Changes Continue For Canadiens; Sean Burke Leaves For Vegas

According to Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman, Montreal Canadiens pro scout and former director of goaltending Sean Burke has left the Canadiens for a similar goaltending position with the Vegas Golden Knights.

“Sean Burke is going to head into Vegas,” Friedman said in the latest 32 Thoughts Podcast that dropped on Saturday. “I’m not sure if he’s the goalie coach or he’s going to run their goalie department but I’ve heard that he’s going into Vegas, and Burke certainly knows his goalies, and he’s got a long attachment to that area of the country having been in Arizona for a long time. So, he’ll make them better; there’s no question about that. he knows his goalies.”

As of Saturday night, the Montreal Canadiens were yet to confirm Burke’s departure, and an email to their public relations department was not returned. That being said, chances are, if Friedman is reporting it, then it’s true.

Sean Burke has been a pro scout for the Canadiens since January. Before that, he was named director of goaltending for the Montreal Canadiens back on March 2, 2021. The longtime NHL goaltender was hired by the Canadiens in 2016 as a professional scout covering western North America, and also worked as a goaltending consultant for the Canadiens. Prior to joining the Montreal Canadiens organization, he spent six seasons as a member of the Arizona Coyotes’ hockey management group, serving as goaltending coach and director of player development before being promoted to assistant general manager on July 10, 2012.

In addition to his work with NHL teams, Burke served as Hockey Canada’s general manager at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang and helped a team without NHLers bring home a bronze medal win.

So what does this mean for the future between the pipes for the Montreal Canadiens and potentially the future of goaltending coach Eric Raymond who was hired by former Montreal Canadiens general manager just under a year ago?

Well, first off, there’s still a very strong chance that longtime starting goalie and future hall of famer Carey Price at least won’t be ready for the start of the 2022-23 regular season. Secondly, while Canadiens fans don’t want to think about life after Price, there’s an equally strong chance that the 34-year-old veteran netminder has played his last NHL game.

After winning the 2022 Bill Masterton Trophy, Price informed the media that in an effort to return to the ice this summer and attempt to continue his NHL career, he has been getting PRP injections in his surgically repaired but nagging knee.

Note: PRP therapy is a regenerative medicine that enhances the body’s natural growth factors to help it heal more effectively. The injections are becoming more common and used to help heal injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. PRP’s can also reduce the need for anti-inflammatories or stronger medication.

So with the likelihood, that Price’s time with the Montreal Canadiens is rapidly dwindling at best, will the new hockey ops regime of vice president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes replace both Burke and Raymond?

As my partner-in-scribe at MHN, Marco D’Amico wrote on Saturday, Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis and his staff are clearly in the process of revamping their coaching philosophy and culture. So with Raymond being a leftover from the Bergevin regime, will he fit into their future plans between the pipes or that of whomever ay replace Burke. With Price on the way out soon, the Canadiens will be bringing in a younger generation of goalies. Don’t be surprised if as Marco suggested for their next assistant coach hiring to replace Luke Richardson, the Gorton/Hughes duo make an outside the box hire that can work well with younger players.