#31 Sean Burke

Profile & Scouting Report

Height: 6-4
Weight: 210 lbs.
Born: January 29, 1967 in Windsor, Ontario
Drafted: Selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round (24th pick overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.
Acquired: Traded by the New Jersey Devils with Eric Weinrich to the Hartford Whalers for Bobby Holik, 1993 second-round draft pick (Jay Pandolfo) and future considerations on Aug. 28, 1992.

Scouting Report

1997-98 Season
Acquired by Philadelphia from Vancouver for Garth Snow, March 4, 1998. Acquired by Vancouver with Geoff Sanderson and Enrico Ciccone from Carolina for Kirk McLean and Martin Gelinas, January 2, 1998.

The Physical Game
Burke's season was marked by private turmoil and a public fall, so that his future as a number one goalie is in doubt. The irony is that just as Burke was physically healthy and playing for a competitive team for the first time since 1992, the bottom fell out of his game and his personal life. Burke is a big goalie, and when he is on his game he challenges the shooter well and comes out to the top of his crease. Playing a lot of international hockey has given him an edge in east-west play. Burke handles the puck well. He is confident and active on the dump-ins. He gives his defensemen a chance to handle the puck more easily and break out of the zone with less effort. Burke fills up the net and is very quick for a netminder of his size. He has a quick glove hand, but he will often drop it and give the shooter the top corner over his left shoulder. He also holds his blocker hand too low on his stick, which makes him lean over too far and throws him off balance.

The Mental Game
When a goalie has been playing for teams as bad as the Whalers, Hurricanes and Canucks for as long as Burke did, you wonder about his ability to step up when crunch-time finally does arrive. The answer came when the Flyers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Buffalo. Burke wasn't the only reason the Flyers were upset, but his 3.60 GAA was no help, either, and the Flyers signed John Vanbiesbrouck after the season.

The Intangibles
An unrestricted free-agent, Burke had a poor playoffs and a midseason arrest for assaulting his wife.

Projection
If Burke finds gainful NHL employment, he can still get 20 wins, but his days as a number one goalie appear to be over.

SOURCE: HOCKEY SCOUTING REPORT