Burke is unsure about return to team

Ducks General Manager Brian Burke on Tuesday acknowledged for the first time that his future with the team is up in the air. Asked whether he would be with the Ducks when training camp opens in September, his only response was, “I don’t know. I don’t know.”

Burke’s comments can only fuel the already intense speculation that he is the top choice to take over as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In the past, Burke has said of theToronto job, “If you’re Catholic, this is the Vatican. They’re not going to have to beg anyone to take this job. This is one of the plum jobs in all of pro sports.”

In a season-ending news conference, Burke confirmed only that he has had several discussions with Michael Schulman, the Ducks’ chief executive, about an extension to his contract that runs through next season.

“I talk to Schu all the time, almost daily,” Burke said. “About player personnel matters. It goes down to some minutiae too. But we have had extensive discussions. Whether they result in an extension, it’s too early to say. How optimistic am I? I don’t know. Too early to say.”

According to several reports out of Toronto, Richard Peddie, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president, is set to recommend Burke to the group’s board of directors as the choice to succeed John Ferguson Jr., who was fired Jan. 22.

Burke, however, said that he has had no discussions with the Maple Leafs and pointed out that he has the remaining year on his contract with the Ducks.

“No NHL club has asked permission to speak to me at this point in time,” he said. “Not one team has asked. Nor have I asked for permission to speak to any NHL team at this point in time. Unless and until those two things change or unless and until I arrive upon terms of a contract extension here in Anaheim, I have no intention of further discussing my situation.”

Burke added that talks will continue between himself, Schulman and owners Henry and Susan Samueli.

“This is a wonderful place to work,” Burke said. “The Samuelis are just awesome people to work for.”

The Ducks have been to the playoffs in each of Burke’s three seasons in Anaheim and won the Stanley Cup in 2007. On Sunday, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Dallas in six games – exposing some glaring problems that need to be solved during the off-season.

But the Toronto job could have some serious appeal to Burke, 52. Two of his four grown children from a previous marriage reside in the Boston area and it would make his twice-monthly visits to see them much more manageable.

In addition, Burke’s wife, Jennifer, is a popular local broadcaster in Vancouver, Canada, and commutes there each week to be the host of an afternoon television show. Moving to Toronto would mean a bigger broadcast market – and the end to that commute.

eric.stephens@latimes.com