The man responsible for Devan Dubnyk’s revival is considering leaving the Arizona Coyotes for a role in management elsewhere.
Sean Burke, the goalie turned goalie coach and assistant to the general manager in Arizona, has been granted permission by GM Don Maloney to pursue a post in another team’s front office, according to a report Monday by Fox Sports Arizona.
Burke told the outlet that he has already spoken with seven or eight teams and intends to talk to more.
The 48-year-old Windsor, Ont., native is in the final year of his contract with the Coyotes and has been given credit for improving the play of Ilya Bryzgalov, Mike Smith and, most recently, Devan Dubnyk over the course of his tenure in the desert.
“Right from the get-go, he just put so much confidence in me,” Dubnyk told NHL.com last month of Burke. “There’s no words, it’s not like he pumps your tires every day, it’s just the unspoken, you know he’s got your back, you know he believes in you and you know he’ll go to bat for you. It lets you go out there and relax and play.”
Now reaping the benefits of Dubnyk’s confidence, Wild GM Don Maloney also credited Burke’s role in the goaltender’s revival.
“I’ve really enjoyed the coaching and it has been rewarding, but I never went into this to coach. I wanted to manage from the moment I retired,” Burke told Fox Sports’ Craig Morgan. “Coaching is good because it gives you an additional avenue of experience, being in that dressing room every day, but when you stay in that role too long, it becomes more difficult to get where you want to go.
“Having said that, I have strong opinions and strong feelings about this franchise. I played here, too so it’s personal for me. I really enjoy it here, and I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given.”
