  Brian Burke has no interest in acquiring Dany Heatley after the all-star forward demanded a trade from the Sens. (Sun Media/Michael Peake) |
Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke shot down a trade rumour yesterday and then fired a verbal salvo at Ottawa Senators star Dany Heatley.
Burke said on the NHL Live! broadcast, which airs on the NHL network, that he has no interest in acquiring the all-star forward, mainly because Heatley publicly asked to be traded.
"When you have players come ask you for a trade, I tell the players: 'Don't finish that sentence,' because once you ask, I'm going to move you," Burke said. "If a player wants out, you're darn right I'm going to move you. I'm not kissing anyone's ass to play in my town, so to hell with you, don't finish the sentence. My second rule is if I hear about this, you're not going anywhere."
KABERLE RUMOUR NIXED
Burke brushed aside a rumour that he has discussed sending veteran defenceman Tomas Kaberle to the Minnesota Wild for defenceman Marek Zidlicky and goaltender Josh Harding.
Burke has a window to trade both Kaberle and Pavel Kubina this summer as the Leafs did not make the playoffs.
Meanwhile, free-agent goaltender Jonas Gustavsson is expected to visit Burke and other members of the Leafs front office in Toronto tomorrow. The Leafs are one of four teams vying for the Swede.
Gustavsson, generally considered the best goaltender outside of the NHL, already visited Colorado and San Jose this week and reportedly touched down in Dallas yesterday.
He will tour the Dallas area today, including Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, where Joe Nieuwendyk, the Leafs special assistant to the GM last season and the Stars new GM, will throw out the first pitch.
Gustavsson was greeted in Colorado by countryman and former Avalanche great Peter Forsberg. The Dallas roster includes Gustavsson's former teammate from Farjestad, Fabian Brunnstrom.
The Leafs are hoping the hiring of renowned goaltending coach Francois Allaire will help their cause in nabbing Gustavsson, dubbed the Monster.
