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Brian Burke was named Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks on June 20, 2005. He joined the Ducks after a six-year stint as Vancouver Canucks President and General Manager, where he revitalized the team and community en route to consecutive 100+ point seasons and a Northwest Division title in 2003-2004.
Shortly after taking over GM duties with the Ducks, Burke began to reshape the club’s roster and hockey operations staff. Along with Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Bob Murray, Vice President of Amateur Scouting and Player Development Chuck Fletcher and Assistant General Manager David McNab, Burke put together an on-ice product designed to produce offensive-minded, aggressive hockey built around speed and physical play.
After naming Randy Carlyle as the club’s new head coach, Burke signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Scott Niedermayer, one of the top blue liners in the game today. Burke also added free-agent right wing Teemu Selanne in August, one of the most popular and productive players in club history. Along with the re-signing of Sandis Ozolinsh (unrestricted free agent) and the additions of several players expected to add a physical element, the Ducks have a new look and a new style of play this season.
Burke was named President and General Manager for the Canucks on June 22, 1998. Under his leadership, the team increased its point total four consecutive years from 1999-2003. With 104 and 101 points respectively the last two NHL seasons (2002-2004), the Canucks joined only Detroit, Ottawa and Philadelphia to record consecutive seasons with at least 100 points. The 2003-2004 Canucks finished with a record of 43-24-10-5 for 101 points, winning the Northwest Division. The previous season (2002-2003), the Canucks defeated the St. Louis Blues in seven games in the Conference Quarterfinals before falling to the Minnesota Wild in seven games. Over his last four seasons with the team, Burke engineered four consecutive seasons of at least 90 points.
Named by The Sporting News as NHL Executive of the Year in 2001, Burke acquired a majority of the current Canucks roster. The Canucks led the league with 254 goals in 2001-2002 and have scored the third most goals in the NHL (753) over the last three years (trailing only Detroit and Ottawa).
Born in New England and raised in Minnesota, Burke originally joined the Canucks in June, 1987 as vice president and director of hockey operations. He left the Canucks in 1992 to become general manager of the Hartford Whalers, where he began rebuilding the club with several player transactions, including the acquisition of NHL-standout Chris Pronger.
Burke joined the NHL front office as senior vice president and director of hockey operations in September of 1993. While at the league office, he served as the chief disciplinarian, ruling on violations for on-ice player conduct. He worked closely with Commissioner Gary Bettman on league direction, including collective bargaining matters. Burke also played a key role in bringing NHL hockey to Japan in October of 1997, as the Mighty Ducks played the Canucks twice to open the season in Tokyo.
After earning his Bachelor of Arts in History from Providence University in 1977, Burke signed professionally with the Philadelphia Flyers. He played for the Marine Mariners (Flyers’ AHL affiliate) during the 1977-78 season, which culminated in a Calder Cup Championship. He then returned to school and graduated from Harvard Law in 1981. Burke practiced law in Boston for the next six years, representing professional hockey players until he joined the Canucks in 1987.
In Vancouver, Burke was an active member of the community and longtime advocate of ensuring the health and survival of hockey in Canada. He served on the Board of Directors for Canuck Place, and was a spokesperson for Ducks Unlimited, Canada, Inc. In addition, he served as an Adjunct Professor at the British Columbia University School of Law and is a member of the National Sports Law Institute and Sports Lawyers Association.
Brian and his wife Jennifer currently reside in Yorba Linda. They have six children: Katie, Patrick, Brendan, Molly, Mairin and Fiona Grace. | 