Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona: Coyotes GM Don Maloney has granted goalie coach Sean Burke permission to speak with other teams about management positions. Burke has already had talks with seven or eight teams, with more talks planned.
“I haven’t wanted to say much about it and I haven’t gone down the path to doing interviews yet,” Burke said. “I really thought that was something that should wait until the season is over.”
Burke’s contract with the Coyotes expires at the end of the season.
“I’ve really enjoyed the coaching and it has been rewarding, but I never went into this to coach. I wanted to manage from the moment I retired,” he said. “Coaching is good because it gives you an additional avenue of experience, being in that dressing room every day, but when you stay in that role too long, it becomes more difficult to get where you want to go.
“Having said that, I have strong opinions and strong feelings about this franchise. I played here, too so it’s personal for me. I really enjoy it here, and I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given.”
Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger: “Sounds crazy when you say even the training & medical staff on the Leafs is in jeopardy, but that’s a fact” … “When you struggle as mightily as this org has & now you’ve clearly defined what direction you’re going in, it doesn’t just stop with the players & transactions like that” … “You sit down & decide how this rebuild is going to get jump started & that means a full review & tear down of the team than that’s what Shanahan’s going to do” … “In Kessel’s case, I firmly believe he’s going to be traded. His trade potential has been hurt by his poor play. I don’t think there’s any question of that.” … “There are other players as well like Bozak & go down the list from there ” … “JVR? This is a salvageable asset. This is a young man who is going to fit in the rebuild. He is.” … “For , I think it has to be a positive message . Wipe this season clean & get back to what you do.” … “Beyond that , it gets a little sketchy for some of these big guys ”
Nichols on Hockey: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 on the Senators goalie situation.
“I think they’re going to sign (Hammond).
“I do think the Senators anyway were going to make a decision on Anderson/Lehner after this year. It was always their plan that they were going to choose one of the two and say, ‘Okay, we’re going to move him and see what we can get.’
“I think this creates an even more likelihood that that situation is going to happen and I think they’ll deal the one they think they can get more for.
“The other question though is do they really feel comfortable going with a Lehner/Hammond combo. And they’ve been disappointed in Lehner this year. It’s been a down year for him.
“And one of the questions that’s being asked is Lehner is a bit of a, I don’t want to say – I think ‘head case’ is the wrong word – but his mental game has not been where they hoped it would be.
