TORONTO - Shot down in Toronto, Brian Burke is flying again with the Anaheim Ducks, though at a much lower level.

Six weeks after the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment hierarchy suddenly terminated their president and general manager on the eve of a new season, Burke took a part-time scouting role with the team he won a Stanley Cup with in 2007, prior to joining the Leafs a year later.

“Brian and I discussed this opportunity after Anaheim approached the Leafs for permission to speak with him about a possible scouting role,” said MLSE president Tom Anselmi in a Thursday afternoon statement.

“We both agreed that taking this role with Anaheim would best position Brian for his next general manager opportunity in the league. We have granted permission and we will terminate his consulting contract with MLSE so that he can pursue this role with Anaheim.”

Burke initially thought he would be retained as an adviser to his former right-hand man David Nonis. But he wasn’t happy to learn his role would only be to the MLSE board on business matters and not include a say in hockey decisions.

Yet with a team built almost exclusively by Burke, the Leafs are off to a decent start.