Sean Burke - Playing Career

Playing Career

Burke was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He earned national attention from his international play. He backstopped Canada's junior team to a silver medal in the 1986 World Junior Championships and a fourth-place finish for the national men's team at the 1988 Calgary Olympics.

Burke went from the Olympics to the Devils. He started 11 games for the Devils in the 1987–88 NHL season, including an overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on the final night of the season that qualified the Devils for their first playoff series.

Dubbed a "rookie sensation", Burke helped the Devils go on a playoff roll, defeating the division-leader New York Islanders in the first round in six games and then the Washington Capitals in seven games. Burke was one game away from the Stanley Cup Finals but lost in Game 7 of the Wales Conference finals to the Boston Bruins.

Burke's play was widely-heralded. The Hockey Digest declared, "Burke is now the franchise for the Devils, and to whatever heights he rises, the Devils will rise with him" and in December 1988 made Burke the first Devil to appear on its cover.

Because he played just 11 games in the 1987–88 regular season, he maintained his rookie status for the next season. The next season, Burke was elected into the NHL All-Star Game, becoming the first rookie goaltender to play in the All-Star game.

Burke played for the Devils through the 1990–91 NHL season, and then sat out the 1991–92 season in a contract dispute. Instead, he played for the Canadian national team and played in the Olympics for a second time. This time, he backstopped Canada to a silver medal.

On August 28, 1992, Burke was traded to the Hartford Whalers for Bobby Holik, a second-round pick in 1993 draft (Jay Pandolfo) and future considerations. He played there (and with the relocated Whalers team, the Carolina Hurricanes) for six seasons. Was voted Whalers' team MVP from '93–'97. Burke then played with several teams, including the Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, and Florida Panthers. He then signed with the Phoenix Coyotes, and played there for five seasons, where he was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy and 3rd finalist for the Hart Trophy in the 2001–02 NHL season.

After that, Burke played for the Philadelphia Flyers (for the second time) recording his 300th career win (the twentieth goalie to reach this milestone), and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Burke was placed on waivers by Tampa Bay before the 2006–07 NHL season, but was not picked up. He then played for the Lightning's American Hockey League affiliate Springfield Falcons. However, he struggled with the Falcons and lost his starting job to Karri Ramo. He was then placed on waivers by the Lightning and picked up off re-entry waivers by the Los Angeles Kings.

Burke, a 3-time NHL All-Star (1989, 2001, 2002), officially announced his retirement on September 18, 2007. On March 4, 2008, the Phoenix Coyotes hired Burke as the Director of Prospect Development. He is now the Assistant to the General Manager and Coyotes' goaltending coach. Burke resides in Paradise Valley AZ with his girlfriend Christy and her 2 children Alexis (14) and Jimmy (10). Burke also has 2 children Andie (19) who currently attends ASU and Brendan (17) who plays in the WHL for the Portland Winterhawks.