Brian Burke a wanted man when Ducks visit Toronto

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As if this season hasn’t started rough enough for Ducks General Manager Brian Burke, now he must face down the Toronto media.

Burke is traveling with the Ducks on their four-game road trip that begins Tuesday night in Toronto, looking for answers to their 1-5 start. You can bet he’ll also face a few questions from the Toronto media, many of whom were the first to report that Burke was in line to become the next GM of the Maple Leafs, a claim he has denied.

One publication went so far as to report that the NHL is monitoring any trade activity between the teams, just in case Burke wanted to stock the Toronto cupboards with his favorite Ducks. Burke firmly denied this report as well. Burke is in the final year of his contract with Anaheim, and has left a lucrative contract extension on the table. He has said he enjoys living and working in Southern California, but admits he also has deep ties to the East Coast, where his four grown children live.

I imagine the Ducks’ poor start won’t help cool the speculation that Burke is headed elsewhere.

-- Dan Arritt