Another Toronto NHL team? Don’t hold your breath

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The rumors have had it all wrong.

Brian Burke, who’s finishing out his contract as the Ducks’ general manager, isn’t going to become general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He’s going to be the boss of the new team that’s going to play in Toronto.

The Globe and Mail, citing several anonymous sources, said several NHL governors have come up with a scenario that would place a second NHL team in Toronto. (Though you could argue that the Maple Leafs, Cup-less since 1967, barely qualify as the first team.)

Expansion would be the source of this new team, though one of these unnamed governors said the NHL couldn’t possibly expand while it has so many existing franchises that are unstable and could be severely hurt by the current economic downturn.

There’s the real news in this: an NHL governor making sense.

The Maple Leafs are sitting on a gold mine and they know it, making it impossible to imagine they’d ever agree to share the Toronto TV market and potential revenues with another NHL team.

Could it be done logistically? Probably. The Lakers, Clippers and Kings coexist at Staples Center, so the Maple Leafs, NBA Raptors and this second hockey team might be able to make things work if there are enough locker rooms and practice facilities for everyone.

But this isn’t likely to happen for quite a while, if ever. The NHL has more pressing matters to think about. For one, the Canadian dollar is sinking in value, and that’s a big problem.

The six Canadian franchises are responsible for more than their share of league revenues, and if revenues decline, the economic structure of the NHL is going to be battered. Let’s see if anyone can afford to buy or move a franchise to Toronto in five years -- or if fans will still be able to afford tickets then.

-- Helene Elliott