Shortly after an airplane ride from Des Moines, Iowa, to announce the new location of the Ducks' American Hockey League team, General Manager Brian Burke spent the end of a long Tuesday eating pizza with his two young daughters.
It was a moment away from the endless speculation that he is trying to negotiate a way out of the final year of his contract or biding his time in Anaheim until he can become general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He told The Times' Helene Elliott on Monday there was no truth to it.
But Tuesday brought another Burke-to-Toronto story when a Toronto Sun columnist contended that Burke was unofficially calling the shots for the Leafs behind the scenes, with the team in discussions to hire Ron Wilson, a former college teammate of Burke's at Providence, as coach.
Burke scoffed at the notion that he has a role in the Leafs' pursuit of Wilson, who once coached the Ducks but long before Burke came on board.
"It's an absurd suggestion," Burke said by phone.
He also said he isn't concerned that the speculation is affecting his job with the Ducks, adding that he has been working on potential trade scenarios ahead of the NHL entry draft in Ottawa.
"I don't think people in Anaheim are paying the slightest bit of attention to it," he said.
Burke, 52, said he understands that the only way he can end the speculation is to sign a contract extension, which reportedly has been on the table for him. The Ducks, meanwhile, have not given him permission to talk to any team.
Asked if he expects his status with the Ducks to change after the draft or before July 1, the first day of free agency, Burke said no.
"I think ownership has been very clear," he said. "That's their prerogative. I don't see it changing."
Burke did address some roster issues Tuesday, particularly the future of stars Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne. Both players were given a deadline of June 20, the first day of the draft, to decide whether they will commit to playing the entire 2008-09 season.
"I have not heard from either one of them," Burke said. "I expect to talk to them this week. We're still not up against any deadline that we have imposed."
What each player decides figures to impact what the Ducks do at the draft, in which they hold the 12th overall selection. Burke said he's looking at multiple scenarios, ranging from moving up or down in the draft to dealing a player to ease possible salary cap constraints in case Niedermayer and Selanne do want to return.
