Then Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke, pictured at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 23, 2012. Burke, who helped assemble the 2007 Anaheim Ducks' Stanley Cup winning team, has been hired as the president of hockey operations for the Calgary Flames, according to the team. (Getty Images/AFP/File)
CALGARY (AFP) – Brian Burke, who helped assemble the 2007 Anaheim Ducks' Stanley Cup winning team, has been hired as the president of hockey operations for the Calgary Flames, the NHL team announced.
The 58-year-old American joins a team that has failed to make the playoffs the last four seasons.
"To be able to bring in someone who has won a Stanley Cup, it's a great thing," Flames general manager, Jay Feaster, said on Thursday.
The well-travelled Burke most recently worked as a scout for the Anaheim Ducks. He took that post after being sacked as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who failed to make the playoffs in his four seasons there.
Burke also previously served as general manager with Anaheim, Vancouver and Hartford. Burke said at a news conference Thursday he would have a background role with the club and that Feaster would remain the team's general manager.
"I know people think I have to be driving the bus, but I'm actually a pretty good teammate," Burke added.
Fox News' "Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world.