Bolts get a goalie

[swflyers25]

Lightning sign goaltender Sean Burke
TSN.ca Staff
8/9/2005 9:02:11 PM

Veteran goaltender Sean Burke has been plucked from the free agent list, signing a two year $1.6 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Burke, 38, was reportedly being courted by several NHL teams since the free agent signing period began on August 1.

"Shortly after the new CBA was announced, Sean Burke was the goaltender we identified as we began formulating contingency plans for how we would proceed if Khabibulin left our team," Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said. "We did a lot of homework on Sean, and we believe that not only will he come in and compete with John Grahame and battle for the No. 1 spot, but if he doesn't win that contest, he will be a 'team first' player.

"From all accounts, everyone who knows him calls him an incredible teammate and a true leader within the locker room. He is a perfect fit for our organization."

The former Flyers netminder has a 304-321-101 career record and had a goals-against average go over 3.00 just once over the past 11 seasons.

Burke has played 17 NHL seasons with stops in New Jersey, Hartford, Philadelphia, Carolina, Vancouver, Florida and Phoenix.

Burke played 15 games for the Phoenix Coyotes in 2003-2004 before being traded to the Flyers with forwards Branko Radivojevic and Ben Eager for centre Mike Comrie. After posting a 10-15-5 record with the Coyotes, he posted a 6-5-2 record down the stretch with the Flyers.

TSN (http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132952)

[butterfly_style]

Now if someone would make a large qualifying offer to Esche . . .it would either put Mr. Clarke over the cap or without a goalie.

[KB in Kelowna]

Now if someone would make a large qualifying offer to Esche . . .it would either put Mr. Clarke over the cap or without a goalie.


No No Mr.Clarke has Calder Cup winner Nytimaki (sic) who has singlehandedly played every minute of of every game, cured cancer and composed operas, and thus the Flyers cup coronation and parade route is planned, or so I have read. ;)




Relax I am only kidding. Esche probably isn't worth the draft picks to most teams.

[swflyers25]

Now if someone would make a large qualifying offer to Esche . . .it would either put Mr. Clarke over the cap or without a goalie.

For the last time, we won't be over the cap with the signing of Esche.

And KB, this is Clarke's opinion on Antero:

Clarke seemed relatively nonchalant about whatever direction Esche elects to take.

"I think a club can win without anybody," Clarke said. "I don't think one player makes a club. We want Esche and we're trying to sign him. You have to have two goaltenders, of course. We don't have any control over how a player thinks. We have no problem going with (Antero) Niittymaki."

Despite Esche's strong play two seasons ago, Niittymaki is seen as the future between the pipes for the Flyers, a reputation that was only enhanced by his Calder Cup winning turn in net with the Phantoms.

Still, Clarke believes Esche eventually will re-sign. "We want Esche back," Clarke said. "He was so good in the playoffs. It obviously increases your chances of winning if you get him under contract, and we will get him under contract."

Daily News (http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15008877&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18170&rfi=6)