Dan's still the man
Beleaguered goaltender backed by his general manager -- for now
Ben Kuzma, The Province
CANADA.COM
It's not that Brian Burke is shopping this weekend in Nashville. It's how much the Vancouver Canucks general manager is willing to spend that's arousing interest.
Burke often browses bargain bins to address roster needs and is dangling the club's 23rd and 60th overall selections Saturday in the NHL entry draft in a proposed deal. And that's where it gets interesting. More expensive items like Sean Burke and Nikolai Khabibulin are available in a package deal to provide championship-calibre goaltending. Cost-cutting Phoenix, which has three goaltenders, is listening to offers for its starter who has a year remaining on a contract that will pay $4.5 million US next season.Boston is already offering its 16th overall pick to sweeten the trade pot and Philadelphia has come calling, too.Tampa Bay is scheduled to pay Khabibulin $4.4 million US next season, with a club option for a whopping $6.5 million US the following season.
Now, if Brian Burke is fed up by two years of playoff inconsistency from starter Dan Cloutier, you'd think he'd at least call Phoenix GM Michael Barnett out of curiosity. That hasn't happened."I am not speaking to Phoenix about Sean Burke," the Canucks GM said Wednesday from Nashville."I had Sean Burke in Hartford and maybe that's why people think there's an interest there. And I have never in my life had a conversation about Khabibulin.
"Changing our starting goaltending is not a priority. I haven't spent one second on it since the end of the season. That doesn't mean that wouldn't change if a goaltender was offered who is an upgrade. I'd have to consider it. But this is not posturing. We believe in Dan Cloutier. We believe in his character.
"For someone to say that [Sean Burke] is a priority is not correct."
Brian Burke believes Cloutier can become a bonafide playoff performer if he stays injury-free. A medial collateral knee sprain on Dec. 17 contributed to the league's player of the month for November slipping to league-worst playoff numbers with a 3.24 goals-against average and .868 saves percentage. Cloutier allowed 15 goals in his last three playoff outings and four goals on seven shots in a Game 7 series loss to Minnesota.Not the way to go into contract negotiations. Cloutier's $1.125-million US deal expires July 1 and the restricted free agent could be headed for arbitration.
"What Danny has to do is train differently in the offseason so he's not battling back from an injury going into the most crucial time of the year," said the Canucks GM.
Meanwhile, Sean Burke's best days may be behind the former Canuck. He missed 29 games last season with a high ankle sprain and another 19 with a knee sprain. And the 36-year-old aggravated an injury at the world championship tournament in April. However, he did sport a 12-6-2 record, 2.12 GAA. and .930 saves percentage in 22 games last season.
An argument can be made that a proven veteran would lessen the Canucks' search for a bonafide backup to replace the departed Peter Skudra, who opted to play in Russia next fall. And it would give youngster Alex Auld more time on the AHL farm to develop into a true front-line NHL goalie.But that's pure speculation. Brian Burke is backing Cloutier and expects to address his backup goalie position when qualifying offers to restricted free agents are issued before July 1.
"If you think a new economic system is coming, you have to think there may be some tough decisions on June 30 with qualifying offers -- and a goaltender might become available there," reasoned Burke. "There's a real good chance one may become available on July 1 who's not available now."