Former Coyote exec Sean Burke weighing options with other organizations
Former Coyotes executive Sean Burke said he is pondering a position with another NHL club and expects to make a decision quickly.
Burke was reportedly in discussions with both the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks at one point, and there has also been speculation tying him to Calgary and former Coyotes assistant general manager Brad Treliving, who is now the Flames GM.
Burke said he has already turned down a pair of offers from teams that still wanted him to fill a dual role as an executive and an assistant coach, but he would not specify which team he is still considering.
"The role I would be taking on is something I really would enjoy," Burke said Wednesday. "There's not a lot of questions left about it. It's just a matter of getting it ironed out. If it is the right fit it will probably happen in the next week."
Burke's contract with the Coyotes expired on June 30, and he chose not to return because he wanted a chance at a greater management role.
"I felt it was time to turn the page," he said. "There wasn't going to be the opportunity to continue to advance and grow with the Coyotes. That happens in a lot of organizations with a lot of people."
Burke spent the past few weeks in northern Michigan with family members, including his fiancee, Christy Williams, and their three-month-old son, Hudson. He returned to the Valley on Tuesday.
Burke's two-year role on Hockey Canada's management team has also expired. He said he will continue to work with Hockey Canada on specific projects, but the management team rotates every two years, so his role will not be nearly as time-consuming.
If he does not take the current offer, he will continue looking for work.
"I wouldn't take a year off," he said. "To me, there's no real need to, but at this stage of my career I don't think I would just want to do anything just to work."
The Coyotes still have not hired a goalie coach to replace Burke. It's unclear whether they plan to hire someone full time or use someone on a part-time basis. Former NHL goalie Frederic Chabot is talking to the organization about a developmental role for the entire organization and Mike Smith's longtime goalie coach, Jon Elkin, has also been mentioned.
SAMUELSON, SHINNIMIN SETTLE
The Coyotes reached agreement with restricted free-agent defenseman Philip Samuelsson and restricted free-agent forward Brendan Shinnimin on one-year, two-way deals.
Both players will make $600,000 in NHL salary and $100,000 in AHL salary, with guaranteed minimums of $150,000 (Samuelsson) and $142,500 (Shinnimin) if they are not with the NHL club.
Samuelsson is a valuable depth player for the Coyotes who brings a bigger, physical presence to the blue line. He is the brother of Coyotes forward prospect Henrik Samuelsson and the son of former Coyotes assistant Ulf Samuelsson.
The Coyotes still have not signed restricted free agents defensemen Klas Dahlbeck and Brandon Gormley, but neither was arbitration eligible.
OFFSEASON SHOPPING LIST NOT COMPLETE
While the Coyotes signed free-agent forward John Scott recently, a source within the organization said the team still hopes to add two more pieces to the current roster.
The team wants to add a right-handed defenseman through a trade to play alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes thought they had secured such a player in a draft-day trade with Boston for Dougie Hamilton, but Calgary landed him instead.
The Coyotes also hope to add another wing to the mix. Most of the big-ticket forwards have already signed with other teams, but Sean Bergenheim, Brad Boyes, Eric Fehr, Mike Santorelli, Alex Semin and Jiri Tlusty are among the better free agents still available.
A source said the Coyotes are looking to sign a player in the $2 million to $3 million per year range.
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