TORONTO - Brian Burke is out as general manager of the Anaheim Ducks.

The NHL team announced Wednesday that Burke has been named special consultant to CEO Michael Schulman and that Bob Murray, the team's senior vice-president of hockey operations, will take over as general manager.

"Brian respectfully declined our contract extension offer last week," Schulman said. "With his support, we decided to make the transition at this time in the best interest of the organization. Brian and I have been discussing his future with the Ducks for some time. Once he decided last week not to extend his contract, I decided Bob was the obvious successor and Brian agreed.

"Bob's experience and knowledge of our organization make him the ideal candidate to take over. He's been a critical member of our organization over the last three seasons, both as senior vice-president of hockey operations and general manager of our American Hockey League club."

Burke, 53, had spent time considering a contract extension that would have kept him with the NHL team beyond this season.

"This was the hardest decision I've ever had to make," Burke said. "I'm comforted that the team is in great hands with Bob and (assistant GM) David (McNab) in charge. I can't thank everyone enough for their understanding and patience as I wrestled with this decision."

Burke said last month that family issues made him reluctant to sign an extension.

"I've got four children from my first marriage that live all on the East Coast," Burke said last month. "I travel back two weekends every month to see them -- I've been doing that since I went to Vancouver in 1998. It's a very difficult schedule.

"I've (also) got two little ones in California and I don't see either group enough. That's the principal concern."

Murray was hired by the Ducks shortly after Burke was named GM in the summer of 2005. The two men worked together in Vancouver prior to that.

They were part of a front-office team that helped transform Anaheim into a champion. Not only did the Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007, but they've also appeared in a league-best eight playoff series (tied with Detroit) since the lockout.

The team got off to a slow start this season but had righted the ship of late, putting together a 9-7-1 record.

"From when (Burke) gets his next job, which I'm sure is not going to be very far away, I look forward to our daily phone calls, and they will continue," Murray said. "We see the game pretty much the same way."

Murray said he's looking forward to the new challenge.

"Obviously, right now we're an older team, we're a veteran team, we've got a lot of people who will be restricted free agents at the end of the year," Murray said. "We've just got to get concentrating on hockey now. If they have success they'll have success off the ice as well as on the ice, and that's the biggest message I can give to them."

Burke's four-year contract with the Ducks doesn't expire until this summer. He would need Anaheim to give him permission before he could have discussions with another team about a job.

"Needless to say, what Brian has done for this franchise as general manager has been remarkable," Schulman said. "He's led our club to unprecedented success since joining the team, creating an entertaining brand of hockey our community can be proud of. We cannot thank him enough for what he's done for us.

"Brian has been upfront and honest with us regarding his family situation. We respect and understand his decision and are pleased he's staying on as a special consultant."

Last June, Burke was named general manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic team. He was also recently named a recipient of the 2008 Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

Burke has been strongly linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs GM position, which Cliff Fletcher is currently filling on a temporary basis.