this June.
If a team lower than Toronto in the standings or the Edmonton Oilers win and pick McDavid, Buffalo and Arizona will move down to the second and third selections. The Sabres will undoubtedly pick Boston U's Jack Eichel at #2, but Arizona may opt to go with OHL leading point getter Dylan Strome over Boston College defenseman Noah Hanifin. Edmonton will take Hanifin at #4 and the Leafs at #5 will likely take Mitch Marner, a swift smallish center from the OHL's London Knights.
If the Sabres or Coyotes win, McDavid will go #1, Eichel #2 and Edmonton will likely go with Hanifin(as their defense has long been an area of need) or may try to get something from Toronto to not pick Strome at #3.
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