By Ken Armer, Senior Ducks Writer for The Puck Drop
As the snowballing scandal that is the Brian Burke, Anaheim Ducks, and Toronto Maple Leafs fiasco continues this offseason, Brian Burke has stepped forward denying he asked out of his contract in Orange County.
A report in the Toronto Sun had stated that Burke, the Ducks General Manager with one year remaining on his contract, has asked to be released so he could join the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
Burke did state on Monday that he had met in Detroit, while meetings among the NHL GM’s occur, with club owners Henry and Susan Samueli, as well as Michael Shulman (the chief executive for the Ducks) and his wife. Burke stated that the meeting over dinner ten days ago did not involve him asking to leave the team.
"My employment was never discussed," Burke said. "So no, that story is not true."
Schulman has explained that it is fact Burke has been pursued by other teams.
"We have and will continue to deny requests from other clubs," Schulman said. He declined to specify which teams had inquired about Burke's availability.
With the summer heating up along the beaches of California it seems Hollywood has a new drama unfolding. Unfortunately for someone this two organization, one general manager love triangle may come to a bitter end if Gary Bettman, or the league catches wind of the still continuing rumors.
With Ducks focus on the draft and resigning forward Corey Perry, the Maple Leafs seem to have gone into desperation mode to try and bring their hockey club from the pits of the Eastern Conference.
Only time will tell what the truth in this story is, but with Toronto seeming to still be worried about Burke, they’re losing valuable time with other guys who can take the job. Toronto already let Doug Armstrong slip away to St. Louis, so who will be next while the Leafs focus on a GM under contract.
Source: Elliott, Helene. "Ducks' Burke denies report he asked out of contract." Los Angeles Times 03 Jun 2008 3 Jun 2008 http://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ducks/la-spw-nhlrep3-2008jun03,0,3490843.story
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