Ducks GM Burke will have options if he becomes a lame duck

Anaheim Ducks general manager Brian Burke, rumored for months to be headed to Toronto as the Maple Leafs' No. 1 hockey guy, will inform his bosses in Anaheim in the next six to seven weeks if he plans to extend his deal with Anaheim.

Don't count on it, although Burke has said repeatedly that his offer to remain is extremely generous. Family issues, related to his first marriage, would be eased greatly if he worked closer to Boston, where he lived and worked for years as a player agent before going into hockey management.

Provided he cuts the cord in California, Burke no doubt will receive a handful of enticing offers for president/GM jobs.

Depending on what happens to Peter Chiarelli's Boston Bruins this year, Boston could be a player for Burke. Keep in mind, Chiarelli is on his original deal, signed in the summer of 2006, and it runs out after next season. Also, the Bruins' presidency has been vacant since Harry Sinden was booted off the job and into an advisory role in the summer of 2006. There would be plenty of room for Burke in Boston, provided club owner Jeremy Jacobs was willing to pay the freight.

Another likely bidder for Burke will be the Chicago Blackhawks, for whom GM Dale Tallon is about the last link to the Blackhawks' old way of doing biz (read: before the death of owner Bill Wirtz).

Along with Toronto, the Ottawa Senators might be enticed. Much like Boston, it would depend on how the Senators finish under GM Bryan Murray, who once was the GM in Anaheim.

BLUE JACKETS ASSIGN PICARD TO AHL TEAM: The Columbus Blue Jackets assigned forward Alexandre Picard to the Syracuse Crunch, the club's AHL affiliate.

Picard collected 22 penalty minutes in six games with the Blue Jackets this season.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS