The Toronto Maple Leafs annual golf tournament on Monday presented a chance for hockey observers to hear GM Brian Burke's take on the looming NHL lockout. But one of the league's more outspoken individuals kept his cards close to his vest when it came to the potential labour stoppage.
"The league's doing all the talking about the collective bargaining agreement," Burke told reporters. "Obviously, I've been in on a bunch of the meetings, but not the last week or so. And I'll let the league comment on it. I wish I could say more. I mean, you guys know me: 'no comment' is not something that comes out of these lips easily."
Burke also wouldn't bite when asked about the potential delay to the start of the season, implying he wasn't the guy to come to for answers.
"You'll have to talk to the National Hockey League about that, and the NHLPA," he said. "All the commentary about negotiations has come out of the league office and that's going to continue."
The NHL is in its final six days under the collective bargaining agreement with the owners and players meeting separately thus far in New York to discuss an impending lockout. Unless both sides can find a way to get back to the bargaining table and work out a deal before 11:59pm et on Saturday, the league will lock out its players for the third time in 18 years.
Burke did open up a little regarding his own team, saying he thinks he's done with any off-season moves and the group he has now is the one he'll enter training camp with.
And on the always-hot topic of goaltending, Burke gave an endorsement of current starter James Reimer while also leaving the door open for a potential upgrade to be made somewhere down the road.
"We believe in James Reimer," said Burke. "We have said, from the get-go, that if we get the opportunity to upgrade at the goaltending position, we're going to do it. That's still the case. But it's not a frantic search for a goaltender. We believe in James Reimer."
