The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially unveiled the club's new top hockey executive -- Brian Burke.
"This is one of the crown jewels in the National Hockey League," Burke told a news conference on Saturday. He called the position "a dream come true" -- yet humbling at the same time.
Burke inked a six-year deal with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment on Thursday to be the club's president and general manager for a reported $3 million annual salary.
The 53-year-old, who delivered a Stanley Cup win for the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 (the Leafs have a 41-year drought), will reportedly have total control over hockey operations. Burke left the Ducks about 10 days ago, but he stressed that his decision was made for family reasons.
"This is the first time in 11 years my kids all live in the same time zone," he said.
He joins a club that last made the playoffs three years ago, is 7-10-5 this season and is mired in a five-game losing streak. The Leafs play the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at the Air Canada Centre, who have lost only one of their past seven games.
Burke said he couldn't give a "hard and fast" estimate as to when the Leafs might become competitive for the Stanley Cup.
Burke's chair has been kept warm by Cliff Fletcher, appointed interim general manager back in January after the club fired John Ferguson Jr. Fletcher didn't attend the news conference.
A few familiar faces await Burke.
Ron Wilson, the Leafs' new coach, and Burke were roommates in college three decades ago. Burke also worked with Al Coates, the Leafs' director of player personnel, when he was with the Vancouver Canucks.
"If I had to hire a coach today, it would be Ron Wilson," Burke declared.
The infamous 2004 attack by then-Canuck forward Todd Bertuzzi on Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche occurred on Burke's watch.
Moore is suing Burke, then the Canucks' GM, Bertuzzi and others for what turned out to be a career-ended neck injury as a result of Bertuzzi mugging him from behind.
Dominic Moore is Steve's brother -- and a Toronto Maple Leafs player. However, he has said he will have no problem working with Burke.
