Don’t read too much into the Al Coates hire

From Dan Wood of the Orange Country Register:

Monday’s move by Al Coates to leave the Ducks’ front office and become director of player personnel for the Toronto Maple Leafs has nothing to do with the future of Ducks general manager Brian Burke, despite any suggestions to the contrary by Canadian media outlets.

The contract of Coates, a former interim general manager of the Ducks who has served as senior advisor to Burke the past three seasons, was set to expire June 30. Toronto interim general manager Cliff Fletcher received permission from Burke to speak to Coates “a week or 10 days ago,” Coates said.

Read more from Wood here.

Whether this move has anything to do with Burke moving to Toronto is anyone’s guess. If it is, no one is going to come out and admit just that. However, even if it isn’t, that won’t stop the Burke rumors from continuing on.