Leafs president and GM Brian Burke announced Thursday that the team has hired Dave Poulin as Vice-President of Hockey Operations. Poulin, 50, fills the position previously held by Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk.
“Dave and I have known each other for a very long time, ” said Burke. “He’s a hard-working person that takes pride in everything he does.” Poulin scouted for the Anaheim Ducks in 2006-07, and also at the start of the 2008-09 season, when Burke was general manager of the west coast team.
In other news, Burke iterated that he would be surprised if defenceman Tomas Kaberle is not a Leaf on opening night. Burke used a trade speculation analogy comparing his situation to that of Blue Jays’ GM J.P. Riccardi, who is listening to offers for pitching ace Roy Halladay. Burke said he’d have to be “blown away” by an offer for Kaberle in order to deal the veteran defenceman.
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