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Burke’s exit process moves forward

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The final step toward severing Brian Burke’s relationship with the Ducks began Friday morning when Ducks Chief Executive Michael Schulman sent a letter to the NHL saying Burke is free to pursue other league jobs. Burke said Friday morning that the process ‘is underway,’ and that he was awaiting word of the league’s approval.

By Friday afternoon, the wait was over. Burke is now officially free to pursue other jobs because the NHL acknowledged receipt of the letter.*
Burke had turned down an offer to stay on as the Ducks’ general manager after this season and stepped aside Wednesday citing his desire to be geographically closer to his four oldest children, who live in the Boston area. He was replaced by his assistant, Bob Murray.

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Burke deliberately skipped the Ducks’ game-day skate Friday and didn’t mingle with players, as he used to do. He’s trying to stay in the background and let Murray take center stage--to the point where he asked Murray where he should sit during Friday night’s game against Nashville at the Honda Center. He will sit in the general manager’s box but he and Murray will switch seats.

Burke also offered to switch offices with Murray so the new GM could have the bigger of the two spaces, but Murray declined. Burke was at his desk in his corner office Friday, making calls to help Murray and answering e-mails.

‘I’m getting wonderful e-mails from season ticket holders,’ said Burke, who estimated he had responded to about 120 of them. ‘People are so nice when they think you’re in transition.’

-- Helene Elliott

* This was updated at 5:31 p.m.

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