Anaheim Ducks

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Scott Niedermayer, the veteran

Well, well, well, it didn’t take long for all the hockey pundits to start brewing up theories about Brian Burke’s future in the NHL after he was released by the Anaheim Ducks yesterday afternoon. From what I hear an emergency meeting was arranged between Steve Simmons, Al Strachan and Darren Dreger–founders of the Truth, Rumour and My Dog Told Me Club–where they sat down at an unassuming Swiss Chalet on the fringe of Toronto and discussed how the media will spin the story. Apparently Strachan put gravy on his fries and ordered a second Rootbeer, which Dreger interpreted as a clear indication that Burke is bound for Boston. But all joking aside, Anaheim’s decision to release Burke because he wouldn’t sign a long-term extension with the club is a giant smoke signal that something is up. He is too smart to shy away from a rosy position in Anaheim without something waiting in the wings. So where is he going to end up? Well, we’ll let you the reader decide instead of feeding you rumours on this one.

The Anaheim Ducks have “fired” Brian Burke as GM. Or they couldn’t agree on a contract extension with him. Or something. What a shock!

This is either an amazing put-on, or one of the best pissing matches in NHL history. Brian Burke, the man the Toronto media tirelessly inform us will be the Leafs’ next general manager, just can’t let go of his grudge for Kevin Lowe. So the Edmonton Oilers GM used a recent radio interview to answer crap with crap. The 12-month war between the two execs—Burke still being the nominal GM of the Anaheim Ducks—goes on.

The Toronto media is, thus far, giving the thumbs-up to the Leafs new coach Ron Wilson. That, in itself, is no surprise. The Leafs always hire good coaches, or at least, coaches that seem competent and well-qualified until they get behind the bench. Paul Maurice, Pat Quinn, Pat Burns – all came with pretty strong professional credentials, and so does Wilson. I will spare you the obligatory skepticism – I’ll refrain from mentioning that he’s never won a cup, and that the San Jose Sharks massively underperformed under his leadership the past two seasons. Fair to say that Wilson is a good hockey guy, is respected around the league, and should have no problem establishing authority in the dressing room.