As the Ducks cleaned out their lockers Tuesday, the only thing certain was that their defense of the Stanley Cup wasn't much of one.
The six-game loss to the Dallas Stars in the opening round was unexpected, especially after a 102-point regular season. A greater loss, however, might be coming.
General Manager Brian Burke, the man who put the final major pieces together for the team's championship run the previous season, is expected to be aggressively courted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the coming days to run their team.
In a season-ending news conference at the Honda Center, Burke would not say whether the interest is mutual.
But then Burke, 52, was asked whether he intends to be with the Ducks when training camp opens in September.
"I don't know," Burke said. "I don't know."
Burke has one season remaining on the four-year contract he signed when he was hired by owners Henry and Susan Samueli in 2005. The Maple Leafs would have to seek permission from the Samuelis to talk to Burke or risk violating NHL tampering rules.
At the moment, no contact has been made by the Maple Leafs. Burke, however, chose his words carefully in discussing his situation.
"No NHL club has asked permission to speak to me at this point in time," Burke 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 further intention in discussing my situation."
Burke said there have been extensive discussions with Michael Schulman, the Ducks' chief executive, on extending that contract, and that they talk almost daily.
"Whether they result in an extension, it's too early to say," Burke said. "How optimistic am I? I don't know. Too early to say."
According to several reports from 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.
The Toronto job could have quite a bit of appeal to Burke. Two of his four grown children from a previous marriage reside in the Boston area and it would make his twice-monthly visits to them much more manageable.
In addition, Burke's wife, Jennifer, is a noted 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.
