TORONTO — Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs have agreed to a six-year deal for the former Anaheim Ducks general manager to take over as president and GM, The Associated Press reported Thursday night.
“The deal is done,” said a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team isn’t ready to announce the decision. That could come Saturday.
The Canadian Press and the Globe and Mail first reported the agreement.
Burke spent the past three-plus seasons with the Ducks, leading them to a Stanley Cup title in 2007. He stepped down Nov. 12 after declining to sign a contract extension that would take him beyond this season.
“I am really excited that Brian is able to get this straightened out, if it is true,” Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson said.
• The Florida Panthers acquired center Nick Tarnasky from the Nashville Predators for right wing Wade Belak.
• Phoenix Coyotes center Olli Jokinen will be sidelined for at least two weeks by a shoulder injury, ending his consecutive games streak at 397.
Meanwhile, forward Daniel Winnik was taken off the injured- reserve list after missing six games because of an upper-body injury.
Steelers re-sign Davenport
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed running back Najeh Davenport and released rookie cornerback Roy Lewis.
Davenport spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons with Pittsburgh but was released in June. He was re-signed in October after Willie Parker injured a knee, first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall was lost for the season with a shoulder injury and fullback Carey Davis sprained an ankle. He was released again Nov. 8.
In two-plus seasons with Pittsburgh, Davenport ran for 768 yards, seven touchdowns and a 4.3 yards-per-carry average.
• Buffalo Bills linebacker Keith Ellison returned to practice a day after the starter was held out because of a sore ankle. He is likely to play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Two share lead at Aussie Masters
MELBOURNE, Australia — South Africa’s Tim Clark waited out a three-hour suspension because of a severe thunderstorm to shoot a 5-under-par 67 for a share of the first-round lead in the Australian Masters.
Australian Scott Hend was in the clubhouse at 67 when a hail-laced storm hit Huntingdale, forcing nearly 80 players off the course. When they returned, Clark, 3-under when play was suspended, birdied 15 and 16 on what he said was a “totally different course.”
John Daly shot 76.
• Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka combined for a 10-under 62, giving Germany a one-stroke lead over Australia’s Richard Green and Brendan Jones after the first round of the World Cup of Golf in Shenzhen, China.
The U.S. team of Brandt Snedeker and Ben Curtis was two strokes back, tied with Spain and Canada.
The Associated Press
