Thursday news: Burke cleans house; hires Allaire as goalie consultant

Leafs president and GM Brian Burke wielding his axe yesterday, letting go strength and conditioning coach Matt Nichol and head athletic therapist Rudy Cantu. Pro scouts Pat Conacher and Dennis Bonvie will not have their contracts renewed.

Meanwhile Francois Alliare was hired as goaltender consultant, a move applauded by many with Leaf circles given his credentials. Allaire, who has spent the past 13 seasons in Anaheim and won a Stanley Cup with Burke in 2007, also worked for several years with the Montreal Canadiens. Along the way, he helped Patrick Roy and the Habs win a pair of Stanley Cups.

Game #7 of the Stanley Cup final goes tomorrow night in Detroit.

Around the league, new GM Joe Nieuwendyk made an immediate impact with the Dallas Stars, firing head coach Dave Tippett and naming Marc Crawford as his successor behind the bench.

It remains to be seen whether the price of moving the Phoenix Coyotes to Hamilton is too rich even for RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie.

Here are the hockey headlines in the news this morning:

Leafs News

• Burke’s axe cuts deep Toronto Sun
• Leafs lure goaltending guru from Anaheim Toronto Star
• Greed-driven MLSEL doesn’t deserve a single penny Toronto Sun
• Leafs might want to cut a deal now Toronto Star
• DGB vs. Hockeenight, round two Down Goes Brown
• Toronto Maple Leafs Hire Goaltending Coach Francois Allaire Pension Plan Puppets
• Burke Brings Out The Broom Toronto Sports Media

Marlies News

• Marlies book trip to Scotland for mini-tournament Toronto Star

Stanley Cup Final

• Bylsma hopes for picture-perfect redemption Toronto Sun
• Savour the moment, coaches tell teams Toronto Star
• Staal giving Penguins lift in the crunch Toronto Star
• Detroit could use Hossa’s heroics now Vancouver Sun
• Stanley Cup Game 7 is ‘as big as it gets’ Windsor Star
• A shot at redemption The Globe And Mail
• Penguins face mental test The Globe And Mail
• Sykora to miss Game 7 The Globe And Mail

NHL News

• Dallas Stars make Crawford their coach AP
• Tippett fired from Stars National Post
• Flyers net Emery AP
• Balsillie and Hamilton want to know NHL’s price Toronto Sun
• Gilmour supports Balsillie bid Toronto Sun
• Coyotes may cost over $400M Toronto Star
• Judge no stranger to tough fights Toronto Star
• Value of Hamilton team would rank near top The Globe And Mail
• Just sweeten the pot already The Globe And Mail
• Quebecor bids for Habs Toronto Sun
• Clouston not the only issue behind Heatley’s trade request Ottawa Citizen