The Montreal Canadiens have fired long-time director of goaltending Stéphane Waite and replaced him with Sean Burke, the team announced Tuesday.
Waite, who has served in the role since 2013, previously held the post with the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he won two Stanley Cups (2010 and 2013).
Burke, meanwhile, is a former NHL all-star netminder who played 18 seasons in the NHL, most prominently with the Arizona Coyotes organization, and represented Canada internationally at two Olympics (1988 and 1992).
He was hired by the Canadiens in 2016 as a pro scout and has also served as a goaltending consultant.
Prior to that, Burke six seasons as a member of the Coyotes’ hockey management group, serving as goaltending coach and director of player development before being promoted to assistant general manager in 2012.
Burke will be required to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine before joining the Canadiens. Laval Rocket goaltending coach Marco Marciano will work with Montreal’s goaltenders until Burke is cleared to join the squad.
Under Waite’s tutelage, Carey Price has attained some of the highest highs of his career — including his Vezina, Hart, Pearson and Jennings trophies in 2014-15 — but the star netminder has struggled to that regain that form in recent years.
The 33-year-old hasn’t had a save percentage over .910 since 2018-19 and has averaged a .908 mark over the past four seasons. He entered Tuesday with a 3.13 goals-against average and .888 SV% this campaign.
With files from The Canadian Press
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